generation x

a.k.a. gen x, GenX, 13th generation

(pronounced: jenn-X)

The generation of Americans born to the baby boomers, this includes people born between 1965 - 1980.

It's a popular marketing notion to segment an audience into a particular demographic, and "GenXers" are known for making the transition between the old way of doing things and the new way. With a focus on a better balance between work and personal life, GenX demands in the workplace have resulted in more part-time jobs, telecommuting, self-employment, flex time, significant-other insurance coverage, and a variety of alternative work arrangements.

FYI, here's how the generations play out:

  • Traditionalists are born between 1928 - 1945
  • Baby boomers are born between 1946 - 1964
  • Generation X are born between 1965 - 1980
  • Generation Y are born between 1981 - 1995
  • Generation Z are born between 1996 - 2009
  • Generation Alpha are born between 2010 - 2024 
  • Generation Beta will be born between 2025 - 2039

Historical perspective: The term Generation X was actually coined by photographer Robert Capa in the early 1950s when he used it as a title for a photo-essay about young men and women growing up immediately after the Second World War (the 'X' referred to the unknown). However when Douglas Coupland published "Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture" in 1991, it came to refer to the population post-baby boomers.

NetLingo Classification: Online Marketing

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