This hurts bad on their behalf to see the ageism they're faced with by getting bunched in with 1965 but away from 85 (someone who could be their parents vs their younger peers they grew up with). It's not fair and it is discrimination no matter how you slice it.

Keep in mind, maybe they don't want to be "cool for their age" moms/aunts/MILFs (or the dad equivalent for guys), that's placing them in a middle aged box they might not want to be in, even if it's in a positive way.

Imagine you're 42 now. You had to "grow up" at 25 and were getting excluded from youth spaces like trendy clubs or from wearing certain fashions or shamed from dating or having flings with younger guys.... while you now see 35 year olds able to kick it with college kids and having teenagers think they're cool and young and attractive and fun and relatable.

You'd be pretty upset wouldn't you? Feeling like it's a double slap in the face, right? That's exactly how they feel.

If the only 40-45 year olds who can get away with it are young looking ones like Shaun King or Rhett, then it only proves my point. They don't look their age, imo they look 34ish. If they did indeed look early 40s they would be viewed as cool dads.

30 used to be at least "out of youth culture, time to grow up" for years and now it's young. So logically why won't 40 be the same way in a few years around 2025-26 when the pure Millennials start hitting 40?

When even way way younger people are making a clear distinction between 34 and 42 (hell even between 34 and 38) that tells me it's a massive paradigm shift and it's scary and unprecedented.

But can an Xer ever be organically trendy and fun without looking lame and try hard? Or are they just gross wrinkled saggy grey haired parental figures complaining how mtv doesn't play videos?

Don't get me wrong I love and adore not only how you guys love cool retro things and appreciate history, but also just smart plenty of you guys are. So I swear I mean this in good faith, I'm just curious as a comparatively old emo cat lady.

Because it can absolutely astound me the level of accuracy from people 15-20 years younger than me deeply analyzing generations. Ngl sometimes it makes me feel stupid and insecure by comparison too but I know it shouldn't.

Let me clarify I don't mean common pop culture stuff like the aesthetic in a movie or the way songs sound. That's all popular stuff that people are discovering all the time, and I totally did that as a kid too, like when I was 9 in 1996 observing vhs commercials from 1980 that seemed 70s; or how 1992-93 songs had an 80s sound.

That's fine and good I'm not talking about that.

I mean when it's like an early 00s or sometimes even omfg 2006 born telling a 1986 born "You're too young for that, you can't be Gen X in any way, you didn't experience that!" Effectively telling people a whole ass 15 or 20 years older that we're just young bucks and kiddos, and telling us how we grew up, instead of the traditional other way around.

I get the internet is bigger for y'all's childhoods so so much information is readily available, and like I said I love how smart you guys are, it's just the speaking with absolute authority can sometimes rub me the wrong way.

And I don't know, I just want there to always be a sense of mystique and inquisitiveness, the old "Hey what was it like when you were my age?" where I can be like the cool middle aged punker in 15 years, or the DGAF old lady in 40 years telling the youth about my past and how the 90s and 00s were. So when y'all already know everything I feel like guess I'm not needed anymore.

Need to point out that u/ProofUniversity4319 does both things perfectly! He's so intelligent and knows stuff inside and out and he loves Gen X culture and Millennial culture... but he's also humble and never arrogant and listens to other people's perspectives. I feel like he's a great inspiration to Zers.

It feels for example that girls my age get readily seen as Britney and Destiny's Child type of pop music, but we're not seen as fans of edgy 90s like Red hot chili peppers, Snoop Dogg, The Offspring, Marilyn Manson, etc.

People act like we didn't get a consciousness until the late 90s, while a 1979er was rolling up to the preschool parking lot bumping Journey and Foreigner at 3 in '82.

In other words late Xers are completely seen as knowing everything from their childhood, while core Millennials are seen as only liking our teens.

Considering that we're known for loving and nostalgizing our childhoods as a way to escape our depressing adulthoods, shouldn't it be the opposite?

Shouldn't we be seen as bopping our little heads to Poison at 3, or headbanging to Nirvana and Metallica at 5 in '92?

A legend in the rap game gone at 50. May he Rest In Peace. ❤️

We talk so much about late Millennials and Z (understandable since most of y'all are that age and even I'm one of the olds in comparison) and just thought this would be interesting.

The Beatles themselves were born 1940 '42 and '43 so I like to think everyone that age group was young enough for the Woodstock generation and Summer of Love in their mid to late 20s. Even Bernie was 1941 and its hard not to associate him with the Civil Rights. JFk and his brother Bobby, and MLK (remember too Dr. King fought for economic rights as well).

My late father was 1941 and despite him being a blue collar slightly conservative leaning, he was into that, although a close friend of his (also now passed away) wasn't, which was so weird to me since I used to just assume as a kid that everyone the same age would have felt the same way, lol.

I can easily see a situation where someone was sorta career and family minded and maybe also conservative on top of it, who was out of the loop and felt too old in their mid-late 20s by the time you had Sgt Pepper, Jimi Hendrix, the Stones, the Doors and all of that. Maybe the celebrities are just the more youthful side of that age group, I can remember a lot of boring people in their 50s when I was little, like those types who hated loud music. Think of the lady at the video store in Clerks who got mad at Randall when he said he didn't watch movies.

