Generations. How are they properly defined?

[Siri137]

People can't seem to agree on this, and a good example of this are the charts above. For example, the top chart has Millennials as having been born between the years 1981 to 1996, but the one below has 1982 to 2000. So which is it?

Also the years don't match. Boomers were born over an 18 year timespan, but Gen X has only 15 in the first chart and 16 in the second. Why?

[Astarlessnightsky]

They are defined in hindsight. As these people share similiar mindsets or grew up in a similiar environment.

For example people growing up before and after the internet.

People growing up during the war and after the war.

And that definition is only somewhat true for the majority of people, and the transition is more fluid.

So its not 1982 more like 1982ish /- a couple of years.

Its just a rough concept by social science to categorize poeple, its not perfect and not accurate.

[Effably]

This pretty much. Its not a fixed time interval but a sort of hinted at understanding of similarities within what is more or lesd a generation (upper boundary of 25/30 years).

[love_conquers_lust]

Use this:

https://www.lifecourse.com/about/method/timelines/generations.html

[ChicoFromThe305]

Actually there's a small one between millenials and Genz called zillenials, which I'm glad I fall into lol

[NathanDavis]

I rather see people as individuals... and take them as my actual experience with them, lol

[HouseMoat]

I don't get why some are diff. than others.

[BLP11520]

Boomer here