My Generation
John Zogby, in his book The Way We’ll Be , divides up Americans into four distinct generations. We refer to these generations frequently when discussing data on this blog, so here is a brief primer for those of you unfamiliar with these names.
The Private Generation is composed of those born between 1926 and 1945. Writes John Zogby, “The Private Generation grew to adulthood mostly without questioning received American values.” They came of age during WWII and the early years of the Cold War and statistically are most likely to oppose equal rights for gays and women, to favor closed borders and a unilateral foreign policy.
The Woodstock Generation is composed of those born between 1946 and 1964. Woodstockers’ coming of age was marked by – among other things – fights over civil rights and racial equality, the war in Vietnam, feminism, premarital sex, and the environment. Yet “Woodstockers have mellowed with time and drifted to the right politically. By their thirties, Woodstockers were solidly in the Reagan camp; in their fourties, they barely gave Bill Clinton the nod.”
The Nike Generation is composed of those born between 1965 and 1978. With their early years marked by political assassinations, presidential scandals, oil embargoes, military losses, high divorce rates, and the beginnings of the AIDS crisis, this generation learned that “no institution is permanent, that all relationships are fleeting, and that some are very dangerous”. Statistically, this is the most libertarian generation in America, the least likely to believe in government as a problem solver, and the least loyal overall to most religious, civil, and political institutions.
The First Global Generation is composed of those born between 1979 and 1990. First Globals “have two distinct souls – one highly materialistic and self absorbed, and the other caring, tolerant, and possessed of a wisdom well beyond its years.” Statistically, First Globals are the most cosmopolitan age group in America, the most international, and the one most concerned about the environment and human rights.
How well do you fit your generation? What additional differences do you see in your own experience between the generations above?
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Jon. You should congratulate yurself for being able to think for yourself. It is a fading characteristic of people today. I am afraid that as long as the corporations have a stranglehold on our very existence,things are going to continue to be bleak,for the individual,communities,states,countries,and ultimately the world. We,the people of the world,have become the serfs of these modern day feudal lords. In reading your comments I was reminded of a song by the group Steppenwolf. The song was titled “Monster”. The song spoke to this dilemma 40 years ago.
There is a monster on the loose
it’s got our heads into a noose
and it just sits there watching
America where are you now
don’t you care about your sons and daughters
don’t you know we need you now
we can’t fight alone against the monster
Man I wish we could find that American spirit that seemed so prevalent during my youth. Was it ever really there? Or was it too propaganda to keep the serfs tolling along for the corporate masters? Peace!!
@Susan M
Susan and I could be twins in most ways. I’m a 39er and don’t fit into my generation at all. It makes it a bit harder during gatherings of my peers since their lives were more orderly and constrained than mine. I had a career in all facets of nursing including nursing education and as a legal nurse consultant, an unexpected divorce and successful second marriage, two adopted kids, years spent overseas, grew up in Joe McCarthy’s home town, Appleton, Wisconsin but have been a liberal most of my life and now live in right wing Texas where I really don’t fit very well. I had a solid Protestant background as a kid but left religion early on and have not returned further making me an odd-ball here.
The journalists really have been in love with the Woodstockers and spent no time at all studying our generation. Thus it will always be. I am having a great life despite the “anonymity” in the press!
I am part of the Woodstock Generation and took part in & survived all that took place. I have leaned more to the Republicans as I get older, but as a great supporter of Bill Clinton and many of the preceding Democrats. I never agreed with Ronald Regean’s trickle down theory of economics. I see how President Johnson’s “Great Society” was well intentioned and created generations of welfare families that have lost the motivation to get and education, a job, better themselves and their families.
I do not agree with most entitlement programs, and as an employee of New York State I see how wasted our tax dollars are. I believe since I earned the money I have a right to share it with whom I choose. Our elected officials in Washington D.C. do not live by the same tax and health insurance rules that we do. It’s is getting to be time for another mass wake up call, before there is no middle class left to tax.