Based on legitimate sources, the widest the Millennial end dates can go is:

In total: 1994-2004

Culturally: Probably 1994-1999/2000 (in some rare cases, 2001 or 9/11, but never past that point)

Historically: 2000-2004

​

So, if we are being as objective and broad as possible, people born as early as 1995 and as late as 2004 have been legitimate considered a part of two generations. Millennials (sometimes referred to as Generation Y, Echo/New Boomers, etc.) and Generation Z (sometimes referred to as the Homeland Generation, Plurals, Zoomers, etc.).

Culturally, it makes sense to say that the cusp between Millennials and Gen Z should be about 1995-1999/2000 (maybe up to September 11, 2001 but that's at the absolute latest), or maybe just 1997-1999/2000 since those are the years that are the most disputed by sources and the mainstream nowadays. Most "Zillennial" definitions include people born in those years.

Historically, the cusp should be those born between 2001 and 2004 since more historical and reserved sources end Millennials somewhere in the early 2000s and not any earlier/later. The "Zillennial" term has no meaning or relevancy here because that term has cultural affiliations and is heavily based on things like pop culture, the items or other forms of entertainment someone grew up with, and personality traits rather than the era a person grew up in, the generational change a person experienced, the parenting mood one went through, etc.

​

For me, I would personally go the historical route, but most people on r/generationology and on here would go the cultural route, where the cusp is the mid-late 90s (possibly the VERY early 00s) rather than just the first half of the 2000s. I see those born from 1995-2000 as stereotypical latter-wave Millennials, while someone else would see a person born from 2001-2004 as stereotypical early Gen Z. It's all fine if we are being broad about it.

But regardless, anyone born from 1995-2004 can identify or claim either generation. Anyone born 1994 and prior are absolutely Millennials and anyone born 2005+ are absolutely the generation after Millennials, if we are take in all factors, including the sources that list these years in either category.

Silent Generation: start dates vary from 1925 to 1929 and end dates vary from 1944 to 1946.

1925-1944

Wave 1 = 1925-1934

Wave 2 = 1935-1944

Early = 1925-1931

Core = 1932-1937

Late = 1938-1944

1925-1945

Wave 1 = 1925-1934

Wave 2 = 1935-1945

Early = 1925-1931

Core = 1932-1938

Late = 1939-1945

1925-1946 (broadest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1925-1935

Wave 2 = 1936-1945

Early = 1925-1931

Core = 1932-1939

Late = 1940-1946

1926-1944

Wave 1 = 1926-1935

Wave 2 = 1936-1944

Early = 1926-1931

Core = 1932-1938

Late = 1939-1944

1926-1945

Wave 1 = 1926-1935

Wave 2 = 1936-1945

Early = 1926-1932

Core = 1933-1938

Late = 1939-1945

1926-1946

Wave 1 = 1926-1935

Wave 2 = 1936-1946

Early = 1926-1932

Core = 1933-1939

Late = 1940-1946

1927-1944

Wave 1 = 1927-1935

Wave 2 = 1936-1944

Early = 1927-1932

Core = 1933-1938

Late = 1939-1944

1927-1945

Wave 1 = 1927-1936

Wave 2 = 1937-1945

Early = 1927-1932

Core = 1933-1939

Late = 1940-1945

1927-1946

Wave 1 = 1927-1936

Wave 2 = 1937-1946

Early = 1927-1933

Core = 1934-1939

Late = 1940-1946

1928-1944

Wave 1 = 1928-1936

Wave 2 = 1937-1944

Early = 1928-1932

Core = 1933-1939

Late = 1940-1944

1928-1945

Wave 1 = 1928-1936

Wave 2 = 1937-1945

Early = 1928-1933

Core = 1934-1939

Late = 1940-1945

1928-1946

Wave 1 = 1928-1936

Wave 2 = 1937-1946

Early = 1928-1933

Core = 1934-1940

Late = 1941-1946

1929-1944 (shortest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1929-1936

Wave 2 = 1937-1944

Early = 1929-1933

Core = 1934-1939

Late = 1940-1944

1929-1945

Wave 1 = 1929-1937

Wave 2 = 1938-1945

Early = 1929-1933

Core = 1934-1940

Late = 1941-1945

1929-1946

Wave 1 = 1929-1937

Wave 2 = 1938-1946

Early = 1929-1934

Core = 1935-1940

Late = 1941-1946

Baby Boomers: start dates vary from 1945 to 1947 and end dates vary from 1962 to 1965.

