Generation X: Social, Political, and Economic Issues

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A. Describe Generation X. What social, economic, and political issues affected this generation?

To quote myself in an earlier class, Generation X was socially retarded at first. Nearly half of all marriages ended in divorce, resulting in a life of “joint custody, visitation rights, and weekend fathers” (Zemke, et al, pg. 94). Add to this the need for their parents to have dual incomes (whether together or separate), and you’re left with kids that ultimately had to become self-reliant above all else. These children were given their own key to the empty house to come home to after school, and were later given the name “latchkey kids”. This ultimately served them well, however, as Generation X learned how to fend for themselves and not rely too heavily on security, whether it was relationship-wise or job related.

In the beginning, everything was going well for Generation X economically. They arrived just in time for a labor shortage in the early 90’s, where employers were in desperate need for people in Information Technology (IT) (Zemke, et al). In fact, this is where this cohort earned their reputation for being slackers. Before them, everyone worked for survival. Now this new generation was working for status, and the income they earned to fit the companies’ needs was enormous. Then, about as quickly as it began, it ended. The dot.com bubble burst and massive layoffs came into play. Hundred thousand dollar educations went out the window as overly qualified IT technicians were out of work.

Not a whole lot (in respect to other generations), happened politically for Generation X. They grew up post-Vietnam, and in the early 70’s women’s liberation movements were in progress. The Watergate scandal involving President Nixon resulte...

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...oject through the use of screensharing in real time as well as instant messeging. This allows them to get real time critisism or reinforcement on a project and can create an environment where more than one project can be worked on at a time. Through a lifetime of caring and scheduling parents and teachers, their confidence in the job they do is very high.

References

Gravett, L. (2007). Bridging the Generation Gap. Pompton Plains: Career Press.

Kahn, M. E. (2007). Environmental disasters as risk regulation catalysts? Journal of Risk & Uncertainty, 29.

Martin, C. A. (2006). Managing the Generation Mix. Amherst: HRD Press.

Scheid, J. (2010, July 4). Types of Communication Styles: Bridging the Generation Gap. Retrieved from Bright Hub: http://www.brighthub.com/office/home/articles/76498.aspx

Zemke, R. (2013). Generations at Work. New York: AMACOM.

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