1.  Social Trends- large scale changes in our society such as an increase in immigration, decrease in fertility rates, or growth in size of elderly population  Demographers- social scientists who examine social trends by studying human populations  Provide population data and statistics  Anthropologists study the how social trends affect cultures  Sociologists explore the impact on families and social institutions  Psychologists study how social trends impact individuals

2. Demographic GroupBorn (approx)Characteristics Baby Boom1946-1966 Generation X1960- 1966 Generation Y1980- 1995 Generation Z?1996-2010

3.  Baby boom generally known to refer to the demographic group born between 1946-1964  Why did it occur?  Soldiers returned home after World War II  Wanted to resume lives quickly  Came home with war brides  Government policy for soldiers  Laws allowed vets return to jobs  Low cost mortgages  Loans to upgrade education  Social norms (post war period)  Marriage acceptable  Domestically oriented era  Respectability achieved through marriage and family  Sex outside marriage condemned

4.  Rapid growth of baby created massive social change  Suburban culture  Large demand for housing for new families  Construction boom  suburbia  Cars and road construction increased  Fast food  Shopping plazas  Drive ins  Institution Growth  Education Reform  Need for schools (high enrollment)  Progressive education

5.  Created a Counterculture  when young people express values and behaviours that conflict with societal norms  era between 1964 to 1972 era developed into socially conscious and rebellious group  Characterized by protest music (Vietnam), anti war demonstrations, and peace symbols

6.  Music focused on 1) protest and rebellion against authority 2) freer attitudes towards sex and drugs  Popular musicians were The Who, Grateful Dead, Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix

7.  Sexual promiscuity increased  Illegal drug use increased  Political activism increased  in addition to anti war protest, environmental issues and rights of women and aboriginal people

8. PositiveNegative “Me” focus Responsible for social changes (women, anti war etc) Sexual revolution/ counterculture Two household workers (income) Women in the work force: Superwoman TV Generation Materialistic “Live to Work” – YUPPIES Environmental impacts Debt and deficit Divorce