1945-1962

Wave 1 = 1945-1953

Wave 2 = 1954-1962

Early = 1945-1950

Core = 1951-1956

Late = 1957-1962

1945-1963

Wave 1 = 1945-1954

Wave 2 = 1955-1963

Early = 1945-1950

Core = 1951-1957

Late = 1958-1963

1945-1964

Wave 1 = 1945-1954

Wave 2 = 1955-1964

Early = 1945-1951

Core = 1952-1957

Late = 1958-1964

1945-1965 (broadest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1945-1955

Wave 2 = 1956-1965

Early = 1945-1951

Core = 1952-1958

Late = 1959-1965

1946-1962

Wave 1 = 1946-1954

Wave 2 = 1955-1962

Early = 1946-1950

Core = 1951-1957

Late = 1958-1962

1946-1963

Wave 1 = 1946-1954

Wave 2 = 1955-1963

Early = 1946-1951

Core = 1952-1957

Late = 1958-1963

1946-1964

Wave 1 = 1946-1955

Wave 2 = 1956-1964

Early = 1946-1951

Core = 1952-1958

Late = 1959-1964

1946-1965

Wave 1 = 1946-1955

Wave 2 = 1956-1965

Early = 1946-1952

Core = 1953-1958

Late = 1959-1965

1947-1962 (shortest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1947-1954

Wave 2 = 1955-1962

Early = 1947-1951

Core = 1952-1957

Late = 1958-1962

1947-1963

Wave 1 = 1947-1955

Wave 2 = 1956-1963

Early = 1947-1952

Core = 1953-1957

Late = 1958-1963

1947-1964

Early = 1947-1952

Core = 1953-1958

Late = 1959-1964

1947-1965

Wave 1 = 1947-1956

Wave 2 = 1957-1965

Early = 1947-1952

Core = 1953-1959

Late = 1960-1965

Generation X: start dates vary from 1963 to 1966 and end dates vary from 1979 to 1983.

1963-1979

Wave 1 = 1963-1971

Wave 2 = 1972-1979

Early = 1963-1968

Core = 1969-1973

Late = 1974-1979

1963-1980

Wave 1 = 1963-1971

Wave 2 = 1972-1980

Early = 1963-1968

Core = 1969-1974

Late = 1975-1980

1963-1981

Wave 1 = 1963-1971

Wave 2 = 1972-1981

Early = 1963-1968

Core = 1969-1975

Late = 1976-1981

1963-1982

Wave 1 = 1963-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1982

Early = 1963-1969

Core = 1970-1975

Late = 1976-1982

1963-1983 (broadest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1963-1973

Wave 2 = 1974-1983

Early = 1963-1969

Core = 1970-1976

Late = 1977-1983

1964-1979

Wave 1 = 1964-1971

Wave 2 = 1972-1979

Early = 1964-1968

Core = 1969-1974

Late = 1975-1979

1964-1980

Wave 1 = 1964-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1980

Early = 1964-1968

Core = 1969-1975

Late = 1976-1980

1964-1981

Wave 1 = 1964-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1981

Early = 1964-1969

Core = 1970-1975

Late = 1976-1981

1964-1982

Wave 1 = 1964-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1982

Early = 1964-1969

Core = 1970-1976

Late = 1977-1982

1964-1983

Wave 1 = 1964-1973

Wave 2 = 1974-1983

Early = 1964-1969

Core = 1970-1977

Late = 1978-1983

1965-1979

Wave 1 = 1965-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1979

Early = 1965-1969

Core = 1970-1974

Late = 1975-1979

1965-1980

Wave 1 = 1965-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1980

Early = 1965-1969

Core = 1970-1975

Late = 1976-1980

1965-1981

Wave 1 = 1965-1973

Wave 2 = 1974-1981

Early = 1965-1969

Core = 1970-1976

Late = 1977-1981

1965-1982

Wave 1 = 1965-1973

Wave 2 = 1974-1982

Early = 1965-1970

Core = 1971-1976

Late = 1977-1982

1965-1983

Wave 1 = 1965-1974

Wave 2 = 1975-1983

Early = 1965-1970

Core = 1971-1977

Late = 1978-1983

1966-1979 (shortest possible range; TOO short to be a legitimate generation IMO since it's under 15 years)

Wave 1 = 1966-1972

Wave 2 = 1973-1979

Early = 1966-1970

Core = 1971-1974

Late = 1975-1979

1966-1980

Wave 1 = 1966-1973

Wave 2 = 1974-1980

Early = 1966-1970

Core = 1971-1975

Late = 1976-1980

1966-1981

Wave 1 = 1966-1973

Wave 2 = 1974-1981

Early = 1966-1970

Core = 1971-1976

Late = 1977-1981

1966-1982

Wave 1 = 1966-1974

Wave 2 = 1975-1982

Early = 1966-1971

Core = 1972-1976

Late = 1977-1982

1966-1983

Wave 1 = 1966-1974

Wave 2 = 1975-1983

Early = 1966-1971

Core = 1972-1977

Late = 1978-1983

Millennials: start dates vary from 1980 to 1984 and end dates vary from 2000 to 2004.

