New English Words and Phrases No.5—the Generations

In talking about ourselves, Americans usually use generational terms to distinguish the thinking and values of young and old people.  These are the terms we use in describing ourselves.

Millenials	These are our newest generation; people born between 1981 and 1996. They are in their 20s and 30s---your generation. This is the technology generation---computers, cellphones, social media and environmental issues
Generation X	These are the people born between 1965 and 1980; they are in their 40s and 50s---your parents’ generation. They were the protestors and led the social revolution in America--- going for social and ethnic equality, women’s rights, gay rights and the rights of disabled individuals, and world peace.
Baby Boomers	These are the people born after World War II, between 1946 and 1964; they are people who are now in their 50s and late 60s. They enjoyed the postwar prosperity which came from rebuilding the world after World War II. They set the standards for the “good life” in America---a house, a car, a telly, social welfare systems.
Silent Majority	These are the people born in the period from 1928 through 1945. They suffered through the Depression and the hard times of the 1930s, and were geographic isolationists. They did not believe that America should get too involved in international activities even if it got be a world power. They are people who are in their 70s and 80s.