How to Tell if You Are a Member of Generation X

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Last Updated: December 23, 2024 References

Generation X is one of the 6 main generations still alive today as of 2024. Around 19.5 percent of the United States's population is comprised of people that are part of Generation X. ^{[1]
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Research source} It is also called the "MTV Generation" because MTV dominated television when members of Generation X were growing up. ^{[2]
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Research source} People in Generation X are in their 40s-50s currently. Here are some ways to identify if you are a member of Generation X.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Checking Through Facts

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1
Know your birth year. People born in Generation X were born between the years 1965 and 1980. If you were born between these years, you are part of Gen X. ^{[3]
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- Additionally, you could be on the cusp of Baby Boomers and Generation X. These people experienced events from both generations. They were born between 1954 and 1965. ^{[4]
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- You could also be in the cusp between Gen X and the millennial generation. These people are called "Xennials" and they are born from 1977 to 1983. ^{[5]
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2
Check when you will retire. The average age of retirement is between the late 50s and late 60s, with the US averaging 65 years of age. ^{[6]
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- Using the U.S's average age of 65, you would retire between the years of 2030 to 2045.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Checking Through Historical Events

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1
Think about how many countries' leaders you remember hearing about. If you heard names such as Richard Nixon, Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, and Leonid Brezhnev being mentioned in the news, then you are probably a member of Generation X.
- If you are on the Gen X-millennial cusp, you may have heard of more 1980s historical figures, such as Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, George H.W. Bush, and Margaret Thatcher.
2
See if you have a few memories of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War lasted from 1955 to 1975 between the communist North Vietnam and the anti-communist South Vietnam. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union and China, whereas the South was supported by the United States. ^{[7]
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Research source} You may have heard about this event in the news. Additionally, if you had an older sibling or a parent who served in the war, you may be part of Gen X.
- You may have lived in Vietnam or another country affected by the war at the time. In this case, you likely witnessed numerous tragic events caused by the fighting. ^{[8]
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- Public opinion on this war divided America. While many World War II veterans believed it was crucial to stopping the spread of Communism, many pacifists, young people, and members of the Civil Rights Movement saw the conflict as costly and unjust. As the first televised war, horrific images, and reports that America was defending a corrupt and anti-democratic government, led people to question how the American government could justify standing for such a regime.^{[9]
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3
Remember the turbulent political era. The 1970s marked a time of political unrest. Americans were protesting their country's involvement in the Vietnam War. ^{[10]
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Research source} Additionally, the LGBTQ rights movement, environmental rights movement, and the feminist movements started gaining members. ^{[11]
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- Harvey Milk was elected as the first openly gay official in California.^{[12]
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  Research source} President Richard Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal. ^{[13]
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- Additionally, the Yom Kippur War (1973) fought in Egypt, Syria, and Israel resulted in the deaths of thousands of troops. ^{[14]
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  Research source} The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 also raised tensions. ^{[15]
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- In Spain, dictator Francisco Franco died in 1975, leading to the original monarch, Juan Carlos I being re-established as a constitutional monarch. ^{[16]
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- If you remember most of these events happening during your youth, you are probably a member of Generation X.
4
Remember the social stigmas at the time. Generation X grew up in a changing world. Minorities such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people were fighting for their rights and equality. ^{[17]
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Research source} Crime rates also rose across the US in the 1970s and 1980s. Families started to worry about their safety. ^{[18]
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Research source} Additionally, the AIDS epidemic started in 1981. In the early 1980s, before it was known that HIV, if untreated, may cause AIDS, gay people were targeted because of harmful stereotypes during the epidemic. These stereotypes were perpetuated through preexisting stigmas surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and scapegoating in the media.^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source}^{[20]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Checking Through Shared Experiences

