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What is a Baby Boomer?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

In Australia, Canada, the USA, and the UK, returning soldiers from World War II sparked an increase in birth rates. This increase was so large, that many names have been coined to account for the high rate of births. Even in Russia, the increase launched a name called the Sputnik Generation. In Western Europe, Australia, and North America, the name baby boomer applies to the group of children born between 1946 and 1964.

Actually there’s some debate on the specific dates. People born a year or two before the war ended may still be considered baby boomers. Further, the 18-year spread above is enough to encompass two generations. A baby boomer born in 1946 would be 18 in 1964 and could theoretically have a child also considered a baby boomer. Some people suggest shortening the end time period to 1963, or prior to the 1960s.

Older baby boomers were around to learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Older baby boomers were around to learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Baby boomers have been interesting from a demographic standpoint. They have enjoyed, for the most part, longer life spans than their parents, and made up the Yuppie generation. Boomers born in the 50s were in their thirties during the conspicuous consumer decade of the 1980s. Some baby boomers were instrumental in protesting the Viet Nam war and constitute the hippie generation. Others represent the more conservative views of the war.

Older baby boomers experienced the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Older baby boomers experienced the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.

Baby boomers have also been called the sandwich generation. They may have simultaneously cared for aging parents and young children at the same time. Primarily they’ve been considered as an interesting demographic. A full 76 million US citizens can call themselves boomers, and people have long understood that this generation will represent a majority of voters in the US in 2015.

From a cultural standpoint, the baby boomer is identified with several important cultural and historical moments or movements:

  • First man on the moon
  • Birth of Rock and Roll
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • Women’s Rights Movement
  • Protest of the Vietnam War
'Baby Boomer' is a term used to describe Americans born between 1946 and 1964.
'Baby Boomer' is a term used to describe Americans born between 1946 and 1964.

However the younger group of baby boomers, those born in the mid 1960s, would have been too young to participate in or remember most of these things. Memorable shared experiences of the older baby Boomers include the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert and the death of Marin Luther King Jr. Younger baby boomers also mark the scandal of Watergate, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

Baby boomers are credited with developing hippie culture and fashion.
Baby boomers are credited with developing hippie culture and fashion.

While the early baby boomer is often characterized as optimistic and hopeful of change via political channels and participation, the younger group born in the late 50s or early 60s is characterized by political cynicism and rejection of the establishment. Of course, in each group, there are a spectrum of political beliefs, points of view and degrees of pessimism or optimism. Much depends upon the individual baby boomer. Clearly, though, this generation of children will continue to have an impact on politics and daily life in the countries where the baby boom existed.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PublicPeople contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PublicPeople contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon216640

I had always heard the Baby Boomers to be the kids born between 1946-1964. I always thought I was in Gen X, but saw according to this site, I am a Y, since I was born in 1979.

anon177653

Nope, nope, nope. People born after 1960 but before 1965, for the most part, do not identify with baby boomers. We're known as Generation Jones and have much more in common with each other than with either baby boomers or Generation X.

wecallherana

@doppler - At this point, the average baby boomer's age is around 50 - 60 years old. Isn't that crazy? About 10 years ago there was some issues with baby boomers and the workforce because the new generation of people (I think it was Generation X or what is sometimes called the "Millennials") didn't have the same work ethics as baby boomers. It's difficult, but now the Millennials are the Boomers' boss. Crazy, huh?

wecallherana

@doppler - I see. I was a little misled since the article didn't state the exact end dates of World War II - it doesn't need to, though, because it's more about the baby boomer generation than the war so I see the point. Thank you for clarifying all of that for me, though, it was very helpful and concise.

doppler

@wecallherana - This is actually already considered in the article. The official last date of occupation dealing with the war was in 1955. So one would most likely consider the baby boomer statistics to end in about 1956 or 1957. While it may all seem very technical, you will most like hear people who were born throughout the sixties call themselves a part of the baby boomers generation simply because they can.

wecallherana

Theoretically, we should consider the baby boomer generation to be that of people who were born a year or two AFTER the war. If you think about it, men coming home to their wives could have gotten them pregnant after the war was over and that would have put another addition in the baby boomer demographics.

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    • Older baby boomers were around to learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
      By: Bill Perry
      Older baby boomers were around to learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
    • Older baby boomers experienced the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
      By: Center for Jewish History, NYC
      Older baby boomers experienced the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
    • 'Baby Boomer' is a term used to describe Americans born between 1946 and 1964.
      By: auremar
      'Baby Boomer' is a term used to describe Americans born between 1946 and 1964.
    • Baby boomers are credited with developing hippie culture and fashion.
      By: Jason Stitt
      Baby boomers are credited with developing hippie culture and fashion.
    • The end of the Second World War marked an increase in birth rates in many parts of the western world.
      By: wazaoman
      The end of the Second World War marked an increase in birth rates in many parts of the western world.