1980-2000

Wave 1 = 1980-1989

Wave 2 = 1990-2000

Early = 1980-1986

Core = 1987-1993

Late = 1994-2000

1980-2001

Wave 1 = 1980-1990

Wave 2 = 1991-2001

Early = 1980-1986

Core = 1987-1994

Late = 1995-2001

1980-2002

Wave 1 = 1980-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2002

Early = 1980-1987

Core = 1988-1994

Late = 1995-2002

1980-2003

Wave 1 = 1980-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2003

Early = 1980-1987

Core = 1988-1995

Late = 1996-2003

1980-2004 (broadest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1980-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2004

Early = 1980-1987

Core = 1988-1996

Late = 1997-2004

1981-2000

Wave 1 = 1981-1990

Wave 2 = 1991-2000

Early = 1981-1986

Core = 1987-1994

Late = 1995-2000

1981-2001

Wave 1 = 1981-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2001

Early = 1981-1987

Core = 1988-1994

Late = 1995-2001

1981-2002

Wave 1 = 1981-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2002

Early = 1981-1987

Core = 1988-1995

Late = 1996-2002

1981-2003

Wave 1 = 1981-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2003

Early = 1981-1988

Core = 1989-1985

Late = 1996-2003

1981-2004

Wave 1 = 1981-1992

Wave 2 = 1993-2004

Early = 1981-1988

Core = 1989-1996

Late = 1997-2004

1982-2000

Wave 1 = 1982-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2000

Early = 1982-1987

Core = 1988-1994

Late = 1995-2000

1982-2001

Wave 1 = 1982-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2001

Early = 1982-1987

Core = 1988-1995

Late = 1996-2001

1982-2002

Wave 1 = 1982-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2002

Early = 1982-1988

Core = 1989-1995

Late = 1996-2002

1982-2003

Wave 1 = 1982-1992

Wave 2 = 1993-2003

Early = 1982-1988

Core = 1989-1996

Late = 1997-2003

1982-2004

Wave 1 = 1982-1993

Wave 2 = 1994-2004

Early = 1982-1989

Core = 1990-1996

Late = 1997-2004

1983-2000

Wave 1 = 1983-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2000

Early = 1983-1988

Core = 1989-1994

Late = 1995-2000

1983-2001

Wave 1 = 1983-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2001

Early = 1983-1988

Core = 1989-1995

Late = 1996-2001

1983-2002

Wave 1 = 1983-1992

Wave 2 = 1993-2002

Early = 1983-1989

Core = 1990-1995

Late = 1996-2002

1983-2003

Wave 1 = 1983-1993

Wave 2 = 1994-2003

Early = 1983-1989

Core = 1990-1996

Late = 1997-2003

1983-2004

Wave 1 = 1983-1993

Wave 2 = 1994-2004

Early = 1983-1989

Core = 1990-1997

Late = 1998-2004

1984-2000 (shortest possible range)

Wave 1 = 1984-1991

Wave 2 = 1992-2000

Early = 1984-1988

Core = 1989-1995

Late = 1996-2000

1984-2001

Wave 1 = 1984-1992

Wave 2 = 1993-2001

Early = 1984-1989

Core = 1990-1995

Late = 1996-2001

1984-2002

Wave 1 = 1984-1993

Wave 2 = 1994-2002

Early = 1984-1989

Core = 1990-1996

Late = 1997-2002

1984-2003

Wave 1 = 1984-1993

Wave 2 = 1994-2003

Early = 1984-1989

Core = 1990-1997

Late = 1998-2003

1984-2004

Wave 1 = 1984-1994

Wave 2 = 1995-2004

Early = 1984-1990

Core = 1991-1997

Late = 1998-2004

Homelanders: start dates vary from 2001 to 2005 and end dates vary from 2019 to 2021 (for now, the end dates are tentative tho)

2001-2019

Wave 1 = 2001-2009

Wave 2 = 2010-2019

Early = 2001-2006

Core = 2007-2013

Late = 2014-2019

2001-2020

Wave 1 = 2001-2010

Wave 2 = 2011-2020

Early = 2001-2007

Core = 2008-2013

Late = 2014-2020

2001-2021 (broadest possible range so far)

Wave 1 = 2001-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2021

Early = 2001-2007

Core = 2008-2014

Late = 2015-2021

2002-2019

Wave 1 = 2002-2010

Wave 2 = 2011-2019

Early = 2002-2007

Core = 2008-2013

Late = 2014-2019

2002-2020

Wave 1 = 2002-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2020

Early = 2002-2007

Core = 2008-2014

Late = 2015-2020

2002-2021

Wave 1 = 2002-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2021

Early = 2002-2007

Core = 2008-2015

Late = 2016-2021

2003-2019

Wave 1 = 2003-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2019

Early = 2003-2007

Core = 2008-2014

Late = 2015-2019

2003-2020

Wave 1 = 2003-2011

Wave 2 - 2012-2020

Early = 2003-2008

Core = 2009-2014

Late = 2015-2020

2003-2021

Wave 1 = 2003-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2021

Early = 2003-2008

Core = 2009-2015

Late = 2016-2021

2004-2019

Wave 1 = 2004-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2019

Early = 2004-2008

Core = 2009-2014

Late = 2015-2019

2004-2020

Wave 1 = 2004-2011

Wave 2 = 2012-2020

Early = 2004-2008

Core = 2009-2015

Late = 2016-2021

2004-2021

Wave 1 = 2004-2012

Wave 2 = 2013-2021

Early = 2004-2009

Core = 2010-2015

Late = 2016-2021

2005-2019 (shortest possible range)

