Generation 94535 225529958 2008-07-14T04:25:56Z V1oletv 6188773 /* Length */ Copy edit for clarity and grammar {{copyedit|date=May 2008}} {{otheruses}} {{For|a list of generations|List of generations}} {{wiktionary|Generation}} '''Generation''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''γενεά''), also known as [[reproduction|procreation]], is the act of producing [[offspring]]. It can also refer to the act of creating something inanimate such as [[electricity generation|electrical generation]] or [[cryptography|cryptographic]] [[code generation]]. A generation can also be a stage or degree in a succession of natural descent as a grandfather, a father, and the father's son comprise three generations. A generation can refer to stages of successive improvement in the development of a [[technology]] such as the [[internal combustion engine]], or successive iterations of products with [[planned obsolescence]], such as [[video game console]]s or [[mobile phone]]s. In [[biology]], the process by which populations of [[organism]]s pass on advantageous [[Trait (biological)|trait]]s from generation to generation is known as [[evolution]]. ==Length== A '''generation''' has traditionally been defined as “the average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring."<ref>[http://www.dictionary.com. Dictionary.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This makes a generation around 30 years in length. However, while this rule of thumb has served sociologists well in analysing generations up to and including the [[Baby Boomers]], it is less relevant for recent generations.<ref name="mccrindle"> McCrindle Research 2006, [http://www.mccrindle.com.au/resources.htm ''New Generations at work''], retrieved November 30, 2007. </ref> Firstly, because [[cohort|cohorts]] are changing so quickly in response to new technologies, changing career and study options, and because of shifting [[societal values]], their characteristics can change in less than two decades. Secondly, the time between birth of parents and birth of [[offspring]] has stretched out from two decades to more than three. Looking at [[Australia|Australian]] statistics, the median age of a woman having her first baby was 24 in 1976, while today it is just over 30.<ref name="mccrindle"/> So, while the Boomers are the children of the Builders or Veterans, Gen Z are often the younger siblings of [[Gen Y]] – or the children of the late-breeding [[Gen X]]. In recent years, the median age of first-time mothers throughout the western world has reached record highs. *'''USA''' - 25.2<ref> U.S. Census Bureau 2007, [http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/009747.html Facts for features: Mother's Day], retrieved November 30, 2007. </ref> *'''UK''' - 27.4<ref>[http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4104033.stm "More women have a late pregnancy"], ''BBC News'', December 17, 2004, retrieved November 30, 2007. </ref> So, today a generation refers to a cohort of people born into ''and'' shaped by a particular span of time (events, trends and developments). And the span of time has contracted significantly.<ref name="mccrindle" /> More so than ever, the commonalities of today’s generations cut through global, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic boundaries. Due largely to globalisation made possible through the various technologies of today, a youth from Australia, the US, UK, Germany or Japan is shaped by the same events, trends and developments: they are witnessing unprecedented declines in their national birth rate, they are concerned by global warming, and more of their generation are tertiary-educated than their parents and grandparents. Likewise, those living on Government pensions are aware of and shaped by global trends no differently than are celebrities and high-flyers.<ref> Zemke, R. et al 2000, ''Generations at work'', AMACOM books, New York. </ref> ==References== <ref>[[Strauss and Howe|William Strauss and Neil Howe]] (1991) ''Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584-2069,'' ISBN 0-688-11912-3</ref> <references/> ==Generation Table== Please note that these years that have been noted are quite vague and may differ slightly (in some cases quite substantially) from country to country. This table corresponds with the table given by [[Strauss and Howe]]. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Builders (1901-1924) ! Silent (1925-1942) ! Boomers (1943-1960) ! Generation X (1961-1981) ! colspan="2" | The Millennial Generation (1982-2002) |- | The greatest generation | The sandwich generation | The love generation | Slackers | Google generation | The gamers generation |- | The dying generation | The Depression generation | The me generation | The twenty/thirty somethings | The MySpace generation | The internet generation |- | The beat generation | Regan generation | Trailing-edge boomers | The generation after | The MyPod generation | Zeds/Zees |- | The booster generation | | The beatniks | Leading-edge boomers | iGeneration | New silent generation |- |The war generation | | The hippies | The gap generation | Spoiled generation | The corporation generation |- |The hero generation | | The lost generation | The latchkey kids | The connected generation | Generation vista |- |The seniors | | Breakthrough generation | Generation X men/women | Generation whY | The neo-Disney generation |} {{clear}} ==See also== * [[List of generations]] * [[Intergenerational equity]] * [[Generation Z]] * [[Strauss and Howe]] ==External links== * [http://members.optusnet.com.au/exponentialist/Generations_and_Population_Doublings.htm Generations and Population] * [http://www.mccrindle.com.au/resources.htm Resources on the Generations] [[Category:Demographics]] [[ar:جيل]] [[be-x-old:Пакаленьне]] [[ca:Generació]] [[cs:Generace]] [[de:Generation]] [[it:Generazione]] [[lv:Paaudze]] [[nl:Generatie (periode)]] [[ja:世代]] [[no:Generasjon]] [[ru:Поколение]] [[simple:Generation]] [[sk:Generácia (pokolenie ľudí)]] [[sr:Генерација (биологија)]] [[fi:Sukupolvi]] [[sv:Generation]]