What’s Truly The Greatest Generation Of All Time?

Years: c. 1901 - c. 1924 Context: The “Greatest Generation” earned that name for what they did during the 1930s and 1940s. As individuals who grew up during the Great Depression and were in their teens and 20s when World War Two began, the men and women who fought, worked, and sacrificed under the harshest circumstances, members of the Greatest Generation are praised for their patriotism, loyalty, hard work, and austerity. Poverty during the Great Depression and rationing during the War both often meant making do with whatever one could find to eat and to wear. The term “greatest generation” was first used by journalist and author Tom Brokaw in his book. Trends: Fashion during the 1930s and 1940s was dominated by muted colors for men and women in daywear, while eveningwear was white, black, and luxurious. Hollywood had a large influence on how individuals presented themselves, with women styling themselves after Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Clark Gable was the go-to Hollywood icon for men. Wartime meant uniforms, but the late 1940s saw women return to more feminine looks (as opposed to the “boyish” flapper style). Men went sporty instead of wearing formal suits when they could. Stereotypes Pros/Cons: Saved the world, tough as nails, never shied away from hard work, penny-pinching.

Years: c. 1965 - c. 1980 Context: Individuals born as part of Generation X may be referred to as “baby busters” because they were born as the birth rates of the Baby Boomer Generation declined. Birth control access, the legalization of abortion, and other reproductive reforms influenced this. Additionally, people born between roughly 1965 and 1980 were more likely to have both parents working outside the home, had parents who were divorced, and saw the proliferation of technology. The HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s, the end of the Cold War, and increased access to information via in-home computers all influenced how members of Generation X reacted to and saw the world. Trends: As the “MTV Generation,” Generation X is known for punk, grunge, and hip hop, all music genres accompanied by distinct clothing styles and youth-oriented activities. Punk music was accompanied by leather jackets and spiked jewelry, while grunge was characterized by flannel shirts, baggie jeans, and unkempt hairstyles. Both have distinct links to skateboarding and, as a result, Generation X. The fitness craze of the 1970s and 1980s wasn't the first fitness fad of the 20th century, but increased exposure to fitness videos by the likes of Jane Fonda had a big influence on Generation X. Additional trends included big hair, shoulder pads, scrunchies, neon colors, and other fashion features that many Gen Xers embraced with gusto. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Willing to take risks, focus on work-life balance, realism bordering on pessimism, resourceful, independent, “Slacker Generation,” “MTV Generation”

Years: c. 1925 - c. 1945 Context: As children born during the Great Depression and World War II, members of the silent generation were raised amid hardship and unease. Compared to other groups like the “Baby Boomers,” the Silent Generation is fairly small due to lower birthrates during the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s. The Silent Generation earns its name because, generally speaking, they are lesser known than their predecessors, the Greatest Generation, and quieter than their successors, the Baby Boomers. They embraced rebuilding the world after WWII and conforming to the ideals that shaped the 1950s according to Time magazine, the publication that coined the term “Silent Generation.” That said, activists like Gloria Steinem, Jesse Jackson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. were members of this group. Trends: Poodle skirts, button-up collared shirts, and very little in the way of envelope-pushing defined fashion for much of the Silent Generation. With conformity and traditionalism reigning supreme, families were decidedly nuclear as they enjoyed life in their homes surrounded by white picket fences and nicely manicured yards. Compared to future generations, members of the Silent Generation were not as likely to have a college eduction and were more likely to be married. Additionally, men worked in office or industrial settings while women worked in the home. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Hard-working, dedicated, civic-minded, thrifty, quiet, conformist, traditionalist, boring.

Years: c. 1883 - c. 1900 Context: As the cohort born during the final years of the 19th century, the Lost Generation were individuals who fought during World War One, experienced the devastating aftermath, and roared through the 1920s. Characterized by artists and writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein - who coined the term “Lost Generation" - the Lost Generation was disillusioned, unable to embrace materialism and idealism, and both cynical and critical of society. Developments in science and psychology reflected the opportunities and anxieties about life and knowledge, as demonstrated by Werner Heisenberg's “Uncertainty Principle” and Sigmund Freud's theories of mind and human agency. Trends: Women wore simple clothing during wartime and, during the 1920s, began to shed longer skirts and long hair in exchange for bobbed hair and flapper dresses. Men donned suits, with less formal “lounge suits” increasing in popularity after the 1910s. Top hats worn by men of means contrasted with the bowler hats atop the heads of men from the lower classes. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Liked a good party, booze was everywhere (even when it was illegal), cynical, critical, used cocaine and alcohol as “medicine," violence and gangsters were around every corner.