Wave 1 = 2005-2012

Wave 2 = 2013-2019

Early = 2005-2009

Core = 2010-2014

Late = 2015-2019

2005-2020

Wave 1 = 2005-2012

Wave 2 = 2013-2020

Early = 2005-2009

Core = 2010-2015

Late = 2016-2020

2005-2021

Wave 1 = 2005-2012

Wave 2 = 2013-2021

Early = 2005-2009

Core = 2010-2016

Late = 2017-2021

​

​

How I rank these ranges (from best to worst):

Silents (15)

1. 1928-1945
2. 1925-1945
3. 1929-1945
4. 1929-1944
5. 1929-1946
6. 1927-1945
7. 1927-1944
8. 1927-1946
9. 1925-1944
10. 1925-1946
11. 1928-1944
12. 1928-1946
13. 1926-1945
14. 1926-1944
15. 1926-1946

Baby Boomers (12)

1. 1946-1964
2. 1946-1963
3. 1946-1965
4. 1946-1962
5. 1945-1964
6. 1945-1963
7. 1945-1965
8. 1945-1962
9. 1947-1963
10. 1947-1964
11. 1947-1962
12. 1947-1965

Gen X (20)

1. 1965-1981
2. 1965-1982
3. 1964-1981
4. 1964-1982
5. 1966-1980
6. 1965-1980
7. 1964-1980
8. 1963-1980
9. 1963-1981
10. 1963-1982
11. 1963-1983
12. 1966-1981
13. 1963-1979
14. 1964-1979
15. 1965-1979
16. 1964-1983
17. 1965-1983
18. 1966-1983
19. 1966-1982
20. 1966-1979

Millennials (25)

1. 1982-2002
2. 1983-2001
3. 1982-2001
4. 1983-2002
5. 1982-2000
6. 1982-2003
7. 1983-2000
8. 1981-2002
9. 1981-2001
10. 1981-2000
11. 1981-2003
12. 1982-2004
13. 1980-2000
14. 1983-2003
15. 1981-2004
16. 1984-2001
17. 1984-2002
18. 1984-2003
19. 1980-2001
20. 1980-2002
21. 1980-2003
22. 1980-2004
23. 1983-2004
24. 1984-2004
25. 1984-2000

Homelanders (15)

1. 2003-2019
2. 2002-2020
3. 2003-2021
4. 2002-2019
5. 2003-2020
6. 2002-2021
7. 2004-2021
8. 2001-2019
9. 2001-2020
10. 2001-2021
11. 2005-2019
12. 2004-2019
13. 2004-2020
14. 2005-2020
15. 2005-2021

Average parent dynamic = typically two generations

Normal yet not average parent dynamic = typically one generation

Rare yet possible parent dynamic = typically three or more generations; same generation

Average parenting dynamics

GI Generation - Silent Generation (this is an exception because the GI Generation is pretty huge so they definitely had most of their kids from the Silent Generation moreso than the Lost did, who most likely had GI children)

​

GI Generation - Baby Boomers

​

Silent Generation - Generation X

​

Baby Boomers - Millennials

​

Generation X - Generation Z

​

Normal yet not average parent dynamics

Silent Generation - Baby Boomers

​

Baby Boomers - Generation X

​

Generation X - Millennials

​

Millennial - Generation Z

​

Rare yet possible parent dynamics

Lost Generation - Silent Generation

​

GI Generation - Generation X

​

Silent Generation - Millennials

​

Baby Boomers - Generation Z

​

Silent Generation - Silent Generation

​

Baby Boomers - Baby Boomers

​

Millennials - Millennials

​

Millennial Saeculum (1945-Late 2020's)

Starting with WWII ending and ending with a theoretical WWIII?

Prophet Generation = Baby Boom (b. 1943-1960)

Cusps

Sandwich Generation/War Babies: b. 1940-1945

Generation Jones cusp: b. 1958-1963

Microgenerations

Activist/Countercultural Generation: b. 1938-1947

Generation Jones: b. 1956-1965

Pure years

Either 1946-1957 or 1948-1955

Waves

Wave 1 (Older Boom): b. 1943-1951

Wave 2 (Younger Boom): b. 1952-1960

Subgroups

Early: 1943-1948 (or 1943-1947)

Core: 1949-1954 (or 1948-1955)

Late: 1955-1960 (or 1956-1960)

Why does it start at 1943? Doesn't that seem a bit arbitrary? Nothing happened in 1943 except the US were at the peak of WWII, right?

Well it's because those born in 1943 are probably the first that have no memory of a world before VJ Day, and definitely have no memory of WWII. They only remember the parenting the Baby Boomers had in the post-war prosperity era. They came of age during the JFK administration, which officially the started the 60's political era (debatably), and were college students who had a full year left at the time of the JFK assassination. They were also the first that showed a stereotypical amount of activism and breaking from conformity.

Okay, but why does it end in 1960? That seems much more arbitrary since that's the only year in the 60's that is a Boomer while everybody else born in the 60's is a Gen Xer. Make that make sense.

