Generation Watch

  
Generation Watch
News and Views of America's Living Generations

 
 
 
 
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Wondering what sort of news to report? Look for stories about new trends in an age group, or about changes in the generational make-up of a segment of society. Look for stories which demonstrate the generations acting out their life scripts according to the turnings theory. Since we are somewhere at the cusp of a Third Turning (Unraveling), going into a Fourth Turning (Crisis), you may find stories which are relevant to a particular life script in either turning. The tables below give you some ideas of what to expect from each generation.

G.I.
In the Unraveling, look for the G.I. Generation to...
...retain prestige and privilege.
...be lamented in passing.

SILENT
In the Unraveling, look for the Silent Generation to... In the Crisis, look for the Silent Generation to...
...encourage communication, openness, and compromise.
...tolerate diversity and discord.
...be hesitant to judge or impose restraint.
...try to improve, but not replace, institutions.
...try to seem or act young.
...feel a sense of despair.
...confess guilt over mistakes made in life.

BOOMER
In the Unraveling, look for the Boomer Generation to... In the Crisis, look for the Boomer Generation to...
...be judgemental, critical, and incapable of compromise.
...be values fixated and preachy.
...be self-secure, and impervious to the opinions or edicts of others.
...be seen by other generations as hypocrites.
...show wisdom and vision.
...trade material security for moral authority.
...show urgency and demand sacrifice from others.

GEN-X
In the Unraveling, look for Generation X to... In the Crisis, look for Generation X to...
...be alienated, independent, and risk-taking.
...sort into winners and losers.
...be stigmatized and criticized.
...be cautious and pragmatic.
...show little or no concern for issues of equality.
...be ambivalent about the emerging new order.
...continue to be stigmatized and criticized.
...be materially ruined.

MILLENNIAL
In the Unraveling, look for the Millennial Generation to... In the Crisis, look for the Millennial Generation to...
...be nurtured with increasing protection.
...be encouraged to be obedient achievers.
...be group-oriented and team-players.
...benefit from safety laws and moral concern.
...heroically rise to political challenge.
...enforce, among peers, a code of good conduct.
...develop a sense of generational community.
...benefit from a new focus on the young-adult world.

HOMELAND
In the Crisis, look for the Homeland Generation to...
...be cordoned off from the adult world.
...be ignored.

 
Current ages of the living generations
Lost 106+
G.I. 82-106
Silent 64-82
Boomer 46-64
Gen-X 25-46
Millennial ?-25
Homeland ?


Millennial Saeculum
High 1946-1964
Awakening 1964-1984
Unraveling 1984-?
Crisis ?-

   

Information in tables adapted from The Fourth Turning, William Strauss and Neil Howe, Copyright 1996 Broadway Books. To learn more, visit www.fourthturning.com. Otherwise this page is copyright 2002-2007 Generation Watch. All rights reserved.