Defining Our Generation

Our generation has an identity crisis. While previous generations have been assigned relatively undisputed titles and defining characteristics, it has become increasingly difficult to accurately classify us. From the Lost Generation to Generation X, group organization has been straightforward; but, with surges of technological advances and (d)evolution of our social interaction, generations are shrinking, boundaries are blurring, and people are becoming lost within the characterization process.

Those of us born in the early 1990s are distinct from Generation Y (born between 1970 and early 1990s). Gen Y does not identify with many of our adolescent pleasures, such as Nickelodeon cartoons like Rugrats, or Pokémon cards. Additional factors also alienate us from Gen Z (1994-2004); these include eclectic musical tastes, a growing technological gap, and increased popularity of social networking websites such as Facebook.

Consequently, we face a classification dilemma. We are neither Gen Y nor Gen Z. Growing up through the 1990s, we were carefree and fun-loving listening to teen pop via TV, radio, or CDs (e.g. NSYNC and Britney Spears). However, technological advances introduced us to a new world. With the evolution of the internet, traditional media metamorphosed. Power and convenience shaped our generation; music (old and new) became incredibly easy to obtain for free with the creation of downloadable file-sharing programs like Napster. Access to a plethora of music makes it impossible to associate any particular music genre with our generation.

As curious youth, and guinea pigs for new technology, we reveled in these wonders that connect us to the world, whereas Gen Z has grown up accustomed to these digital tools; elementary school kids nowadays text friends with cell phones, and listen to iPods, things that were revolutionary during our prepubescent years. As a result, we remain poised in a transitional phase between Y and Z, unable to truly define ourselves.

Similarly, our political identity is ill-defined. Although primarily raised under the Clinton administration, we associate our youthful political memories with George W. Bush, from his controversial 2000 election to the shaping of his policy in response to the September, 11, 2001 attacks. For this transitional generation, 9/11 served as our first big eye-opener to the horrors of the world beyond our personal bubbles. Initially the event unified the nation, but Bush’s post 9/11 decisions became contentious and ultimately led to a large disapproval rating during his waning years as president. Inevitably, many of us gravitated towards liberalism as a form of rebellion against Bush’s heavily conservative policies, and environmentalism in an attempt to combat global warming. Yet, this political classification can also be traced back to Gen Y and extended into Gen Z; it is not uniquely ours.

Perhaps the name, The Transitional Generation, is fitting enough in itself; we may struggle for specific identifying factors, but maybe that is how are generation should be the defined. That we cannot easily define our generation makes it unique. We lived our childhood through a revolutionary transition and failed to ground ourselves in any straightforward way. Instead we remain united in our lack of a collective identity. As a miscellaneous collection of people within a diversified world, we embrace our individuality.