Final words on Generations X and Y

Were you born between 1954 and 1993? Confused about what generation you belong to? Read on. Everything will be explained. And there's a handy chart at the end of this post!

A LOST GENERATION

Despite the social-scientific-sounding claims made by journalists and marketing consultants (or, in the case of pop demographers like Neil Howe and William Strauss, Meredith Bagby, and Jonathan Pontell, some unholy combination of the two), not to mention political advocacy groups like Third Millennium, a generation isn't a sociological fact. That doesn't mean, however, that you can arbitrarily select two dates and name everyone born between them a member of a generation; if it doesn't feel like a good fit to most of those people, then something is wrong with your theory.

For example, Americans who were born between the mid-1940s -- 1944, in my reckoning; though others would set the start date at 1946 (Census Bureau) or 1943 (Howe and Strauss) -- and the early 1950s (1953, in my reckoning) tend to agree that they're Boomers. Fine! No problem there. But many Americans born from 1954 through the early 1960s don't feel like Boomers; in fact, many of them actively resent and/or scorn the Boomers. In the early 1990s, the zinester Candi Strecker claimed that Americans who, like herself, were born between the mid-1950s and early 1960s were members of the "Repo Man" generation; she was referring to the 1984 cult movie directed by Alex Cox (1954) and starring Emilio Estevez (1962), both members of the lost generation in question. Around the same time, Douglas Coupland published his first novel, "Generation X" (1991), the title of which seemed to suggest that North Americans more or less the same age as the author (b. 1961) didn't feel like Boomers. In the early 2000s, Jonathan Pontell offered a new name for this lost generation, whose members he claimed were born between 1954 and 1965: "Generation Jones."

In the past year or so, Barack Obama (b. 1961) has become the spokesman for this lost generation, because of his insistence that his generation's worldview and politics aren't a Baby Boomer's.

My own periodic table of American generations -- which is eccentric, inflexible, and therefore 100 percent correct -- indicates that the lost generation in question was born between 1954 and 1963. Mr. Pontell was close, but off by a few years on the end date. In honor of Mr. Coupland, I've called this impressive, influential, and anti-Boomer cohort the "Original Generation X" (OGXers).

GENERATION X & TWENTYSOMETHINGS

But what of the Generation X we heard so much about in the 1990s?

In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; and in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77. Neil Howe and William Strauss's bestselling books "Generations" (1991) and "13th-Gen" (1993) claimed that the post-baby-boom "13ers" (aka Gen X) were born between 1961-81. (However, in their 1997 book "The Fourth Turning," Howe and Strauss confessed that the members of this so-called generation didn't buy into it: "Compared to any other generation born in this century, [the 13th generation] is less cohesive, its experiences wider and its culture more splintery.") In 1993, the political advocacy group Third Millennium, announced that it had formed to represent the concerns of those Americans who'd been dubbed "twentysomethings" or "Generation X"; following Howe and Strauss, its leaders claimed that the cohort in question was born between 1961 and 1981. And in her 1998 book, "Rational Exuberance: The Influence of Generation X on the New Economy," a young economist named Meredith Bagby (b. 1974) said she was proud to be a member of Generation X, which she defined as those born between 1965-76.

Why so much confusion? Because there never was a Generation X. It was just a placeholder label, lifted from Douglas Coupland by journalists, marketing consultants, and others, and applied to anyone and everyone born from the mid-1960s on. No wonder that nobody -- except Meredith Bagby -- ever identified as an Xer. Ironically, Bagby is not a member of the overdetermined generation in question. According to my periodization scheme, Americans born between 1964 and 1973 are members of an ambivalent (not apathetic), fragment-brooding, rejuvenile generation that I've called Generation PC (PCers).

GENERATION Y & MILLENNIALS

Who, then, are these Millennials and Generation Yers that we've heard so much about? According to the consumer research outfit Iconoculture, Millennials are those Americans who were 29 and under in 2007; i.e., the first Millennials were born in 1978. Newsweek, meanwhile, has described the Millennials as those born between 1977-94. The New York Times has called "Generation Y" those born from 1976-90, and those born from 1978-98. In their 2000 bestseller "Millennials Rising," Howe and Strauss claimed that Millennials were born between 1982 and 2002. (The nice thing about a flexible generational periodization scheme is that you can neatly peg the Millennials to 1982, which allows the first-born of their cohort to graduate in the year 2000.)

All of these guesstimates are off, though Howe and Strauss came close with the start date, and Newsweek was close with the end date. There never was a Generation Y; like Generation X, it was a placeholder label that lumped together young Americans who were actually members of discrete generations. According to my inflexible periodization scheme, the shiny-happy, but good-hearted Millennials were born between 1984 and 1993.