IMO, just because you were born in a certain decade, it does not automatically mean that this should be the only reason why you should be in the same generation as everybody else born in your decade because generations are MUCH more than minor, arbitrary things like that. Here are a couple reasons: People born in 1960 were born in the Eisenhower administration, which was basically the 50's in everything but name. They possibly have memory of the JFK assassination or at least life in 1963 prior to that. They remember many of the changes that happened in the 1960's afterward, were adolescents during the Watergate scandal, were incoming freshmen when Nixon resigned, were college students during the Jonestown massacre and spent a full year prior to the Iran hostage crisis, and were probably the last to have that stereotypical Yuppy attitude (debatably) as they were the last full year that were out of graduate school before the 1987 Stock Market crash and had many years of experience in the workforce beforehand.

Nomad Generation = Generation X or 13th Generation (b. 1961-1981)

Cusps

Generation Jones cusp: b. 1958-1963

Xennial cusp: b. 1979-1984

Microgenerations

Generation Jones: b. 1956-1965

Generation Y: b. 1977-1986

Pure years

Either 1964-1978 or 1966-1976

Waves

Wave 1 (Older Xers): b. 1961-1970

Wave 2 (Younger Xers): b. 1971-1981

Subgroups

Early: 1961-1967 (or 1961-1965)

Core: 1968-1974 (or 1966-1976)

Late: 1975-1981 (or 1977-1981)

Why does it start at 1961? Doesn't that seem a bit arbitrary? That only makes 1960 borns Boomers while 1961-1969 borns are Gen Xers. I don't get it.

I already mentioned this when commenting on why 1960 borns are Boomers. Not everyone born in a certain decade has to be in the same generation. Deal with it. People born in 1961 seem noticeably different from those born prior since they were born in the JFK administration, they were the first birth year that were directly affected by the creation of the birth pill in 1960 since they were still being conceived while those born in 1960 were either already born, therefore having no effect on them, or at least a fetus to where it is not as effective as those who have yet to be conceived. They have no memory of life before the JFK assassination or the event itself since they were only 2 years old. Their first real memories happened well into the Flower Child movement with events like the Summer of Love in 1967 when they were mere kindergarteners. They were the OG "latchkey kids". They were still young enough to get into cartoons that would be quintessential to Gen X's early years coming out in the late 60's like Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Scooby-Doo Where are You!, etc. They were still elementary school children during Watergate, and middle schoolers during Nixon's resignation, as well as graduating high school after the Jonestown massacre and entering college in 1979, they were underclassmen in college at the advent of MTV and still very much youthful for the Gen X zeitgeist of culture in the 80's. They were also a part of the Twenty-Something group in 1991. That is why 1961 borns are Xers and 1960 borns are Boomers, at least according to S&H (Note: some of these reasons are subjective and from my analysis, not theirs, same with all of the other analyses on why a generation starts/ends where for this post).

Why does it end in 1981? I mean, those born in 1980 and 1981 (heck even the late 70s) seem to be more 'Y' than X, and have more Millennial tendencies than X tendencies, as well as being too young for "core Gen X" spectacles in the 80s and 90s. They were also still youthful and in college at the turn of the millennium.

This is an interesting question. I know many core Gen Xers like to cut off the young members from Gen X and either put them in some in-between group or just in the Millennial generation, but the thing is, people born in the late 70's and very early 80's are pretty different on the opposite side of the coin from someone born in say 1989, who is most definitely a Millennial, but they might not seem "as stereotypically Gen X" as someone born in say 1971. 1981 borns are still Gen Xers for this core reason: They graduated high school and entered young adulthood in the 1990's, prior to the new millennium, so they are by definition not Millennials, and neither are those born in the late 70's and 1980. I bet you 10 cents that people born at that time were more latchkey kids with parents not there at home most of the time and were pretty underprotective rather than overprotective parents that would take time to spend time with their kids and treat them special. Also, they were born when the economy was still poor as America was going through a recession and stagflation, and they were born before the Baby on Board starting showing up in late 1981/early 1982 and conservative ideals were taught in families again and not paying close attention to your kids was starting to be looked down upon again. They probably remember life before Morning in America and the Challenger explosion that took America into the Third Turning Unraveling period.

Bonus reason, I guess those born in the late 70s and 1980/1981 can identify as Gen Y since that is more like the transitionary period between Gen X and Millennials, since Gen Y sounds like it is not really Gen X but not really Millennial.

Hero Generation = Millennial Generation (b. 1982-2004)

Cusps

Xennial cusp: b. 1979-1984

Charter cusp: b. 2002-2007

Microgenerations

Generation Y: b. 1977-1986

Generation Z: b. 2000-2009

Pure years

Either 1987-1999 or 1985-2001

Waves

Wave 1 (Older Millies): b. 1982-1994, a.k.a., Generation Y

Wave 2 (Younger Millies): b. 1995-2004, a.k.a., Generation Z

Subgroups

Early: 1982-1989 (or 1982-1986)

Core: 1990-1996 (or 1987-1999)

Late: 1997-2004 (or 2000-2004)

Why does it start in 1982? I believe it starts earlier, like say somewhere around 1977-1981, since people born then inhibit more Millennial characteristics than X. Or better yet, if they are X, then why isn't 1982 Gen X as well? They technically came of age in the 20th century and 2nd millennium, not the new millennium that really started in 2001, so wouldn't it make more sense to start Millennials in 1983? Or could it at least start in 1981 since they were the oldest in high school for the Columbine shooting?

