Gen Gen

Recently, my husband was shocked to learn that I’m a baby boomer. Well, my birth year is the last year of boomers, so I get it. We were talking with our two young adult sons about the names of the various ages when it came up.

I’ve never heard of the “Builders” generation but I have heard of the “Greatest Generation” followed by the “Lost Generation,” but I can see how people born 1925-45 being referred to as builders. This may be preferable to the “Silent Generation,” another tag some organizations or associations use. They built our country’s industrial foundation as our economy transitioned from one based on agriculture. They survived The Depression during childhood and went on to establish President Eisenhower’s vision of the interstate freeway system.

This pictorial threw me for a loop. Have you ever heard of “Interbellum Gen?” How about “Xennials?” Who made that list?? Ah, it’s from myenglishteacher.eu is an international organization connecting native tutors teaching English as a second language. At least, that’s what I gather from googling “What is myenglishteacher.eu?” I’m blocked from actually accessing the website. Maybe because I’m in the US?

The UK uses the same nomenclature as the US for groups over the years. According to Annie Gouck in “What the Generational Map Looks Like Where You Live,” Gen Z may be referred to as Zoomers. Everyone seems to agree that the name “Millenials” is interchangeable with “Gen Y.”

There’s an extended list going back to the mid 19^th century to include generations named Civil War, Gilded Age, and The Progressive Era before The Greatest.

Whichever names we’ve used for groups of people born before 1964, the list since scrambles my eggs – not that difficult due to cognitive difficulties! 😆 We’ve got Gens X, Y, Z, and now Alpha. It just seems like something’s missing. It feels, dare I say it, lazy. Oh, I know we can throw millenial in there for Gen Y, and I seem to remember Gen Z almost caught the Connected Generation but it didn’t stick. C’mon folks, the generations don’t name themselves. Let’s (by that I don’t mean me) put in a more thoughtful effort. In fact, speaking of paying more attention, the lists and memes were nearly bereft of Generation A! Poor Gen Alpha. Next up? How about the Digital Generation because analog is nearing extinction? 🕰️

Wherever you find yourself in the ages and stages of life, I wish you a bright new year!

EDIT: Just read that the next generation starts this year and it is…..drumroll please…GENERATION BETA! What the hell. Keep on keeping on, Gen Gens.