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Usually defined as those born in the years between
1946 and 1964 for the U.S., the baby boomers
are a large part of the American society. Their
numbers, values, and technology have had a
significant effect on the society as whole and now
present new need and challenges associated with
their aging.
“Talking About My Generation” is
the song that immediately comes to mind on hearing
the words baby boomers. And
this is also true for an enormous chunk of American
society. For the United States of America, the Baby
Boomer Generation is usually accepted to be that
period from 1946 to 1964 when more than three
million births a year occurred. Following
generations are commonly designated as Generation X,
Generation Y and those being born since the turn of
the 21st Century being called
Millenialists by some although this term has also
been used in a religious belief context
The
Baby Boomers are believed to be at least in part a result of
the post World War II
prosperity and and a societal sense of hopefulness
and of the new found peace. Even the outbreak of war in
Korea in the early fifties had little effect on the birth
rate and national optimism. Many veterans were able to use
their military benefits to purchase homes and to attend
college, both of which might have been out of their reach
without these benefits.
Sheer numbers alone dictate the impact of the baby boomers
on American society. Baby boomers comprise an estimated 77.3
million people alive today. Born in the very heart of the 20th
Century, they reflect a modern shift in cultural values as
well as the beginnings of the bloom in modern technologies
that are now taken for granted. Before their births, there
was no space program, no cat scans, no organ transplants, no
home computers, no birth control pill, and a myriad
of other miracles of modern science and technology
now taken completely for granted.
In
the early years of the 21st Century, new issues
are arising for and concerning baby boomers. As this
generation approaches or enters retirement age, there are
perfectly valid concerns about their demands upon retirement
systems, medical care and their importance on the economy in
general. The chronic diseases that often accompany aging may
place additional strain on the delivery systems for medical
care which are already strained by doctor shortages and
rising costs. In addition, retiring baby boomers may be
spending less as income often declines in retirement.
Baby
boomers have clearly left an impact which includes evolving
changes of views on everything from views on human sexuality
to perceptions of the role of technology in everyday life.
Whether a person sees the population of the post war baby
boom as “My Generation” or that of a parent, child,
grandchild or grandparent, this generation has touched
everyone alive today.
We were the first to be raised with a television in
the home and we watched Leave it to Beaver and
Father Knows Best; we are the wealthiest living
generation; we are working longer and retiring
later; we ushered in the Women's movement, the
Beatles, Mini Skirts, Bikini's, and Bell Bottoms,
Rock 'n Roll, Woodstock, Neil Armstrong, and we
wanted to "Buy the World a Coke".
It is popular to
consider the widespread use of the Birth Control Pill in the
early 1960's with facilitated the end of the population
boom. Vietnam shaped our generation, as the early
boomers were drafted.
The Baby Boom Generation is the North American population
explosion that occurred between 1946 and 1964 and the folks
born therein are Baby Boomers.
Some "purists" consider true Baby Boomers to be born between
1946 and 1953, with those born after that called Generation
Jones.
We've redefined and reinvented ourselves and what it
means to be an aging population.
The Baby Boom is generally considered to have peaked at
its highest in 1957, and the Generation Jones, or sometimes
just "Jonesers", are part of the "Cusp Generation" that
encompasses the years 1954 - 1964. This group is also
known as "Trailing Edge Boomers", "Late Boomers", and
"Shadow Boomers".
Other tags associated with this generation are:
The Stress Generation
Sandwich Generation
The New Generation
The Love Generation
The War Babies
Beatniks
Hippies
The Me Generation
The Now Generation
The TV Generation
The Lost Generation
The Spock Generation
This website is dedicated to all the Baby Boomers, living
longer, living stronger, and doing everything our own way.
There will be information here about retirement, health,
life-style, travel, entertainment, and just about anything
you might be interested in. Check back often as we
update the site with the newest, latest, best, and most
interesting facts and information to help all us boomers as
we embrace the next evolution of our generation.
visit our
http://boomersweb.blogspot.com/
the Baby Boom
Generation evolution continues....