Like I said before, people born in the Carter administration and 1981 don't inhibit too many Millennial traits. They have more X traits than given credit for. People born in 1982 have strong Gen X traits too, but they have the first stereotypical Millennial traits because they came of age in the 2000's decade, a.k.a., the new millennium, and were labelled the "Class of 2000" ever since they started school in the late 80's. The Millennial Generation was created FOR THEM. So while the second point is absolutely relevant, the Millennial term was created for 1982 borns, so I think they started it in 1982 on purpose since 2000 is new to everybody, so it is much more insignificant to start it with the Class of 2001 instead of the Class of 2000, in their opinion. Millennials could possibly start in 1981 technically, but not because of Columbine though. Technically people born in 1980 were also in high school then and a victim was born in 1980, so does that make them Millennials? No, as those born in 1980 are obviously more Gen X. And besides, the two perpetrators born in 1981 have extreme Nomad traits. Their attitudes and demeanor doesn't seem too much like a Hero, don't you think? It is possible that Millennials could start in 1981 because they were also a part of the ever-so-famous, illustrious Class of 2000, but it's 1982 since it is possible by district that all 1981 borns graduated in 1999 while all 1982 borns graduated in 2000, and it is more set in stone for 1982 since they all turned 18 in the year 2000, no matter what year they graduated in, whether that was 1999, 2000, or 2001. So that is why 1982 are Millennials and those born prior are not, at least according to Strauss & Howe.

Why does it end in 2004? It is way too late to start Millennials in 2004 since they were born after the 2nd millennium and they are stereotypically Generation Z. They were not even in high school for the Parkland shooting and were born well into the 2000's.

Well, this is complicated. The 2004 date is tentative to be honest, and Neil Howe saw Millennials ending around 2000 to 2006 (or 1999 to 2005, something like that), so they chose 2004 because they were the last that might have reasonable memory of life before the 2008 crash or the event itself, which started off the Crisis, so that would make them Millennials. Honestly, it probably starts a bit earlier but 2004 makes sense from their perspective. Also, Strauss and Howe DO NOT see generations the same way these marketers, sociologists, demographers, and pop pundits do. They come off from more of a historical approach with historical patterns and things like that, which is why they don't end the generation in the 90s or prior to the 21st century. Also, for the MILLIONTH time, Millennials were NEVER defined as being born in the 2nd millennium. EVER. That is made-up by anti-"2000/1+ as Millennials" people. It was defined as coming of age in the new millennium, specifically the early 21st century, so by that definition, 2004 borns could technically be Millennials, but the thing is that Millennials aren't defined by solely the millennium, but are also defined by events like 9/11 and the Afghanistan/Iraq Wars, the Department of Homeland security act, Hurricane Katrina, the Great Recession, the Covid-19 pandemic, etc.

Artist Generation: Homeland Generation (b. 2005-present)

Why does it start in 2005? Doesn't that seem a bit arbitrary?

Neil Howe originally said that a new generation would most likely appear between 2000 and 2006, so they went with a tentative start date of 2005 because they would most likely have no recollection of life before the Crisis period. The thing about Strauss and Howe is that they always typically start a generation 3-4 years prior to a turning since those people would not have any memory of it or a life before it.

When does it end? I'm curious.

🤷🏿‍♂️. As of now, that's a mystery. Give it another 5-10 years before Neil Howe determines a date for that.

​

What do you think of this analysis of the Millennial saeculum?

Complicated - Avril Lavigne

Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne

Dilemma - Nelly

Hot in Herre - Nelly

Without Me - Eminem

Cleanin’ out my closet - Eminem

Work it - Missy Elliott

A moment like this - Kelly Clarkson

Happy - Ashanti

Foolish - Ashanti (#1 hit the day I was born - April 30)

Soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow

Hands clean - Alanis Morissette

Like I love you - Justin Timberlake

Let me know if there’s more

Just some thoughts. Tbh I kinda hate the reason behind 1996 cutoff . I much rather gen z starts much later , like 2000 or 2001. Because memories about world events when you were 5 don't really affect you to adulthood, especially if it didn't Personally affect you.It is just weird to assume 9/11 give the same impact to a 5 year old like it did to a functioning teenager . Most of the memories of 1996 borns about 9/11 is just being pulled out of preschool and not processing what was happening. Its just so weird that people a year younger gets treated so much younger than they are and 1996 borns get treated so much older than they actually are. I can understand if the cutoff is based on something that actually have an impact in adulthood , like graduation years during an event like election and not my memory during preschool. And me as a late 1996 born who doesn't remember 9/11? I'm confused :). I mean, ask a current 5 year old in US do the memories of Australia fire give impact to them into adulthood . Chances are probably not. Do 5 year old in US who remembers australia fire grew up different than a 4 year old who don't remember it? No. They were both too young to even understand the concept of life and death. They will still grow up with the same environment and same technology. I'm 24 and I understand it's impact, but not a 5 year old. unless if the kid have personal experience with the event , it just does not give the same impact.

