From The Silent Generation To Gen Z

In 2024, each generation has its own name. I never heard about age group titles until the “Boomers”. They started in 1946 and continued until 1965, which means my children are Boomers.

My age group is referred to as the Silent Generation. We are known for conforming to whatever the government put in place. We, and when I say “We” I mean the majority, did not believe in birth out of wedlock. Divorce was frowned upon. We had children younger than any other generation. On the whole, we did not go against the system or government. Notice I said, “DID not,” as any individual in any generation can change with time.

Groups of people born within a certain period of time share age and experiences, which shape a distinct worldview.

While I have been thinking of Boomers as young, I now realize they are in their retirement years and are being laughed at by Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Each of these generational groups seem to think they have found all the answers. Generations before them are stuffy old has beens.

These young whipper snappers are often amazed that we survived without smart phones that tell us everything from traveling directions to what to have for dinner. They do have many points on which I would agree. The younger generations are doing away with cable TV. We canceled cable several years ago and do not miss it. There were endless commercials regarding pills or a lot of shows we never wanted to watch. We much prefer to stream a movie or series for our entertainment.

While I miss not having a name in a telephone book, I don’t miss my house phone. We were constantly bombarded with “prank” calls from a series of misguided folks who wanted to sell us medicare supplements, tell us the government was coming to get us, check on our car warranty, or even let us know a grandchild was in jail. No matter who, it was all a scheme to shaft us out of our hard-earned dollars. Thanks to Gen Z, the landline is almost a thing of the past. We sure don’t miss those calls at nap time.

I tend to think some of the greatest things about the Silent Generation were our morals and our modesty. We believed in a strong family unit and preferred marriage to birth children. That being said, I know there were folks back in my day who banned a pregnant daughter from the home without realizing an innocent baby was involved. There were Catholic families who thought they would never forgive a child who married a protestant and vice versa. Thankfully, that has changed.

We did tend to dress in more modest attire than today’s younger generation. We saw no need to show off what we had that everyone else also had. Truth is, we all have the same body parts. I wonder when the tattoo and rings in your nose era will expire. Like everything else, it will fade with time. At some point, when skin starts to wrinkle with age, these younger generations are going to wonder why they ever covered themselves with all that ink. As for rings in the nose, I keep remembering my childhood on the farm when we sometimes ringed a cow or pig.

Speaking of dress, I read that Gen X or younger do not like high heels. They much prefer a comfortable athletic type of shoe. Wow! That came just in time for those of the Silent Generation with hurting or deformed feet to say “Ahhhh!” Clothing for older folks has changed a lot since our grandmas’ era. Remember the corsets, house dresses, aprons, and stockings? They wore them every day, preventing a lot of ease of movement.

Now, here is a surprise! In a recent article published in the New York Times, it was found there are clear similarities between Gen Z and the Silent Generation. Gen Z has gone through a recession; they don’t take risks and they are careful what they put on social media. There is a trend toward being a bit more conservative.

The Baby Boomers set the record for the divorce rate and have continued to do so even at an older age. Since then, the rate has dropped. Some of this is due to the younger generations not being pleased with their own childhoods and wanting to do better for their children. And some of it is due to fewer of them getting married. Whatever, it is not a bad thing. As a child growing up in the Cove, I don’t remember knowing anyone who was divorced. Maybe they should have been, but it didn’t happen.

Each generation is different. In my growing up years, I could pretty much wander about the farm or ride my bike wherever I pleased. My children were allowed the same freedoms. But times have changed and children can no longer safely walk about their neighborhoods. My parents used to take me to Altoona and for a given amount of time, I was allowed to shop on my own. I don’t think that happens anymore.

Regardless of our differences, we are all on this planet together and might as well learn to get along and accept what the younger generations believe to be true while asking them to understand why we feel the way we do.

Here’s to them and all the generations yet to come!