I stumbled on the best documentary on America's Generations by Chuck Underwood on PBS the other afternoon. A generation covers about 20 years. The first ten years the kids are influenced by their parents. The second ten years they are defined by some special circumstances that occurred then. Usually the generation does not get its name until 10 to 15 years after occurrence.
The GI (GI generation) was influenced by the Great Depression and WWII.
The Silent Generation is one of conformity and materialism. Coming after the war, rationing, and the depression this generation wanted things and for everyone to get along. This is my generation.
The Baby Boomers were all into youth empowerment and activism. Drugs, free love, and helping society. There were so many Boomers that they influenced everything and they knew it.
The Gen X generation was influenced by family, stress, and computers. In the 60's parents were getting divorced in great numbers. The Gen Xers were up in their rooms playing videos games. They were into solo activities.
The Millennium generation (they did not want to be called Gen Y) is influenced by tech, over-parenting (the helicopter parent), and corporate corruption. There was a big shift in education with cooperative education coming into play. The group worked together for a common grade. The Gen Exers said Yuck to that idea. The Mils witnessed 9/11, Katrina, Haiti, the tsuname in Japan, school shootings, the Gulf oil spill. They are big on community service now, like the Boomers. They have a lot in common with each other.
I only saw the end of the series. Hoping to catch the beginning at another time. Some friends and I discussed the shift between the Silents and the Boomers at lunch. Ten years difference between the 73s and the 63s as far as drug use and the free love was huge. The Silents were married, having babies and missed the whole sexual revolution. We couldn't relate to what the 63s were telling us about their college experiences.