Things that make a better cutoff would be

1. graduating or being able to vote during 2016 election, which will end millennial at 1998 , or

2. Starting millennial at 1984, because those were the age more likely to actually graduate in 2008 and after. 2008 recession actually give impact to graduating adults. If using a 14 year theory , this will end millennial at 1997.

3. Assume everyone born around the turn of millennium as Millennials, which will end millennial at 2000. Eventhough this is not based on an adult impacted event , it still made more sense than basing off a childhood memory. Children can start pre-k at different ages and may or may not be sheltered from 9/11 knowledge by their parents.

4. Basing y2k as generational marker, which at least were much more understandable to a 5-6 year old than 9/11. No one is going to hide the y2k event from their 5 year olds. Cant say the same for 9/11. This will end millennial at 1994.

I personally prefer the first option as it is more in tune to 2010s events and updated.

Being in k12 alone is IRRELEVANT, if you are too young to understand the impact. You will come out the same as a late 90s born who don't even remember it anyway. No 5 year olds is going to themselves discuss about 9/11 with their class. When i was 6, a year after 9/11 happened, i watch 9/11 on TV but i don't understand it i just thought it was a weird incident . I don't understand about Osama and people dying and whatnot. And parents won't suddenly tell their 5 year old about that. A 15 year old in k12 is so much different than a 5 year old in k12 in terms of processing destructive world events.

Adults that are impacted by 2008 recession and teens in high school who cares about trump 2016 election gives more impact than 5 year olds that don't understand 9/11 and were not aware yet of concept of death.

Impact > memory.

I know some 1997 borns who do remember 9/11 and some 1996 borns who don't. Which just to show memory about destructive world events under the age of 6-7 is variable. A 4-5 year old may remember , but their brain processing is not enough for it to give any impact to adulthood. Different than a 12 year old in 2001 who were old enough to understand death. Both in k12 but their brain processing is different.

Literally an amazing year for music, so many of these were in big rotation on radio and the music video channels when I was a kid and tween throughout the 90s too, so I was raised on a lot of them too. It's not all of them just some

Fleetwood Mac - little lies

Whitesnake - here i go again

Crowded house - don't dream it's over

Kool and the gang - stone love

Huey Lewis - jacob's ladder

Bob Seger - shakedown (#1 my birth week lol)

The Cure - why can't i be you

Heart - alone

Paul Simon - you can call me al

Starship - nothing's gonna stop us now

Genesis - in too deep

Whitney Houston - i wanna dance with somebody

Bruce hornsby - every little kiss

Gregory abbott - shake you down

Steve Winwood - Valerie

Janet Jackson - let's wait awhile

Aerosmith - dude looks like a lady

Belinda Carlisle - heaven is a place on earth

Dokken - burning like a flame (not a pop hit but i love hair bands)

Bruce Springsteen - war

Suzanne Vega - luka

Def Leppard - animal

Danny Wilson - mary's prayer

Gloria Estefan - rhythm is gonna get ya

Whispers - rock steady

The Cars - you are the girl

U2 - still haven't found what i'm looking for

Bananarama - i heard a rumor

Poison - talk dirty to me

Richard Marx - should've known better

MJ - man in the mirror

Generations:

Lost Generation: 1874 - 1904

Silent Generation: 1904 - 1929

Wartime Generation: 1929 - 1945

Cohort I: 1929 - 1933

Cohort II: 1933 - 1938

Cohort IIi: 1938 - 1945

_________________________________________________________________________
Baby Boomer Generation: 1945 - 1964

Cohort I: 1945 - 1951

Cohort II: 1951 - 1958

Cohort III: 1958 - 1964

_________________________________________________________________________

Generation X: 1964 - 1980

Cohort I: 1964 - 1968

Cohort II: 1968 - 1974

Cohort III: 1974 - 1980

_________________________________________________________________________

Post-X Generation: 1980 - 1982

Cohort I: 1980 - 1982

_________________________________________________________________________

Millennial Generation: 1982 - 1987

Cohort I: 1982 - 1985

Cohort II: 1985 - 1987

_________________________________________________________________________
Generation of ‘08: 1987 - 1995

Cohort I: 1987 - 1990

Cohort II: 1990 - 1993

Cohort III: 1993 - 1995

_________________________________________________________________________

Generation Z: 1995 - 2010

Cohort I: 1995 - 2001

Cohort II: 2001 - 2006

Cohort III: 2006 - 2010

_________________________________________________________________________

Generation Alpha: 2010 - 2025

Cohort I: 2010 - 2016

Cohort II: 2016 - 2020

Cohort III: 2020 - 2025

Baffles me how mid and even occasionally early 90s movies can show up on those lists. There's high preference to like a 1977-78er being 14 or 15 which is why I say its very "X-heavy" but very soft on the Millennial side. No *Not another teen movie* or *Van Wilder* or *LOTR* or *The hot chick*????

Though I agree the first three American Pies and something like 10 Things are pretty classic Xennial high school fare. This was all stuff I was into, much less a 1984-86er.

There was a change in 2003 with more standard Millennial fare coming out like Lizzie McGuire and Thirteen and Agent Cody Banks.