I don’t fit my generation profile at all.I was born in ‘48 Not right leaning-did not trust Reagan. ‘Loved Bill Clinton (still do), was a devoted follower of Molly Ivins ’till the day she died. (Bush et al ?…BLEHH !)I really miss her….I wonder every day what she would say about current events.
I too am different from the stereotype portrayed as “my generation”.Born in 1942 I object to so many of my peers not changing with the times.I spent 8 years during the Bush administration concerned that if the trend toward backward thinking would continue, we,as a country, would be in big trouble.
As a part of the Woodsstock generation I saw many things. Drugs sex & rock and roll. Many of my friends didn’t survive the drugs.Make Love Not War was our cry. It was so naive. Yet the treatment of our vets was horrific!!
My Dad finally opened up a spoke of WWII and the horror he saw. How profoundly it had chanced him. He said there was evil in the world and those people can’t not be reasoned with, they just want to kill you.
What I saw in my dad’s eyes was fear and profound sadness.
I’m a republican now,but I vote on issues. Govt. has gotten too big. This move towards socialist is wrong. Sooner or later you will run out of other peoples money.
I never did any protesting in the 60’s but at the start of the bailouts I felt a need to take a stand. I have been at two Tea Parties and will continue speak out.
Was born in 1946, and was a rebel. Public education has this smell to it and it still does, never could get over it, and how it influenced my generation. We are the foolish generation, for we lessened to public education and made it into our God.
The statement in this original article is facinatingly accurate. I am of the so-called “Nike Generation”. Although I never wear Nikes, I am a very hard core libertarian, born in 1975, and believe gov’t is to blame for most of societies ills.
I find it interesting how blind democrats are to facts. The Republicans are the same way. I used to be a Republican (registered in the state of Nebraska), but I have decided that they are even too left wing for my tastes. People need to wake up and realize that we need massive change in this country. We need to get rid of all of this entitlement spending and we need to quit spending so much on the court system, police, and jails/jailers. We have a real problem in this country and I fear that there is no where else left to run when things completely go to sh*t here.
Joel
I’m of the Woodstock generation, born 1949. The Zogby description was me till I started getting older. I find myself turning more and more liberal. I see the conservative policies of the past 30 years as more self serving than the individualistic patriotic idealism I believed it to be for so long. I am much more in tuned to my fellow man these days and improving the lot of the common person. The Democrats seem to be more concerned than conservatives with the common good. Health care is a prime example, but there are many more issues. To say that I have become dissolutioned with my conservative roots is an understatement.
I’m Woodstock also, 1952. I think Zogby must have mis-interpreted his answers on his polls because I am more a conglomeration of Woodstock through Nike generation and a die hard liberal. Many of my friends are a mix also.
I think perhaps the problem lies in the way questions are asked there is no lee way for a persons answers, it is either this answer or that answer. Maybe Mr. Zogby needs to revise the way this site asks questions on their polls.
The private generation seems to be spot on in his description of them however. Wonder why that is.
@Bobbie
I was born in 1943 and, although I grew up mostly in the 50’s, (glad of it) and was from a conservative but not very outspoken family, I found over the years that I also had some liberal leanings, i.e. gay rights, women’s right to choose, etc. I just dislike being pigeon holed!
Today, I am a Conservative. Neither Republican and definitely not what the Democrats/Progressives have become.
Do we all have to be labeled??
I am somewhat multigenerational. Parents were so Woodstock generation that my early influence was overwhelming. It turned me off to the “Make Love Not War” people so much I joined the military almost in protest. 21 years of service later and so many tours around the world I don’t remember them all I can consider myself influenced by the world as a whole now instead of just the United States. Seeing how good and bad different political groups are in other countries, then looking at our political system, social system, and yes religion systems, you realize we are as screwed up as the rest of them. Unfortunately, our government is following many other countries where politics has become intrusive and big government has invaded their lives until it becomes too large to support itself and fails. I have seen absolute poverty, decay, war, censorship, and tyrannical control first hand. I have seen peace, prosperity, growth, health, and freedom. The unfortunate part is that I have never really seen them in the same place at the same time. The United States currently seems to be heading into a decline and it is being lead by the government in all of its current forms, Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, and other.