Years: c. 1946 - c. 1964 Context: Baby Boomers, often referred to simply as “Boomers,” were born in the year between World War II and the mid-1960s. In the aftermath of WWII, there was a baby boom, a phenomenon that gave the entire generation its name. Baby Boomers grew up with conformity all around them, but also witnessed some major shifts and changes in society. Television became more and more pervasive, the Cold War influenced space exploration, and efforts for civil rights reform grew increasingly vocal. Protests movements developed as a result of the latter but also grew increasingly loud as the Vietnam War escalated. Many members of the Baby Boomer Generation adopted work ethics comparable to those of their predecessors. There was also a rejection of much of the traditionalism of the 1950s and early 1960s with the development of hippies and the like. Much like the bipolar world of the Cold War Era, Baby Boomers were similarly split between optimism and realism as well as between individualism and teamwork. Trends: Baby Boomers were born into a world of formality, but the trends that characterized the generation reflect shift in mid-20th century fashion and entertainment. Women and men both began to dress more casually, especially those who adopted a free-loving hippie lifestyle. Miniskirts and bright colors for women accompanied patterns for jackets, shirts, and ties worn by men. Jeans, longer hair, and flashier shoes were also increasingly the norm. Folk music, rock and roll, and Motown were all popularized as Baby Boomers found inspiration for change, idealism, and nonconformity in these genres. Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Janis Joplin are just a few of the prominent musicians that defined the Baby Boomer Generation. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Hard-working, set in their ways, ambitious, unwilling to talk about their problems.

Years: c. 1997 - c. 2012 Context: While Millennials may or may not recall a time before technology took over their lives, Generation Z is even less likely to have any familiarity with a non-technology based world. Generation Z is considered more financially savvy and politically progressive than previous generations, too. Generation Z was born at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, a time that was influenced by the events of September 11, the recession of 2007, and the threats of terrorism. Not all members of Generation Z remember these, however. As was the case with Millennials, there's an increased diversity among members of Generation Z. While members of Generation Z reject the stereotype, there is an association between the cohort and mental health issues. Some scholars attribute this to spending time online and the resulting loneliness that may result from a paucity of in-person relationships. Trends: iGen, as the name indicates, is all about being connected via the internet. The connections among members of Generation Z online have influenced trends, with avatars, screen names, and other electronic features used to represent individuals. This doesn't mean fashion for iGen isn't extant. Generation Z fashion is, according to observers, characterized by sustainability, gender neutral styles, and comfort alike. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Obsessed with screens, tech savvy, lazy, lack focus, entitled, poor communicators, tolerant, socially conscious, not very polite, anxious.

Years: c. 1981 - c. 1996 Context: Millennials or members of “Generation Y” are largely the children of Baby Boomers. In many way the heirs of a world defined by technology, Millennials had access to information about global affairs, international peoples and trends, and general information in unprecedented forms. Unlike members of Generation X, there are likely Millennials who do not remember a time when such technologies were readily available. The internet, cell phones, and other screen-based devices were increasingly available and popular during the formative years of most Millennials. Many Millennials entered their teen years about the time the September 11 attacks took place and as the so-called Wars Against Terror began. As a highly educated generation, the economic recession of 2007 had a lasting effect on Millennials as they graduated from college and entered the job market. Trends: Supermodels and “heroin chic” was a common look during the 1990s as was grunge, preppy casual, and urban sportswear. According to researcher James Laver, “The prevalence of urban sportswear in male dress can also be directly correlated to the increasingly informal approach to workplace clothing.” Boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and girl groups like the Spice Girls accompany alternative rockers like The Killers and artists like Eminem as some of the most readily identifiable musicians associated with Millennials. That said, Millennials were downloading music and not watching it on TV or listening to it on the radio as much as their predecessors. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Optimistic, emphasize work with a purpose, very good with technology, independent, entitled, anxious, tech savvy, lazy, “cringey.”

Years: c. 2013 - c. 2025 Context: Still taking shape, Generation Alpha is estimated to be the largest in human history with 2 billion people by 2025. Generation Alpha is demographically diverse and has more access to education than previous generations. That said, Generation Alpha's educations were greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, although the extent to how much that impacted competencies and the like remains unclear. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, Generation Alpha is characterized by technology like iPads. Observers have seen shorter attention spans and are concerned “about their stamina when they get to older grades. They don’t stick with one thing very long. When you ask them to do something for even a little while or pay attention and stay on task, it’s a challenge.” Trends: YouTube, virtual reality headsets, and generally being online has been a big part of the lives of many members of Generation Alpha. As far as fashion, parents have noticed an increasingly confusing mashup of styles. Preppy and cottagecore are among the fashion trends that Generation Alpha tries to copy or use for inspiration when they see it on TikTok. Stereotype Pros/Cons: Independent, focused on inclusivity, undisciplined, lack focus, always looking at a screen.