Being
a member of Generation X is not always easy. We are sandwiched
between the lifestyle and values of the baby boomers and the oncoming
force of the technologically-savvy Generation Y. This creates tension
for us in many parts of life.
First
of all, we are the ones who started the whole letter affix business;
we started with the enigmatic “X” firmly marking our spot along
the generation line. We felt out of touch with the values of the baby
boomers and wanted to rebel against their ideology.
Nonetheless,
the baby boomers themselves had rebelled against their own parents
during the roaring 60s. Yet somehow baby boomers shed their hippie
skins and became more ordinary and complacent. They accepted the
rules and the yoke of the authorities; in many cases, they even
became
the authority. These rules were then passed on to their dissatisfied
offspring, the growing and still nameless Generation X.
One
of their differences was regarding money and livelihood. Seeing that
the two are clearly linked and giving in to the demands of society
and consumer culture, the baby boomers urged us to find jobs that are
sought after and appreciated by most people. More importantly, these
occupations ought to be stable and bring in regular and steady
income. The list of acceptable professions is familiar to most of us;
they range from doctors to lawyers. One ought to go and climb where
the money grows. There is little room for originality or for
following one's dreams and vocation.
Their
advice may be sound, practical and well-intentioned, but deep inside
Generation X is not pleased with those variables. We do not care much
about stability and punching in our work cards because we do not like
restrictions and limitations on our personal goals. We would rather
make less money but have more job fulfillment. Our rebellious nature
refuses to accept the noose around our necks. In fact, we may be even
self-destructively stubborn, but we do dream big. Either we make it
or drown trying.
In
fact, there is also quite a different stance on ideas like marriage
and family. It is the Generation X that has pushed - what may seem to
some - “progressive” lifestyles, such as common-law unions, while
it may come as little surprise that there has been more acceptance in
terms of gay marriage now that our generation is slowly taking
important positions along the spectrum.
Again,
Generation X hates to be bound or gagged and has perhaps taken the
human rights activism of the hippies to a different level. But it
turns out that our enemies are more opaque. It is often the very same
baby boomers that are currently resisting these ideas of change;
although it must be said, in all fairness, that some have been ready to
adjust or even embrace these new outlooks and ideas. It must be also noted that the groundwork had been set by those very same baby boomers who helped create a climate of liberal ideology through the civil rights movement and feminism.
Ideology
aside, for Gen Xers there are also a number of obstacles when it
comes to the job front; most of these have been brought about by the
advent of technology. It does not affect the baby boomers since they
are on the retiring end of the spectrum. (However, a lot of them
still desperately hold onto their jobs because they have pinned all
their hopes and dreams on the occupational front.) Technology may be
seen as opportunity for many, but it has slowed us X-ers down
considerably.
For
example, I did not have an email address until I was in my
undergraduate years. My graduate year of research barely included
Internet sources. The iPads and iPhones are new forms of technology
that we had to get accustomed to very fast or else we would fall
behind. I personally remember living in an age where cellphones were
uncommon and even non-existent. You could not just text your friend
that you would be late for a date. I have lost out on a few
relationship opportunities because of that lack.
But
here is the rub. Although we try hard, and I am slowly becoming
technologically efficient (I'm still not fully there yet), my
competition, Generation Y is already proficient. They grew up with
computers and learned it quickly. Some of them are professional
hackers and outdo seasoned Generation X computer analysts. The jobs
in the IT sector have given them a good livelihood and to most of us
X-ers they seem to speak a different language. (Although some of us
were smart enough to quickly jump on the bandwagon and make the big
bucks along the way. I will not say that they are sell-outs.)
Now
the interesting question is what are the values and ideology of the
Generation Y. To what extent has technological progress shaped and
changed them in their attitudes? Do the Gen Y-ers support our causes
or do they have other preoccupations? Or are they more conservative
and money-oriented than we are and will they return to the footsteps
of the baby boomers?
These
are questions that we will find the answers to somewhere down the
years. For now, we can only feel uncomfortably sandwiched between the
weight of the baby boomers and the crunch of the savvy Generation Y.
We were lost once, and we still are lost.
It
is, as I said previously, not easy being part of the Generation X,
but it is our time to shine and to fight for the changes we want to
see in this world. And after all is said and done, the rest depends
on our successors and inheritors of the future. Let us hope that we
X-ers can provide our offspring, Gen Y and even Z, with the necessary
bricks of knowledge and peace to build upon and that we will not just
be remembered for being the MTV generation.