Gen X or Gen Y or Both??

I was chatting with my friend Jennifer today and we got to talking about the different generations and characteristics of the generations. We have lots of random conversations, usually taking place on my 3 hour car rides to and from work each week. Most of our conversations are blog related or life related, but sometimes we venture into the unknown. Like today. 😉 LOL

So according to our source (thanks Jenn for finding this!), there are 6 current living generations. I was curious as to which generation I “fit” into because I fall on the line between 2 different generations. Gen X and Gen Y. I was born in 1981 (yes, I know I am old…lol) and depending on who you talk to about this topic, I’m either a Gen X or Gen Y. I like to think I’m more of an X than Y. And here’s my reason…

Characteristics of a Gen X…

// Born between 1965 and 1980* See that Astrix? I’m on the line at 1981.
// The “latch-key kids” grew up street-smart but isolated, often with divorced or career-driven parents. Latch-Key came from the house key kids wore around their neck, because they would go home from school to an empty house. I walked home from school to an empty house.
// Entrepreneurial. If you don’t know me, then let me introduce you to me…the Jane of All Trades. 😉
// Very individualistic. I like to think so.
// Government and big business mean little to them. I would totally agree with this statement.
// Want to save the neighborhood, not the world Agreed.
// Feel misunderstood by other generations Not quite sure on this one.
// Cynical of many major institutions, which failed their parents, or them, during their formative years and are therefore eager to make marriage work and “be there” for their children I am very cynical of lots of government programs.
// Don’t “feel” like a generation, but they are No feeling one way or the other on this statement.
// Raised in the transition phase of written based knowledge to digital knowledge archives; most remember being in school without computers and then after the introduction of computers in middle school or high school I remember being in school with a computer that had a green screen, but really didn’t see one of those until 6th grade.
// Desire a chance to learn, explore and make a contribution A big amen to this statement.
// Tend to commit to self rather than an organization or specific career. This generation averages 7 career changes in their lifetime, it was not normal to work for a company for life, unlike previous generations. I do commit to myself, but I have also committed to the organizations that I have worked for…however I can say that I have had several career changes in my 32 years of life.
// Society and thus individuals are envisioned as disposable. Seriously? I don’t agree that people are disposable.
// Beginning obsession of individual rights prevailing over the common good, especially if it is applicable to any type of minority group. I am definitely for equality amongst each other, but I don’t necessarily like it shoved down my throat.
// School problems were about drugs. And forest fires.
// Late to marry (after cohabitation) and quick to divorce…many single parents. I don’t think I was late to marry. Married at 25. And am definitely not on track for a divorce. I do NOT like failing at things. 😉
// Into labels and brand names. Yes and No on this one…if it’s cheap enough and I love it, then I’ll buy it. I do tend to stick to a series of brands once I find something that fits right (clothing).
// Want what they want and want it now but struggling to buy, and most are deeply in credit card debt. This is my hubby to a T minus the credit card debt.
// It is has been researched that they may be conversationally shallow because relating consists of shared time watching video movies, instead of previous generations. I would not say that I am conversationally shallow. At all.
// Short on loyalty & wary of commitment; all values are relative…must tolerate all peoples. I am fiercely loyal and not wary of commitment.
// Self-absorbed and suspicious of all organization. I am not self-absorbed but would say that I’m typically suspicious of the most governmental organizations.
// Survivors as individuals. I was playing by myself as a toddler. I am okay being by myself. I am very much an individual, but I do know how to work in a group. I did learn what sharing means…although I’m very territorial with my possessions. Truth.
// Cautious, skeptical, unimpressed with authority, self-reliant. Yes and No.

Generation Y/Millennium

// Born between 1981* and 2000*. Right on the border at 1981
// Aka “The 9/11 Generation” “Echo Boomers” America’s next great generation brings a sharp departure from Generation X.
// They are nurtured by omnipresent parents, optimistic, and focused. Don’t fit this.
// Respect authority. I do respect authority, but sometimes I can butt heads when I need to.
// Falling crime rates. Falling teen pregnancy rates. But with school safety problems; they have to live with the thought that they could be shot at school, they learned early that the world is not a safe place. I experienced this as a high schooler. I was in high school when the Columbine shootings occurred. This was the first real threat I felt at being in school (even though I was in Arkansas). Just brought in a fear that hadn’t been there before.
// They schedule everything. I’m a procrastinator to the T…but I do like having a schedule.
// They feel enormous academic pressure. Nah.
// They feel like a generation and have great expectations for themselves. Nah.
// Prefer digital literacy as they grew up in a digital environment. Have never known a world without computers! They get all their information and most of their socialization from the Internet. I do like technology…and I have known a world without computers. It’s been ages ago though.
// Prefer to work in teams. Depends.
// With unlimited access to information tend to be assertive with strong views. Agreed.
// Envision the world as a 24/7 place; want fast and immediate processing. Definitely have times where I’m like, it’s 2013 and there’s no cell reception here??!!
// They have been told over and over again that they are special, and they expect the world to treat them that way. This was definitely my brother’s take on life. Not mine.
// They do not live to work, they prefer a more relaxed work environment with a lot of hand holding and accolades. Definitely my brother and not me.

So there you have it….I belong to 2 different generations. Where do you fit?