Impact of Baby Boomers on American Society
Demographers' defined the baby boom as a birth surge
started in 1946, after the World War II and reached its
peak in 1957 and continued until 1964 because of the
postwar prosperity. Most people uses "generation" as their
term but demographers precisely referred it as "cohort"
(group of individuals experiencing a certain event within a
specified time). This reveals that social changes
interconnect with the life of every baby boomer.
There are two groups of baby boomers. The babies born from
1946 to 1955 were called early boomers. Those who were born
from 1956 to 1964 were called as late boomers. The last set
of late boomers were born during the first tour of Beatles
in America and the first early boomers was approximately 18
years that time. Baby boomers were noticeable because of
their big populations. They crowded junior high, elementary
schools, high schools, labor market, and colleges.
Studies show that the impacts brought about by the society
where baby boomers grew up contributes a lot in reshaping
the society. They never think like their parents. Because
the population of these cohorts is unprecedented during the
20th century, their beliefs and behaviors are then
predicted to dominate things.
But there is also a great discrepancy in terms of economic
status between early boomers and late boomers. Compared to
the energetic job market and emerging economy laid beneath
the feet of early boomers, late boomers needs adjustment on
economic shifts. It is due to the rapid growth of service
sectors, jobs for middle class became less stable, changing
locations of workers, and career market adjustments.
Most boomers considered economic security as an elusive
thing. They are the people who were born after the era of
civil rights. Conducted studies even reveals income
differences according to ethnicity, race, and birthplace
creating ethnic classes. It was because one third of the
population of baby boomers Hispanic, African-American, or
Asian besides the black and white Americans. Take for
instance, the black boomer's generation are considered
inferior than whites, although the generation of baby
boomers were rated the best in terms of education.
It is a fact that the life of baby boomers was accompanied
by postwar transformations changing the American society.
The ideas about sexuality, gender, and family were altered
profoundly. Likewise, parenthood changed, old age and
retirement was redefined, and labor forces were
transformed. Even in their old age, they seize opportunity
to stay involved and active like staying in their work
force to meet the responsibilities of supporting their
children.
The changes in the society were never brought solely by
stereotype baby boomers but also the conservative types
like Seth Grossman. The stereotype boomers expressed
themselves through street protests while the conservative
boomers use other forms such as leaflets, student
newspapers, and forums. Although their actions did not
attract the attention of media but they achieved their
success when they forced a referendum which resulted in the
withdrawal of Duke students from the National Student
Association.
Conservative boomers may not be a part of the projected
boomer's image but they became a strong force in making
their way silently. They are not even in the front page of
the newspapers because they still attend their class while
others were boycotting. Nevertheless, these conservative
boomers have supported conservative politicians like George
Wallace in 1968.
One third of the populations of early boomers served during
the Vietnam War. Other boomers made a name in different
fields throughout history. Joyce Johnson was an
African-American who belongs to the stereotype boomers her
activist work in her graduate school. When she entered Duke
School, she sought for advancement not only for herself but
her entire race. She belongs in the Afro-American Society
involved in the iconic events in the Duke campus during the
60s. Grossman and Johnson are baby boomers who contributed
great change in their society.
Deep understanding about the baby boom generation is very
important as they advanced on to their old age. It should
be more of demographic curiosities because if demographic
bulge move continuously on the system, then economic
differences also persists. These baby boomers once do their
best in shaping the society providing significant impacts
on the lives of many people besides themselves.
