Why This Boomer Loves Generation Xers
Apr 30th, 2008 by Linda P. Morton
While conducting generation search on the Internet yesterday, I ran across an article entitled “Why I hate Boomers.” So tonight I did a search and got a whole page of returns for the phrase “I hate Boomers,” including a blog and a forum thread.
My reply to this hatred of Boomers is “I love Generation Xers.” I love them for many reasons, but cover only seven broad ones in this article.
Now that wasn’t always the case. When the first class of Generation Xers enrolled in my classes at The University of Oklahoma, I was bewildered. I’d never taught students who accepted nothing that I taught without questioning it, often in a challenging and disrespectful way.
I had to learn about Generation Xers or get out of teaching. So I started researching them. That led to a line of generation and other research on how people in segments differ. So the first reason that I love Generation Xers is because they spurred me into research that has become my passion.
At first Boomer writers described Generation Xers with adjectives such as “whiners, malcontents, drifters and cynics.” But I began to see another side of them - their pragmatic, self-sufficient, savvy, ambitious and independent side.
So the second reason that I love Generation Xers is because all these adjectives somewhat describe them, and yet no set of adjectives can truly describe the diversity within Generation X.
The third reason that I love Generation Xers is for the same reason that I found them so difficult many years ago. They have strong convictions and are independent thinkers. They don’t believe what a person says just because that person holds an authority position. This serves them well as they enter authority positions.
Fourth, I love Generation Xers because of their commitment to their children and acceptance of diverse ideas of family. As one of the Boomer women who pioneered a formerly male-dominated profession and had a latch-key Generation X child, I respect Generation Xers’ determination not to put jobs, careers or businesses before their families.
And I love Generation Xers, fifth, because although they are committed not to sacrifice their families to do so, they are achieving success and bettering their lifestyles, in spite of all the predictions to the contrary.
The sixth reason that I love Generation Xers is because they are patriotic and spiritual in an independent manner. These and many other Generation X characteristics have earned them respect as adults, and yes, even from Boomers.
Last, but not least, I love Generation Xers because they have the characteristics that their Boomer parents wished for them, just not in the way that their parents imaged. In short, they are the adults that they were reared to be, and the world is better because of them.
