Sorry - this is a long post! Been obsessing over Strauss & Howe's "Generations" lately ("The Fourth Turning" is next on my list!). However, since the book doesn't touch on cuspers, and was written 30 years ago, I wanted to update their generational theory with the inclusion of cuspers and the newer generations!

I'm sure that this list will be fairly controversial -- especially considering the fact that, according to my theory, Generation Alpha hasn't even started being born yet! My main reasoning for that is because, when cusping is introduced, each "main" generation only lasts about 11-12 years before being interrupted by a cusper. According to that pattern, the "main" generation of Gen Z doesn't end until about 2016 (probably the last birth-year to remember a pre-COVID existence, similar to how the last Millennial born in 1996 is probably the last to remember a pre-9/11 existence). For that reason, I believe babies born today are currently in the Gen Z-Alpha cusper group, but we will obviously not know their characteristics or generation traits for at least another 10-20 years.

Also! The main generations (Greatest, Silent, Boomer, X, Millennial, Z) are NOT in quotes on this list, and the cusper generations (Sandwich, Jones, Xennial, Zillennial, Zalpha) ARE in quotes -- this way it's easy to identify which ones are "real" generations and which aren't.

GREATEST GENERATION (1901-1924)

1. Older Members (1901-1910) - Old enough to remember World War I but too young to fight in it, came of age during the Roaring '20s.
2. Core Members (1911-1917) - Came of age during the Great Depression.
3. Younger Members (1918-1924) - Old enough to remember the Roaring '20s, but spent most of their formative years in the Great Depression. Came of age and fought in World War II.

SILENT GENERATION (1925-1937)

1. Older Members (1925-1928) - Born during the Roaring '20s, but their earliest memories are from the Great Depression. Old enough to serve in the final stage of World War II.
2. Core Members (1929-1932) - Born during the Great Depression, too young to fight in World War II, but fought in the Korean War.
3. Younger Members (1933-1937) - Old enough to remember Pearl Harbor (potentially the first news event that they remember). Too young to fight in Korea, and had graduated high school just before the rise of suburbia.

"SANDWICH GROUP" (1938-1944)

1. All Members (1938-1944) - Born either just before or during World War II, and just too young to remember it. The first "suburban teenagers" and vapid Elvis Presley fans, whose youngest members began to get drafted for Vietnam in the early '60s. However, this group was just too old for the '60s counterculture movement -- by the time it began, they had already largely started to marry and settle down.

BABY BOOMER GENERATION (1945-1957)

1. Older Members (1945-1947) - Born in the immediate aftermath of World War II, typically to young veterans and their wives. Entered elementary school as the suburban culture of the '50s was just beginning to take shape, and entered college just as the counterculture movement was starting to form. The majority of Woodstock attendees (plus the oldest of the Core Members). Many Vietnam draftees.
2. Core Members (1948-1955) - The core group of K-12 students (excluding oldest high school students and youngest elementary students) when J.F.K. was assassinated. Became the rebellious face of the counterculture movement in their high school and college years, before embarking in the workforce during the "Me" decade of the '70s. Many were drafted to Vietnam during the later years of the war.
3. Younger Members (1956-1957) - Just old enough to remember the culture of the '50s. Young elementary schoolers when J.F.K. was assassinated (possible first memory). This group had older siblings who fought in Vietnam, but were luckily just young enough to avoid being drafted -- by the time they reached 18, the war had ended, and their young adult years were marked by the disco era. Began to settle down in Reagan's first term.

"GENERATION JONES" (1958-1964)

1. All Members (1958-1964) - Alive when J.F.K. was assassinated (or born in the immediate aftermath), but too young to remember it. Spent their young childhood during the counterculture movement, but were just too young to take an active role in it -- by the time they started high school, the hippie age was over and the disco age had begun. Entered the workforce during the recession of the early '80s.

GENERATION X (1965-1976)

1. Older Members (1965-1967) - In elementary school when Watergate happened, middle school during the Iran hostage crisis, and high school in the early '80s (the time of Queen & Blondie, the recession, and so on). The economy had recovered by the time they graduated high school. Speaking generally -- after establishing themselves in the workforce, they typically began to settle down during the Clinton administration.
2. Core Members (1968-1972) - Typical "latchkey kids." Born at the height of the counterculture movement (plenty of "surprise" babies), but too young to remember any of the counterculture. Children during the disco era, and prime '80s teenagers -- think "The Breakfast Club," "Heathers," "Sixteen Candles," "St. Elmo's Fire." High-haired high schoolers when the Challenger exploded. A notably conservative group, who came of age during the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations.
3. Younger Members (1973-1976) - Foggy memories of the disco era, but mostly grew up in the '80s and early '90s. Blared Nirvana in high school and Alanis Morissette in college. Politically liberal compared to the older members of their generation. Raised by anti-Reagan Boomers, and became pro-Clinton youths.

"XENNIALS" (1977-1984)

1. All Members (1977-1984) - Children in the '80s and early '90s, and quintessential '90s teenagers. Spent their teenage years online, in the pre-social media era of the internet (dial-up, anyone?). They entered high school with encyclopedia sets, and graduated high school with email addresses. Their early adulthood was greatly impacted by 9/11, which happened just as they were entering the "real world."

MILLENNIALS (1985-1996)

1. Older Members (1985-1987) - Born in the '80s but either barely remember them or not at all. Early high schoolers on 9/11, but didn't graduate until after the start of the Iraq War. The first group who largely had cell phones in high school.
2. Core Members (1988-1992) - Prime '90s kids. Chatted on AIM in their preteen years. Began high school in the post-9/11, War on Terror years, and entered the "real world" during the Great Recession. Largely settling down during the Trump administration.
3. Younger Members (1993-1996) - May have some memories of pre-9/11, '90s culture, but 9/11 is generally the first real-world event that they remember, being young elementary schoolers at the time. In middle school and early high school during the Great Recession, and Obama's election. Became the first of the iPhone generation, when iPhones became super popular in their high school years. Began to enter the workforce in the years just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many young nurses and other healthcare workers, who are now working on the frontlines.

"ZILLENNIALS" (1997-2003)

1. All Members (1997-2003) - Either born before 9/11 but too young to remember it, or born in the immediate aftermath. Watched VHS tapes as young children, DVDs as older children and preteens, and Netflix/Hulu and other streaming services as teenagers and young adults. Were elementary school students when chalkboards were replaced with SmartBoards. Old enough to remember the Great Recession and Obama's election, which happened in their elementary years. Mainly high schoolers during the 2016 election, and mainly college students at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many grocery workers/restaurant employees/retail workers currently on the frontlines during the pandemic. Stereotypical "SJW's" who are at the forefront of the BLM anti-racism movement.

GENERATION Z (2004-2016)

1. Older Members (2004-2007) - Young elementary schoolers in the early Obama years. The first group of children to participate in "active shooter" drills from elementary school on. Had iPhones from elementary school on. Preteens when Trump was elected, and young teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Core Members (2008-2011) - Born during Obama's first term, and don't have many memories of his second term. First major news event was the 2016 election. Older elementary schoolers and younger middle schoolers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Younger Members (2012-2016) - Born before the 2016 election, but don't remember it. First memory will largely be the COVID-19 pandemic.

"GENERATION ZALPHA" (2017-present)

1. All Members (2017-present) - Born immediately before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not likely to have any pre-COVID memories.

I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts!! <3