Entitled youth, the middle child, selfish oldies – our generational stereotypes
There's a strong divide among the generations, but are we all that different? Photo: Getty
From Baby Boomers being rich and selfish to Millennials being lazy and loving avocados, it’s obvious that every generation has its critics.
Usually, a generation spans 15 years, but sometimes the years are up for debate. For example, some will say the cut-off for Millennials is being born after 1995, and others will say it’s 1997.
The idea of dividing everyone up by age comes from Karl Mannheim, who believed that historical events can shape a generation.
‘OK, Boomer’
Baby Boomers were born after World War II, when developed countries had a massive surge in births. Boomers were born between 1946 and 1965, a span of 19 years.
Some of the younger generations might say Boomers are selfish, out of touch, bad with technology, politically and socially conservative and rolling in money.
Obviously, there are selfless Boomers out there, some have navigated technology and even found Facebook. They’re not all conservative and they’re not all rich.
@tillyoddyblack Borderline hate crime #bothered #parents #boomer #critical #comment #relatable #fyp
They often get blamed for the world’s problems and when Boomers comprise roughly 60 per cent of world leaders, then perhaps that criticism is warranted.
Some might not like younger generations trying to buck the status quo, but many Boomers did just that in their youth. The 1960s and 1970s saw plenty of protests across the globe demanding change.
@peterkuli thank you all keep fighting every boomer you see #okboomer #thatescalated #greenscreen
The Jan Brady of the generations
Born between 1965 to 1980, elder Gen Xers, sometimes known as the “middle child of the generations”, should get that Brady Bunch reference.
Last year, a Gen Xer took to Reddit, asking their peers what the generation’s negative traits were.
“As the forgotten middle child generation we fly below the radar so in my experience I think we’ve been free from these types of negative views of our generation,” they wrote.
It’s true, Gen X isn’t as loud as other generations, but fellow Gen Xers had a few thoughts and the general consensus was that they are overtly cynical.
“We were brought up in a culture that valued cynicism, sarcasm, and irony over sincerity. This gives us a tendency toward apathy and nihilism if we are not careful to craft our own unique positive values and pursue our passions,” someone said.
@kellymanno This may be the first time anyone has checked on us in 50 years 😆 #genx #oldermillennial #80skid #90skid #kellymanno #boomer
Millennials love avocado
We’ve all heard that Millennials, born 1981 to 1996, won’t be able to buy a home because of their love of smashed avo on toast.
Younger Millennials were in their formative years when social media emerged and many will recall the horrors of 9/11 and the Global Financial Crisis.
Not all Millennials like avocado.
Millennials are often called entitled, lazy and some would say they lack ambition. In reality, Millennials have largely given up on buying a home and are challenging the norms.
Gen Z has been critical of Millennials for being “cringe”, for parting their hair to the side, wearing skinny jeans or doing the dreaded Millennial Pause.
However, Gen Z and Millennials have a lot in common.
@elle.cordova Generational wars #genz #millennial #zoomers #boomers #genx #millennialsoftiktok #generations
Gen Z doesn’t care what you think
Millennials are no longer the punching bag, Gen Z, born 1997 to 2013, is.
Also sometimes considered to be lazy and hard to work with, they have been criticised for being disengaged, too online and lacking an attention span.
Sometimes they relish the criticism thrown at them, they don’t seem to care. They pioneered movements like China’s ‘lying flat’ phenomenon, as a way of rejecting a gruelling work culture.
They share a lot of the same problems and constraints as Millennials. Many won’t be able to afford homes and they’re struggling during the cost-of-living crisis.
@riribibi_ one winner standing #pov
Stereotypes are dumb
Ask a Boomer and they might say Millennials are entitled, but a Millennial could turn around and say the same thing about a Boomer.
Obviously, good and bad people make up a generation and each generation has its own challenges, but there is, of course, some intersectionality.
In a piece for The Conversation, Sean Lyons, from the University of Guelph, explained researchers had tried to figure out whether generational differences existed. A critical review he co-conducted determined the “evidence was inconclusive”.
“Generational labels do not explain the bulk of differences among individuals,” he wrote.
“However, they are meaningful to people. They simultaneously shape and reflect our perceptions about the roles of younger and older people in our society.
“So, when you use a generational label, consider what that says about you.”