But wait! All this confusion about Generation Y should make us suspicious. Especially now that we've learned that an entire generation -- the OGXers -- went missing for decades, and that some members of another generation -- the PCers -- were mistakenly called Generation X. What about the rest of this so-called Generation X, i.e., those Americans born from the mid-1970s through, say, 1981 (the end fate of Howe and Strauss's 13th Generation)? And what about the so-called Gen Yers and Millennials who were born before 1984?

Did we lose another post-Boomer generation?

ONE OF OUR GENERATIONS IS MISSING!

Yes, we did.

However, thanks to my inflexible and therefore completely accurate periodization scheme, I've located the lost generation and they're safe and sound. The Net Generation, as I call these Web-savvy, boss-flustering, heavily tattooed Americans, were born between 1974 and 1983. In other words, the older Netters were lumped in with younger PCers and called "Generation X," while the younger Netters were lumped in with older Millennials and called "Generation Y." What a drag.

They're a great bunch of young people. Let's not lose track of them again, OK?

***

Still feel confused about which generation you belong to, and which generations you've been accused of belonging to, by misguided journalists, unscrupulous marketers, and others? If you were born between 1954 and 1993, consult the following chart.

1954-60: OGXers

1954: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65). NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the previous generation (in this case, Boomers).

1955: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65).

1956: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65).

1957: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65).

1958: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65).

1959: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65).

1960: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65).

1961-1965: A confusion of OGXers and PCers

1961: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72.

1962: You're an OGXer> But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72.

1963: You're an OGXer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the next generation (in this case, PCers).

1964: You're a PCer. But you were lumped in with the Boomers. (The Census Bureau defines the baby boom as births during the years 1946 to 1964.) William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the previous generation (in this case, OGXers).

1965: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Jonathan Pontell claims you're a member of "Generation Jones" (1954-65). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1966-1971: PCers

1966: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1967: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1968: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1969: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1970: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1971: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1972-76: A confusion of PCers and Netters

1972: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76). In 1990, Time Magazine claimed that the "twentysomething" generation was born between 1961-72; in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1973: You're a PCer. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76); in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the next generation (in this case, Netters).

1974: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76); in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the previous generation (in this case, PCers).

1975: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76); in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77.

1976: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Meredith Bagby claims you're Generation X (1965-76); in 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90.

1977-81: Netters

1977: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). In 1997, Time claimed that "Generation X" was born between 1965-77. Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90.

1978: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1979: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1980: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1981: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Thirteenth Generation" (1961-81); Third Millennium, following Howe and Strauss, claim you're Generation X (1961-81). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1982-1990: A confusion of Netters and Millennials

1982: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1983: You're a Netter. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the next generation (in this case, Millennials).

1984: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the previous generation (in this case, Netters).

1985: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1986: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1987: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1988: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1989: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1990: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. In a 2000 story, The New York Times described "Generation Y" as "the young people between 10 and 24"; this suggests that Yers were born from 1976-90. But a 1999 Times story describes Yers as having been born from 1978-98.

1991-1993: Millennials

1991: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98.

1992: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98.

1993: You're a Millennial. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the next generation (in this case, an unnamed one).

1994-2003: An unnamed generation

1994: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). Newsweek has described the "Millennials" as those Americans born between 1977 and 1994. A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98. NB: You were born in a cusp year, and might identify with the previous generation (in this case, Millennials).

1995: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98.

1996: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98.

1997: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98.

1998: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002). A 1999 Times story describes members of "Generation Y" as having been born from 1978-98.

1999: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002).

2000: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002).

2001: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002).

2002: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way. William Strauss and Neil Howe placed you in their "Millennial Generation" (1982-2002).

2003: You're a member of a generation that's too young to characterize in any remotely meaningful way.

***

BRAINIAC'S GUIDE TO AMERICA'S RECENT GENERATIONS

1904-13: The Greatest Generation Partisans
1914-23: The Greatest Generation The New Gods
1924-33: The Silent Generation postmodern Generation
1934-43: The Silent Generation Anti-Anti-Utopian Generation
1944-53: Baby Boomers
1954-63: Baby Boomers OGX (Original Generation X)
1964-73: Generation X PC Generation
1974-83: Generation Y Net Generation
1984-93: Millennials

Please credit Brainiac/Joshua Glenn whenever you use this guide. Got a beef with my periodization, or different generational name suggestions? Leave a comment on this post or email me. Born between 1954 and 1993 and still unsure about whether you're a Boomer, Xer, Yer, or Millennial? Here's a handy guide.