What is a Boomer?
Hint: It’s more than just age.
After World War II, during the years 1946–1964, the overall world population grew significantly. This period of population growth is called the “baby boom” and the children born during this time are the “baby boomers,” or “boomers” for short. Generations “develop as a meaningful social unit only when large-scale events forge a group identity among people of the same birth cohort” (Ovadia). In this case, the large-scale events that define this generation were the end of World War II, an economic boom, and a steep rise in population. The word “boomer” was solely defined by the age of the children born during the baby boom, and would remain that way until recent generational tensions with millennials. In recent years, “boomer” has developed a more dismissive and derogatory tone, used to refer to someone with traditional values without regards to age.
One of the factors leading to this tension between generations is that millennials and boomers tend to be strongly divided about social media and political interests. Millennials prefer to communicate through computers, whereas boomers prefer in-person communication. Computer “users are mostly younger people such as Generation Y. They are comfortable with using digital interactive technologies for communication. The Baby Boomer generation, on the other hand, values face-to-face communication. The different ways of communication causes conflict between these two generations” (Venter).
Another contributing factor to generational tension is that there is a stark difference in the way that boomers and millennials approach politics. “In the 2008 U.S. election, Generation Y voted for Barack Obama over John McCain by 66–32 percent, while adults ages 30 and over split their votes 50–49 percent” (Ruspini). Millennials “have developed distinct political leanings that are significantly to the left of older generations” (Fisher). This could be because “people develop values and assign priorities to their values that are shaped in a large part from the socioeconomic conditions that they cultivate during their formative years from childhood to early adulthood” (Fisher). For example, “became accustomed to ‘getting what they wanted, when they wanted’” (Kline). “They were born and raised when the economy was growing at a rapid pace, and they were afforded the luxuries of that economy” (Kline). Millennials, however, “are concerned that those moving into old age have not saved enough for retirement, will drain the government for benefits such as Medicare, and their ill health will cripple the nation’s health system” (Kline). Many boomers believe that “millennials are lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents” (qtd. in Kline), but don’t realize that many of the problems that millennials face are caused by boomers.
The generational gap is widening further as Generation Z is coming of age. The word “boomer” has taken on a new meaning through the language of memes. According to Know Your Meme, the meme “OK, Boomer” became popular after someone made a meme in “an Ironic Doge meme” on January 14th, 2019. This meme, and other similar memes, were “ primarily used to mock and debase opinions offered by baby boomers and older people in general” (OK Boomer). Not only was it used to mock the older generation, but it was also used to disregard “those who are perceived as old-fashioned and being out-of-touch” (OK Boomer). Maxine B, an upcoming senior in high school, states, “I think a lot of people mistake the word ‘boomer’ to just mean ‘old person.’ While the term started off as an abbreviation of baby boomer, it’s since become a term describing anyone who holds the antiquated ‘traditional’ beliefs of 20th century America. Being a baby boomer doesn’t make you a boomer, and you can be a boomer at age 12.” This seems to be the most agreed upon definition of “boomer”, as there are many other articles that have the same or similar definition. For example, a New York Times article shared, “‘The older generations grew up with a certain mind-set, and we have a different perspective,’ Ms. O’Connor said. ‘A lot of them don’t believe in climate change or don’t believe people can get jobs with dyed hair, and a lot of them are stubborn in that view. Teenagers just respond, ‘Ok, boomer.’ It’s like, we’ll prove you wrong, we’re still going to be successful because the world is changing’” (Lorenz). Under this definition, “boomer” is used to describe someone with an fixed mindset, someone who is not able to use technology efficiently, or someone who holds outdated traditional values.
The generational gap is widening further as Generation Z is coming of age. The word “boomer” has taken on a new meaning through the language of memes. According to Know Your Meme, the meme “OK, Boomer” became popular after someone made a meme in “an Ironic Doge meme” on January 14th, 2019. This meme, and other similar memes, were “ primarily used to mock and debase opinions offered by baby boomers and older people in general” (OK Boomer). Not only was it used to mock the older generation, but it was also used to disregard “those who are perceived as old-fashioned and being out-of-touch” (OK Boomer). Maxine B, an upcoming senior in high school, states, “I think a lot of people mistake the word ‘boomer’ to just mean ‘old person.’ While the term started off as an abbreviation of baby boomer, it’s since become a term describing anyone who holds the antiquated ‘traditional’ beliefs of 20th century America. Being a baby boomer doesn’t make you a boomer, and you can be a boomer at age 12.” This seems to be the most agreed upon definition of “boomer”, as there are many other articles that have the same or similar definition. For example, a New York Times article shared, “‘The older generations grew up with a certain mind-set, and we have a different perspective,’ Ms. O’Connor said. ‘A lot of them don’t believe in climate change or don’t believe people can get jobs with dyed hair, and a lot of them are stubborn in that view. Teenagers just respond, ‘Ok, boomer.’ It’s like, we’ll prove you wrong, we’re still going to be successful because the world is changing’” (Lorenz). Under this definition, “boomer” is used to describe someone with an fixed mindset, someone who is not able to use technology efficiently, or someone who holds outdated traditional values.
Works Cited
B., Maxine. Text message to author. 25 July 2020.
Brad A. Meisner (2020) Are You OK, Boomer? Intensification of Ageism and Intergenerational Tensions on Social Media Amid COVID-19, Leisure Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2020.1773983
Fisher, Patrick. “A Political Outlier: The Distinct Politics of the Millennial Generation.” Society, vol. 55, no. 1, 2018, DOI:10.1007/s12115–017–0209–7.
Murphy, Michelle Marie. “Exploring Generational Differences among Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers: Work Values, Manager Behavior Expectations, and the Impact of Manager Behaviors on Work Engagement.” Alliant International University, Oct. 2011, DOI:10.1007/s12115–017–0209–7. Abstract.
“OK Boomer.” Know Your Meme, 28 July 2020.
Venter, Elza. “Bridging the Communication Gap between Generation Y and the Baby Boomer Generation.” International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, vol.22, no. 4, 5 Jan. 2017, pp. 497–507, DOI:10.1080/02673843.2016.1267022.
