Posted on 12/14/2004 9:12:19 AM PST by qam1
Expert Who Noted Shift in Politics and Society as Gen X Took Leadership in 2004, Sees Emergence of Increasingly Values-Driven Society in the Year Ahead
Ann A. Fishman Available for Year-End News Analysis, Predictions
NEW YORK, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Stay-at-home moms are "in," and so are genuine heroes. Putting career ahead of family is "out," and so are laissez- faire attitudes toward planning for retirement. These are a few of the important Cultural Trends to watch for in 2005, according to Generational expert Ann Fishman. She says they are the product of a turning point in American society that began in 2004: a shift away from the idealistic, "Me-driven" lifestyle of the Baby Boom Generation, and toward more traditional and results-oriented values of Gen X. Based on Fishman's research into the habits and values of American consumers, Generation X -- the more than 93 million Americans born between 1961 and 1981 -- 2005 will be the year in which Gen X fully asserts itself as the leading force for change in American life.
Fishman said, "The re-emergence of traditional values of stable home life and civic participation that began when Generation X assumed the mantle of leadership in 2004, will continue in 2005 and beyond."
She continued, "Gen Xers have endured divorce, one-parent families, step families, working parents, and latch-key lives. They want to ensure that THEIR children have 'quantity' time as well as quality time, and are concerned with the moral tone and tenor society as a whole." She concluded, "With Generation X in control, we can expect a continually increasing focus on personal and civic responsibility rather than personal rights -- more like Pat Tillman, sacrificing for his country, and fewer like Janet Jackson, "baring it all" on national television for all to see."
As we move into 2005, Fishman believes:
* Genuine heroes are "in" -- Where anti-establishment Baby Boomers created rebels and "anti-heroes," Gen X produced most of the 9-11 firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel, Jeremy Glick and Todd Beamer who brought down the hijacked plane in Pennsylvania, and Pat Tillman who gave up a lucrative NFL contract to join the Army Rangers.
* Appropriateness is appropriate -- and "in" -- and so is minding one's manners -- Xers are the catalyst driving the outrage over Janet Jackson's bare bosom display during last year's Superbowl halftime show and a naked Nicollette Sheridan in a promo for the hit TV show Desperate Housewives. Harvard Business School now offers a course in business etiquette, the Smithsonian offers a multi-week course in manners -- and Gen Xers know they can't get ahead without them.
* Companies will revamp corporate training to accommodate the Gen X workforce -- Xers are steeped in "Internet thinking"... when they visit a chat room, they only know the quality of the idea, not the person's age, religion, color or gender. In the workplace, they expect to be respected for the quality of the idea, even if they've only been on the job for a day. Companies will need to revise training programs to respond to the character of new Generation X employee.
* President Bush's attempt to save Social Security and to revamp the tax code will be a hit with Gen X -- This generation is saving for retirement at almost the same rate as Baby Boomers, in spite of Gen X's relatively young age. Gen Xers value self-reliance. Boomers are better at spending than saving.
According to Fishman, each of these developments reflects the change of course that Gen Xers are mandating for American society: more hard-headed realism, less focus on "Me Generation" values, a greater emphasis on civic responsibility and a practical concern with safeguarding traditional family, religious and societal norms.
She concluded, "As 2004 passes into 2005, it will become clearer and clearer that the big shift in American society is not 'Blue State to Red State' - but 'Baby Boomers to Generation X.''"
About Generation X and Baby Boomers
Generation Xers are "latch-key kids," children of Baby Boomers whose divorce rates were high and who often pursued idealistic civic causes or fast- track jobs at the expense of traditional home environments. Xers had to fend for themselves from an early age and are a generation of practical "survivors" whose attitudes are reflected in their politics, values and consumer preferences.
Baby Boomers are the 79 million Americans who were born between 1943 and 1960. Among other trends, they presided over the relaxation of societal standards in a variety of areas, including the liberalization of rules governing the traditional family, loosening strictures on corporate responsibility and the popularization of the drug culture.
About Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing
"They claimed that we had no passion, values, or desire to fight for a cause and so they labeled us "X" as in nothing. How wrong they were."
Generation X is the next "Greatest Generation".
A LONG time ago I read a review of a book titled something like the Fourth Wave. About how there are 4 styles of generations and they just keep going in cycles. The greatest generation of WWII fame was very much like generation X. Very absorbed in themselves and their work until something great happened (Pearl Harbor) which turned their strong drives to a greater good.
The book was written before 9/11, and said the same of the Generation X'rs - very self centered and strong drive. But, if something big happened to unite them they would become the next "Greatest Generation".
Every time I hear a story of our brave young troops I think this theory is a good one!
(Not a generation X'r myself - just proud of them!)
This is a good analysis. During the last election cycle, I kept trying to communicate to the Boomers I know that 9-11 was a defining moment for the Gen X and Gen Y generations. But that generation is so locked into Vietnam and the 1960s as their defining moment that they seem to see everything through that lens.
Sounds like all the rebellion karma of the Boomers is coming around on them in spades. If that's the case, things are going in a good direction.
The Greatest Generation had to fix the world, looks like we'll have to as well, and make sure we raise kids who won't take a generation off like the Boomers did.
Dude, most of Gen X is in their 30's. I'm 36 and definitely an 'Xer'--divorced parents, skateboarder, videogamer, latchkey kid, Army vet and software system engineer....
I agree with the definition, because as an "early "X"er, my first "elected" President was Reagan, and the kids I went to school with were FAR more conservative than the class that graduated just two years before us.
Well, if the Gen-Y soldiers of the war in Iraq are any indication, they will be the best ever.
Proud Gen-Y Airman mom brag/OFF
I'm not sure who "They" are, and I don't believe the above description is necessarily a widely accepted definition of "Generation X" (some writer somewhere probably came up with it, and assumed that everyone would accept it at face value. Not so). As a "Baby Boomer" born in 1952, I applaud all of you Freepers who belong to Generation X. Keep up the good work!
While I can't speak for you, I will say that for a lot of us X'ers the answer is:
You took us to visit Grandma and Grandpa so we could learn something from responsible adults.
You took us to visit Grandma and Grandpa so we could learn something from responsible adults.
That goes double for those of us Gen-Xers who were raised by our "Greatest Generation" grandparents because our Baby Boomer mothers were so self-centered. (Unfortunately, she is now 52 years old and still not terribly stable or mature).
My Dad was a Korean War vet and Mommie was a baby boomer. She left to 'find herself' and I grew up with Pops.
He was a programmer and handgun enthusiast.
Rock on fellow Xer!
Is that what happened?
We officially took the helm this year?
Sweet. Things are about to become a whole lot different.
Viva!
The young ones are being tagged with
Generation 1.0
;)
Don't worry, bro. We're going to have to more than make up for it when Social Security fails...where DID the boomers put that key anyway?
I'm going to take a giant leap.
X-er's are in charge now...and 80% of the people want something done with our borders.
I would assume many of you would like to attend our little "party" in January.
Join us. Take charge, and end this garbage once and for all.
http://www.saveourstate.org
Kinda half kidding...
Not about saveourstate, but about the in charge thing. Cool to read something positive about GenX every now and then.
My mamma didn't raise no slacker.
This is pretty upbeat, however I expect lots of continued revolutionary fervor from Boomers and an ongoing demonstration of poor planning, hedonism and the like. It will get ugly as the largest mass of boomers start hitting real old age 15 years from now. The key will be to get younger generations to align with Xers not boomers. If that can be the case, the numbers just keep getting better and better. I dream of stopping Social Security over time. [BTW to any boomers reading this, the fact you are a Freeper means you are not part of the problem, unlike your nihilistic brethren .... ]
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