I am in the so-called “Woodstock” generation.And for sure,when I was young,I did fit in that thinking.To paraphrase what Winston Churchill once said, When you are young and you aren’t a liberal,you don’t have a heart.When you are older and you aren’t conservative,you don’t have a brain.I was once very liberal.That was back during the Viet Nam days.Now I am a libertarian.I see that the liberal way of thinking is too naive.A liberal doesn’t understand that there is no free lunch and every action requires a reaction to keep the balance.We are about to go into decline as a nation because of naive thinking.We have to pay for what we do and what we have,we cannot pass it on to the next generation as we have done in the past.The bill is coming due.Our new president is a prime example of naive thinking.A nice guy I am sure but he has no clue about how to be a leader.Conservative fiscal and liberal social thinking would let us be a great nation again.Pay for your own way and as long as you don’t hurt someone else,power to you.And speaking of naive,that is one description that Zogby left off of his list pertaining to the “Global” generation.
I was born in 1934. I am completely different than your depiction of my generation. I spent most of my working life in other countries working on contracts for NASA. I think working overseas most of my life caused me to have a much different outlook on life. As another person commented, your survey does not leave room for expanded answers, only multiple choices.
My Gerneration: Private-
I was raised by people born in the 1800’s(my grandparents). I could survive on my land now.
This Private Gerneration is the can do-will do-of this world.
Woodstock: Some of you made it out of this mess with some brains. Some did not (Hanoi Jane). We treated our Vets like rats. These people, I had nothing to do with-would not shop at their store etc.STILL WANT! Some of you did grow up and were part of the Reagan Movement. Thank you! After Carter – we were a mess! We had small businesses then.
Nike: They thought they were more powerful than GOD. Some still do!
Global Warning: What a mess this is-been through this for the third time in my life. It’s all about money and power! Give the scientists money and they will shut up-Gore is a millionaire now — He does not have the brains to make that money for himself–he will fad in the past soon, I hope! What do you think about the “green” house he built? DO AS HE SAYS-NOT AS HE DOES!
COSMPOLIIAN: Me, Me, Me, FIRST AND TO HELL W/YOU!
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There are no rules of life anymore-our government-congress proves this point everyday. The “I will keep my seat in congress crowd, needs to be thrown out and term limits put on them NOW!
There is an excuse for everything–drugs, alcohol, child-molesters-we have poured money into these virus’-calling them medical problems–
it’s not a medical problem when you have to bend your elbow to drink-reach out to take drugs-molest children–”the devil made me do it!” Right! Wrong, very wrong. My opinion! I am registered Dem. too! Go figure!
Good article!
I was born in 62. My brothers and sisters were older and more of the Woodstock Gen. But I am sad to see that ANY of the Woodstock Generation “lean” towards EITHER side of the Hill. To be so “in tune” and “socially aware” back then, they have completely given in to the establishment they supposedly detested.
For Woodstock Gen to put ANY faith in the government is a complete oxymoron. What was supposed to be a revolution, turned out to be just one big acid trip. And I HATE that, because Woodstock meant so much more than that. Or so I thought.
I plead with all who can remember the days of “freedom”, this will not be found under ANY government rule. For your sons and daughters who live in the shadow of your dreams, make them realities. It is time to take as stand, more than then. More than ever.
Unfortunately for the generations that followed, the Woodstock Gen was a complete facade who became part of the establishment they supposedly detested.
I don’t believe in either Right or Left. Nor do I “lean’ towards an “Independent”.
I just happened upon this website, so I doubt I will know to return. I just hope that the Woodstock Generation remember what it was they stood for, not which SIDE they stood for.