Generation X Sociology

Generation X is known as a society were changes started to develop. People from this era were looking on education, and technology as an investment towards a new modern beginning. Generation X was the first one to have access to computer, and telephones at home and at school. People from this generation grew up with economic issues from the 1980s and 1990s, and societies dilemmas dealing with divorce. The article, The impact of the generational cohort on status consumption by Eastman argues, “Generation X is one of the most highly educated generations and is technologically and media savvy, but disillusioned, skeptical, and pragmatic. This group grew up with both economic uncertainty (the recessions of the early 1980s and 1990s) and societal

uncertainty dealing with divorce and being latch keykids”(Eastman, 1). Children during this generation were experiencing an increased rate of divorce dealing with a separated family. Since divorce started to increased among families, parents started to change the cultural shift of staying married to their children well being to a self-actualization value of individuals to renew their lives; “Now, moving into adulthood William Morrow (Generations) cited the childhood divorce of many Gen Xers as ‘one of the most decisive experiences influencing how Gen Xers will shape their own families’”(Generation X,Y,Z, 2006).

Their children were exposed to a sexual revolution where not only they had to live with the idea that their parents were not together, but the fact that their parents would bring their sexual partners to their homes provide them fear. In fact, divorce caused an emotional impact on children by the reality they had to face where they had limited relationship with one of the parent due to legal expectation. During the 1970s, the U.S develop a joint custody where children get to have a relationship with both of their parents with an equal amount of time and responsibilities. Also, politically during this era children were exposed to poverty because the government’s decision over funding been delivered to insurance such as Medicare, and protection for the elderly population taking away insurance and program for children (Eastman,

2012). This causes a social dilemma by the economic crisis these changes were affecting children. In fact, the congressman at that time, David Durenberger, argue that the government was cutting families and children program to provide “free healthcare to the elderly population.” Besides, economic and societal changes, during generation X AIDS started to rise especially in the adolescent’s population as the first disease observed in the U.S. Awareness among school began to develop through sexual programs as the virus increasingly spread among individuals decreasing the probability of survival.
During this period, generation X individual's experience societal events that changed U.S history at that time.

Historical events such as the Watergate scandal develop political issues by the U.S president at that time, Richard M. Nixon that was exposed to society by the arrest of five thieves at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office on June 17, 1972. This incident led to further investigation by the U.S congress by the conspiracy they discovered by the arrest of the burglars, but meanwhile president Nixon resign to continue with the investigation which derives to suspect about his actions, and a constitutional crisis: “Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein deserve a great deal of the credit for uncovering the details of the Watergate scandal. Their reporting won them a Pulitzer Prize and was the basis for their best-selling book ‘All the President’s Men.’ Much of their information came from an anonymous whistleblower they called Deep Throat, who in 2005 was revealed to be W. Mark Felt, a former associate director of the FBI” (History, 2009). Watergate became a political scandal because of clandestine activities, or better known as illegal activities by members of the Nixon administration. In fact, Nixon, not to be found guilty, had collaborators to cover his illegal actions such as those from the FBI, internal tax service (IRS), and the central agency of intelligence (CIA). In this way, Nixon could deceive not only the

people but the U.S government as well. The scandal revealed the accusation of abuse of power that President Nixon had against the government and his nation, which led him to resign. Also, in 1973 a decision was issued about access of abortion passed by the movement called, Roe vs. Wade. The supreme court made the decision made from the right of privacy under the 14th amendment giving to a women’s right to have an abortions once the following requirements are met: provide health and protection to the woman’s life: “The court then attempted to balance the state’s distinct compelling interests in the health of pregnant women and in the potential life of fetuses. It placed the point after which a state’s compelling interest in the pregnant woman’s health would allow it to regulate abortion at approximately the end of the first trimester of pregnancy”(Britannica, 2017). After the decision was made, women’s have the autonomy to decide what’s the best interest of her pregnancy. A lot of people went against this decision due to religious beliefs, but the court concluded that access to safe abortion and the right to reproductive are fundamental rights to grant freedom.