Blogger: Mary Keeley
Location: Books & Such Midwest office, Illinois
Today, as we examine the age groups of readers and how your writing can reflect an understanding of the groups, we’ll take a look at:
Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964, ages 47-65)
Boomers want to know: What does it mean?
The label for this generation comes from the huge spike in births when all the GIs came home at the end of WWII. (Some things don’t change!) Peace reigned for a while, and the goal of the “American dream” was planted in their minds by their GI-generation parents. According to Pew Research Center, a greater number of Boomers went to college than their parents’ generation. Boomers were indulged as children and felt pretty special, even entitled. They are confident in themselves, not authority. In their school years, they wanted freedom of expression (aka “hippies”). Because they were controlled by their parents in an effort to achieve “the Dream,” in turn the children of Boomers were planned. And the introduction of the birth control pill made that easy. Their ultimate reward: a prestigious title and the corner office—too often at great cost to their families. Yet politically, they want to attack oppression.
Keep in mind, this generation was a population burst, and with advances in health care, they are living longer, which means this group is still a large segment of the population. Reviewing the events, cultural climate, and family life that affected this generation uncovers valuable information. Armed with these insights, you’ll be better able to predict how they look at life and to identify their potential hot topics today.
For instance, Boomers are now reaching retirement age, but they see their stocks and nest eggs dwindle to a fraction of what they were before the economy took a dive. The reality for many in this generation is that all that work, saving, and planning for a nice American-dream kind of retirement are fading from reality. And will they still be healthy enough to enjoy it when and if they finally are able to retire? How’s that for a hot topic?
At the same time, this generation wants to attack political oppression, as they view what they perceive is going wrong in our country and the world. And they are active in wanting to do something to make it right. In their later years, they are concerned about the world in which their children and grandchildren will live. People in this age group are more politically interested and knowledgeable about history than the next generations. They’ve lived to experience more presidencies, and they had history classes throughout their schooling. Why do I mention all this? Because the current economic, political, and health care changes are a likely a hot topic for Boomers.
Christians in this age group were generally involved in local, family-oriented churches where they were taught Bible stories in Sunday school. Church attendance and Christianity in general were respected, normal parts of life when they grew up. With a greater degree of Bible awareness, they are more likely to react to what is going on in the world by considering the possibility that the world is entering biblical end times. Hot topic?
These are a few “educated” guesses about hot topics for Boomers. Taking into consideration their background and factors affecting them today, can you think of others? How might these insights inform your writing?
Cynthia Herron
Rampant bullying of youngsters in schools, economic downturn of the housing market, teenage “sexting”, weakening of family bonds, and an unstable political climate will continue to be some other hot button issues I think.
As I write, I study current events and how they affect different age groups. Also,two “boomers” might be the same age, but have totally opposite views on what are priorities these days.
I bet the effects of global warming seem piddly to the single mother of three struggling just to put food on the table each night.
Caroline
One thing I’ve noticed from reading your two posts already this week is that I identify with a couple of characteristics from each group (and might disagree with some, too). I imagine many readers identify with characteristics of other age groups too. So, in this knowledge, some topics will be “hot topics” for almost all groups and might be likely to stay hot topics as well.
As for the boomers age group in particular, I agree with what Cynthia said above about weakening family bonds. That alone ushers in a host of other issues, warranting books addressing change, redemption, healing, and hope.
Thanks for these insights, Mary!
Sarah Thomas
I think quite a few Boomers also fall into the Sandwich Generation–those who are taking care of elderly parents while still trying to help raise (often adult) children. Think of all the folks whose 20 or even 30-something kids have moved back home. I suspect issues related to multi-generational challenges are hot right now–from helping kids find jobs to helping parents with dementia.
PatriciaW
Unlike subsequent generations, Boomers remember a time with little technology–few television channels, all in black and white, pre-microwaves, pre-cellphones, pre-computers. They are both embracing and leery of technology, feeling stress when too encroached upon by gadgets but at the same time excited by opportunities technology provides.
Because Boomers are post-WWII babies, many had parents, uncles, grandfathers who were veterans. Holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and Independence Day meant more than a day off.
Kate Barker
Love talking about “Boomers”…it’s my generation. But, like Cynthia mentioned, boomers might be the same age, but have opposite view points. Some boomers became active in social causes…Peace Corps, Vista, Civil Rights…and of course, there was Woodstock, and Haight Ashbury…the Weathermen and the Vietnam War protest movement. (Not an exhaustive list)….And then we grew up, went to work, became parents, bought our first home…and our POV changed!
Other concerns for boomers are aging parents, grown children without jobs and maybe moving home,and having to step in and raise grandchildren for one reason or another.
Brainstorming is fun! Thanks!
Cheryl Malandrinos
Wow! What thought-provoking discussions this week.
While there are definitely concerns as to if they can afford to live out their retirement years in comfort, I believe it is equally important to them that they lead fulfulling lives. As a generation who grew up feeling entitled to have it all, they also want the years to come to be filled with quality living (not necessarily the quality that money can buy).
As their parents before them, they wish their children and grandchildren have it better than they did.
As a writer who was born only a few years into Generation X, I find I can still relate to some of what the Boomers feel and desire. It’s rare I find one who shares my political views, but that makes it much more interesting when trying to portray someone of this generation.
Lance Albury
I would think being raised so close to the depression and WWII their parents would’ve instilled in them frugality and a distaste for wastefulness; especially those born closer to the beginning of the date range.
Maril Hazlett
Love the discussion. It helped me clarify some of my own thinking – especially the point that while an entire generation might experience the same historical events and general trends, individuals might react to and process these occurrences very differently.
To translate this insight to fiction writing, I can see it opening up several possibilities, particularly in terms of character development and interaction.
Mary Keeley
Great contributions that can provide interesting twists and quirks to your Boomer characters.
Rita Monette
Great topic, Mary.
I fall into the baby boomer group who sees how the family is falling apart, with young children being pierced and tattood with parent’s permission (my own grandchildren included); kids being taught that they have the right to kill someone who bullies them. Bullying has always existed. Bullying made us stronger and more determined to overcome! I cringe as I listen to my granddaughter talk about homosexuality as if it’s a “cool” thing to be, with girls claiming to be gay so they can be cool.
This is why I write children’s middle grade books. This is a very vulnerable age, and I think kids need to read stories with old fashioned family values. My story is set in the 50’s. The last two well-written middle grade (award winning)books I’ve read are set in the depression era. I think all the dystopian/vampire books out there that children seem to love might take them away from it all, but do they learn anything meaningful?
I really blame our generation for rebelling against those family values of our parents, which led to the drugs and sex of the 60s and perhaps the downward spiraling of values today. Maybe it’s up to us to bring it back.
Julie Surface Johnson
One thing that drives a lot of older Boomers to distraction (especially in Human Resources) is the “flightiness” of younger generations. Boomers were influenced by the Greatest Generation to find the career of their choice (for girls, the choices were few: teaching, secretarial, beauty school, or full-time mom and homemaker) and stay in it for life. Today’s workforce seems to come and go–not giving loyalty to, or receiving loyalty from, their employer. The emphasis is more on following your individual path.
An interesting thing to note when studying these generational divisions is the titles of prevailing magazines during each period. The Greatest Generation, having suffered through world wars and the Great Depression, popularized Life Magazine; with the self-indulgent Boomers, it was People Magazine; Gen X’ers narrowed the focus with from People Magazine to Self Magazine.