Social Change: Generation What?

1. Social Change: Generation What?

2. What is Demography? Study of human populations Useful data for anthropologist and sociologists- why?

3. What are the different generations born during the past half century? Baby boom (born 1946-1966 ) - boomers, yuppies / dinks-Generation X (1960-1966) Baby Bust (1967-1979)-Twenty-somethings Echo Boom (1980-1995) -Generation Y Generation Z (1996-2010)-Millennium Kids

4. Spotlight: “Generation X” “X”- label for a new generation (born 1960 – 1966) generation surrounded by MATERIALISM (instant gratification) Increasing technology Counter-culture Political Activism (anti-war; anti-nuclear, environment,women’s lib, Aboriginal) Suburbia Child Centred Universe Sexual Revolution (the Pill)

5. The Who: “My Generation” Generation X: “self centered crowd of long haired rebels” Popular songs expressed attitudes of a generation that didn’t follow rules or care much about people older than themselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e6_0jvlKik

6. Lyrics: “My Generation” People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation) Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation) Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation) This is my generation This is my generation, baby Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation) And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation) This is my generation This is my generation, baby

7. Characteristics of Gen X’ers • high level of education • lack of faith in the employer/employee commitment > believe real job security lies in their ability to develop the knowledge and skills to advance to their next job. • cynical about the commitment between employers and employees since they watched their parents and grandparents lose their jobs after years of dedicated service. Gen X is committed to their professions instead of to a company. • Gen X values work/ family life balance • Most do not view themselves as part of a group but as individuals (ie. Movie -Breakfast Club)

8. Spotlight: “Generation Y”

9. Generation Y: Echo Boom born- 1980- 1995 (YOU!) Echo: analogy of waves in the water; separate social and economic influencesINDICATORS -end of the Cold War - AIDS-increase in divorce-increase of women in workplace & women’s rights-Pill “children were things you took pills not to have”-educational variance; double cohort-increasing technology; computers, inception of the internet-”Devil Child Films”; reality TV-consumer buying power (part time jobs, higher allowances)

10. Music of the 90s! • The “Grunge” era enters the music world with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Sound Garden making it big • Nirvana blows the market wide open with their new style and their dark messages • Pearl Jam and other bands also reflect this message

11. What were they saying? • Check out the song “Jeremy” from Pearl Jam’s first album Ten • "Jeremy" is based on a true story. The song takes its main inspiration from a newspaper article about a 15-year-old boy named Jeremy Wade Delle, born February 10, 1975, from Richardson, Texas who shot himself in front of his English class in Richardson High School on the morning of January 8, 1991 at about 9:45 am. • He was sent to the office to get a late slip, he came back, pulled out a gun and blew his head off • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gskAeWgEExk

12. Jeremy Lyrics

13. What defines your “Generation”? Is Generation Y out of control (more rebellious, more criminally inclined, more violent)? Or is Generation Y the victim of negative stereotypes? How would you describe your generation with regard to its beliefs, values and interests?