The Frustration Of Generation X

2. The Frustration Of Generation X • The baby boom had tremendous impacts on the people of Generation X which caused significant frustration for this group. • Many of these impacts are of the psychological variety creating anger, a negative worldview, and poor self esteem among many members of Generation X.

4. Job Opportunity • Major impact on Generation X was experienced in the area of job opportunity • Many within Generation X were unable to find employment, or were resigned to work in low paying service industries. • This impact had tremendous psychological consequences as many in Generation X felt the ire of a society that considered them lazy • Result was a poor self concept and feelings of failure and anger towards society • Lack of secure employment evolved into other self esteem issues as many had to deal with the shame of living in their parents’ households into their 30s.

5. Environmental Degradation • Generation Xers grew up in the 1980s, the years when many baby boomers turned to consumption-oriented lifestyles and materialistic culture. • E.g. large SUVs with huge fuel tanks with little regard for the environment • Clear that the members of Generation X have significant resentment toward the baby boomers for their impacts on the environment. • For Generation Xers, the consequence is that they have had to exist in a society where depletion of energy resources, increasing environmental pollution, and fear of global warming have been prominent issues.

6. Exploding Health Costs • As the baby boomers age, and move out of the workforce into retirement, the tax base for health care will significantly decline. • In addition, many baby boomers will experience declining health and will have to use prescription medication and treatments • this will place further burdens on an already strained health care system. • Another resentment for Generation X will be the increased tax burdens they will carry in order to pay for the health problems of the baby boomers

7. Familial Discord • Generation X was one of the first generations to deal with significant familial discord as their baby boomer parents became separated, divorced, and often remarried. • The consequence for many within Generation X was tremendous as many children were left to deal with the psychological trauma of the separation of their families.

8. Spiritual Apathy • Generation X experienced a lack of attachment to the Catholic Church because of familial discord, negative worldview, and spiritual disconnect. • Many within this generation experienced a crisis of spirituality. • possibly due to changing gender roles (e.g., women moving more into the workplace, the sexual revolution and contraception), separation of church and state, and church scandals • Generation turned to icons of media culture to find a common bond. • They often demonstrated an apathy towards society. • Generation inherited the moniker “MTV Generation” for their worship of music video media culture and its morally questionable content.

9. REALITY BITES • The characters in the video all complain that their parents generation (Baby Boom) have created the problems that they (Generation X) must deal with. Each person has difficult and intricate personal issues which are fairly common within Generation X. • Identify examples of impacts of baby boom on Generation X • Social • Psychological • Economic