 Study
of human
populations
 Useful data for
anthropologist and
sociologists- why?
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Baby boom (born 1946-1966 )
- boomers, yuppies / dinks
-Generation X (1960-1966)
Baby Bust (1967-1979)
-Twenty-somethings
Echo Boom (1980-1995)
-Generation Y
Generation Z (1996-2010)
-Millennium Kids
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“X”- label for a new generation (born
1960 – 1966)
generation surrounded by
MATERIALISM (instant gratification)
Increasing technology
Counter-culture
Political Activism (anti-war;
anti-nuclear, environment,
women’s lib, Aboriginal)
Suburbia
Child Centred Universe
Sexual Revolution (the Pill)
 Generation
X: “self centered crowd of
long haired rebels”
 Popular songs expressed attitudes of a
generation that didn’t follow rules or care
much about people older than
themselves
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e6_0
jvlKik
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People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my
generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my
generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
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high level of education
lack of faith in the employer/employee
commitment > believe real job security lies in
their ability to develop the knowledge and skills
to advance to their next job.
cynical about the commitment between
employers and employees since they watched
their parents and grandparents lose their jobs
after years of dedicated service. Gen X is
committed to their professions instead of to a
company.
Gen X values work/ family life balance
Most do not view themselves as part of a group
but as individuals (ie. Movie -Breakfast Club)
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born- 1980- 1995 (YOU!)
Echo: analogy of waves in the water; separate social and
economic influences
INDICATORS
-end of the Cold War
- AIDS
-increase in divorce
-increase of women in workplace & women’s rights
-Pill “children were things you took pills not to have”
-educational variance; double cohort
-increasing technology; computers, inception of the internet
-”Devil Child Films”; reality TV
-consumer buying power (part time jobs, higher allowances)
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The “Grunge” era enters the music world with
bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Sound Garden
making it big
Nirvana blows the market wide open with their
new style and their dark messages
Pearl Jam and other bands also reflect this message

Check out the song “Jeremy” from Pearl Jam’s first
album Ten
"Jeremy" is based on a true story. The song takes its
main inspiration from a newspaper article about a
15-year-old boy named Jeremy Wade Delle, born
February 10, 1975, from Richardson, Texas who shot
himself in front of his English class in Richardson
High School on the morning of January 8, 1991 at
about 9:45 am.
 He was sent to the office to get a late slip, he came
back, pulled out a gun and blew his head off
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gskAeWgEExk
At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
Dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth
And bit the recessed lady's
breast
How could i forget
He hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin
Dropped wide open
Just like the day
Like the day i heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something
mommy wouldn't wear
King jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Try to forget this...
Try to erase this...
From the blackboard.
 Is
Generation Y out of control (more
rebellious, more criminally inclined,
more violent)? Or is Generation Y the
victim of negative stereotypes?
 How
would you describe your generation
with regard to its beliefs, values and
interests?