Generation X (born 1965-1979) were born between Millennials and Baby Boomers. They are seen as the middle child or latch-key kids. They have been labelled as the forgotten generation or slackers. They are now reaching mid-life and I am one of them. If you are reading the module there is a chance that you are too. Although we will claim the 2020s as our decade, it was the 80s and 90s that defined us and made us into who we are today, so let’s take a moment to go back and remember our unique experiences.
The 80s was a decade of two halves and, depending on your age, you will have had quite a different experience. The late 70s and early 80s was a fairly turbulent period for many families. Yes, there was relative peace, but economically times were hard.
The eldest X-Gen might remember dancing to punk or dressing up as a New Romantic with big hair and big ideas, but the backdrop was strikes, unrest and a shift towards a more conservative and deregulated approach to government. On both sides of the Atlantic, changes were coming, and by the mid-80s, families began to see a real change in their back pockets and quality of life.
I, like many X-Gen, was too young to understand or care about that kind of stuff. I just wanted to be a kid. I remember life got easier and we moved to a nice 4-bedroom house. I had my very own room and wasted no time adorning it with posters of Wham!, A-ha and Madonna. I got my news from John Craven and my music trends from Top of the Pops. I knew my parents were doing well as we had two cars, foreign holidays and all the latest gadgets. However, I was in no way spoilt and didn’t know many children who were. Like many others, our parents made us work for our pocket money, doing household chores, paper rounds or other part-time jobs as soon as we were able.
With more families either splitting or with both parents working, we X-Gen often came home to an empty house. My own mother worked during school hours for many years, but I do remember having to go to work with her during the holidays, as well as being left to my own devices while she worked. Our parents raised us to be self-reliant, and responsible for ourselves. We would have to do our own homework, organise our time and sometimes feed ourselves.
That freedom made us wildly independent. We quickly got used to making decisions for ourselves and became highly autonomous. In our world, our parents’ hard work provided rewards, and fun with the family was saved up for Friday night movie nights or the annual summer holiday. Family time and fun times were scheduled around work, household chores and shopping.
I have heard it said that the X-Gen kids were the last to be raised in an adult centric world, with all later generations focusing on the children. I know my own life schedule is structured around the needs and wants of my own off spring. I conducted a series of interviews with other X-Gens to make sure that my experiences were not unique. Below are two examples that highlight how the work-life balance has changed.
A case study
Claire’s experience seemed to represent a collective experience. “My dad worked days as a teacher and my mum worked nights as a nurse. I didn’t see much of them growing up, and rarely did I see them together. If I am honest, it’s affected my life and the relationships I have to this day. However, it also instilled into me a fantastic work ethic. They sacrificed time with us, so we had a better life, for which I am grateful. Now I know that materialistic things are great, but they can’t replace love and affection.”
Simon shared, “Education, education, education – the secret of success, my grandfather used to instil into me. He was an immigrant during the war and my father grew up in pretty humble beginnings and left school at 15 to do an apprenticeship. To me, it felt like he was always working, and when he came home, he was too tired to do anything. We had a nice house and didn’t want for anything, but I worked hard at school so I could have more options in life. I now put my family above everything as I don’t want my own children to feel disconnected as I did as a child.”
There are two examples of a shared experience that has shaped a generation. They are both determined to do life and family differently, yet grateful for what their parents gave them. They appreciate the rewards of hard work but equally value fun, experience, relationships and love.
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