I was interested to read a new study from the Pew Research Center about U.S. generations and their political views. Here are the generational groupings the study used:
Generation |
Birth Years |
Millenials |
1981-1993 |
Generation X |
1965-1980 |
Baby Boomer |
1946-1964 |
Silent |
1928-1945 |
And here are my own extensions: |
G.I. (I don’t care for Brokaw’s ‘Greatest’ appellation) |
1901-1927 |
Lost |
1883-1900 |
And who is now sitting in my classes? |
Internet |
1995-present |
My father is from the G.I. generation, my mother from the Silent, most of my closest friends at work are Baby Boomers, and I’m from Generation X. Over the course of my career I’ve taught students from Generation X, then Millenials, and now I’m teaching what I term the Internet Generation.
Here are some fascinating comparisons of the generations I found in the report:

Greater Diversity and Later, Fewer Marriages

Look at how much views on gay marriage have changed

Interracial Dating

More Religiously Unaffiliated

Fewer viewing religion as a key to nation's success

Trust in government declines and anger rises sharply

More conservatives than liberals

Huge age gap in recent presidential elections

Democratic party viewed as more concerned, less extreme

Declining patriotism and less exceptionalism

Young folks are still optimistic

Many old folks just don't get the internet

Gen-Xers like me are not confident about their retirement

We Gen-Xers are the gloomiest about the major social programs

There's a reason Occupy Wall Street exists...

Social issues roundup

Reefer madness

Most realize the earth is warming, but many don't want to accept responsibility
There is lots more in the report if you care to read it or you can zip through all of the charts.
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About Granger Meador
I enjoy day hikes, photography, podcasts, reading, web design, and technology. My wife Wendy and I work in the Bartlesville Public Schools in northeast Oklahoma, but this blog is outside the scope of our employment.
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