What do references to the Silent generation, Baby-boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation 2000 and/or the Millenium Generation mean? What years or other criteria "define" these generations, and what significance do they have for studies of U.S. demographics, popular culture, or marketing?

As can be seen from generational studies such as Baby Boom and Generation X: Generational Values Transforming the Workplace, or Generational Change and Marketing Indicators, or Generation Y: Our Next Sports Market, there is no exact agreement on the years or other characteristics which define these generational labels. However, the above articles plus the following four comments together provide criteria for working definitions.

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1. Definitions of Recent U.S. Generations

Silent Generation (born between 1925-1942)

They are/were hard working, economically conscience, and trusting of the government. They were very optimistic about the future and held a strong set of moral obligations.

Baby Boom Generation (1943-1960) or (1946-1955) or (1946-1964)

'Boomers' have a strong set of ideals and traditions, and are regarded as being very family-oriented. They are fearful of the future, relatively active and liberal socially but conservative politically.

Generation X (1961-1981) or (1965-1976)

Generation X lives in the present, likes to experiment, and expects immediate results. Xers are selfish and cynical, and depend a lot on their parents. They question authority and feel they carry the burden of the previous generations.

Generation Y (1979-1994) (1977-1994) (1989-1993)?

The Y Generation is regarded as being materialistic, selfish, and disrespectful — but also very aware of the world and very technologically literate. They are trying to grow-up too quickly, and have no good role models to look towards.

Other labels: Generation 2000 (1961-1981); Millennial Generation (1982-)?

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2. What is Generation X? [undated web source, written by an 'Xer']

Well it's the group of people born between 1961 and 1981. It's that simple. It seems we have come to be called Xers simply because we represent something negative to our elders. We may be the one thing that all of the generations who currently precede us have in common. That is--the ability to speak assuredly about our shortcomings. Of course, they overlook the fact that we are their responsibility, or actually their fault — our generation will be called upon to look after our parents knowing that they failed to look after us. Intergenerational justice failed somewhere along the way and it will be our task to either rectify it or make it worse.

We are a group of individuals who grew up with no one at home after school. It appears we have little hope for the future. No jobs, no homes, and basically no money are almost expected of us. These bleak prospects, along with the fact that we will be forced to support the largest number of senior citizens ever, do not provide much hope. Some believe that these blockades will be too much for us to handle and we will for the most part fail at life, but many see our individualism and resourcefulness that have been built up through our childhoods as our saviors. We will soon discover who is right and who is wrong.

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3. "Baby Boom" vs "Baby Boom Generation" vs Generation X [written by a 'boomer']

. . . Yes, there was a "Baby Boom" between 1946 and 1958. The problem arises when people go from "Baby Boom" to the idea of a "Baby Boom Generation" based on these birthrates. The word "generation" has a very specific sociological meaning which does not include irrelevant variables like birthrates. Ill-informed demographers mistakenly lumped together a 19 year span of high birth rates as if somehow that made people into a generation. Those demographers are now a laughing stock in the eyes of the serious academic community. It was an absurd way to try to define a generation from minute one.

Those who were born from 1958 onwards were not affected by the "60s" like the first [1946-58] Boomers were, who were in their late teens and twenties through most of the 1960s. This is an important distinction.

As far as Generation X is concerned, that generation was not defined by birthrates at all, but rather by a shared sensibility. The fact that GenX begins when the old definition of BabyBoomers ends, is of course, natural. Every new generation is begun when the previous generation is believed to have ended. Had GenX been defined by their low birthrates (e.g. by being called "Baby Busters") then there would be a birthrate aspect to thir definition. But GenX, in both its name, and its "reputation" culturally had to do with how they were affected by cultural influences of their youth. So they, like all other American generations (except for the Boomers) were defined by generational variables.

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4. From Retailers tuning into the MTV of Shopping, by J. Bicknell in Property Australia, June 1997: p. 36

. . . In the next decade the most closely monitored sections of the consumer market will be Generation X, Generation 2000 and Generation Y. Generation X is the post baby boomer generation born between 1965 and 1976. Generation 2000 are people born between 1961 and 1981. They number 78 million in the US, grew up on MTV and are considered to be the most influential consumer group. Generation Y is a recent mini baby boom between 1989 and 1993. Currently they are aged between four and eight years old and are a lucrative niche in the US retail market . . .