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1
Remember how your family lived during your childhood. Generation X had another nickname: the "Latchkey Generation". This originated from when children often arrived home from school alone (as they had working parents), and they had to open the door to their house alone using their house key. Baby Boomer and Silent Generation parents were more relaxed in terms of safety issues, so they often allowed their children to go outside for hours at a time without anyone knowing where they were. ^{[21]
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Research source} Most Gen X children had at least one sibling, so older siblings took care of younger siblings. ^{[22]
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- If you remember most of these childhood experiences, you are likely to be a member of Generation X.
2
Recall famous TV shows from the era. Some iconic shows debuted in the 1970s and 1980s. The 1970s marked the start of less conservative, family-friendly TV shows. TV shows started talking about more mature subjects such as sex and drugs. Additionally, more African-American actors were cast in these TV shows. ^{[24]
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Research source} In the 1980s, ABC, NBC, and CBS were the main channels that dominated cable television. The TV industry profited immensely during the 80s. ^{[25]
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Research source} Additionally, more children's cartoons were created. Some iconic 1970s-1980s TV shows you may have seen include:
- M*A*S*H* (1972-1983) ^{[26]
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- Happy Days (1974-1984) ^{[27]
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- The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
- Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
- The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
- Miami Vice (1984-1989) ^{[28]
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- The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
- Full House (1987-1995) ^{[29]
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3
Remember historical events in the news. Think about what historical events you remember happening. Recall important historical events that happened during your childhood. There were many events that happened after the post-war baby boom (which created the Baby Boomers), including various civil wars and military coups. Some events that Gen X'ers have lived through include: ^{[30]
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- Malcolm X's assassination (1965) ^{[31]
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- The first American moon landing (1969) ^{[33]
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- The Troubles, a period of political unrest in Ireland (from the late 1960s to 1998) ^{[34]
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- The first Earth Day event (1970) ^{[35]
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- The oil crisis of 1973 ^{[36]
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- Richard Nixon's resignation after the Watergate scandal (1974)
- The Cambodian genocide (1975-1979) ^{[37]
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- Smallpox's eradication (1980) ^{[39]
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- Mount Saint Helens's eruption (1980)
- Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988)
- The music channel MTV debuting in 1981
4
Think about popular movies you saw or heard about. If you saw movie posters for these iconic movies, or if you saw these movies in theaters at the time, you might be a member of Generation X. There were many iconic movies of the 1970s-1980s, with popular actors and actresses starring in them. These included: ^{[40]
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- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- The Godfather (1972)
- Jaws (1975)
- Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- Grease (1978)
- 9 to 5 (1980)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
5
List how many popular songs from the 1970s-1980s you know. Music was a key part of Generation X's youth because of the rise of MTV. People also found new ways to consume music other than with radio, such as using CDs and cassette tapes. ^{[41]
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Research source} Various genres of music were popular during these decades, including disco, punk rock, hard rock, new wave, heavy metal, blues rock, synth-pop, post-punk, and glam metal. If you listened to music during the 1970s-1980s, you probably know many famous musicians and songs. Some songs you may have heard as a Gen X'er include:
- (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (1968), Otis Redding ^{[43]
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- Stairway to Heaven (1971), Led Zeppelin ^{[44]
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- Rocket Man (1972), Elton John
- Smoke on the Water (1972), Deep Purple ^{[45]
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- Bennie and the Jets (1974), Elton John ^{[46]
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- Fame (1975), David Bowie
- Bohemian Rhapsody (1975), Queen ^{[47]
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- Ma Baker (1977), Boney M
- Dreams (1977), Fleetwood Mac ^{[48]
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- Hot Stuff (1979), Donna Summer ^{[49]
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- Another One Bites the Dust (1980), Queen
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot (1980), Pat Benatar ^{[50]
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- 867-5309 (1982), Tommy Tutone ^{[51]
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- Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (1984), Phil Collins ^{[52]
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- Radio Ga Ga (1984), Queen
- Alone (1987), Heart ^{[53]
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6
List celebrities or famous figures of the 1970s-1980s you remember. You may have heard these people in the news, or by watching their movies or listening to their songs. In the 1970s-1980s, actors starred in iconic movies such as The Exorcist, Saturday Night Fever, The Godfather^{[54]
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Research source} If you were young in the 1970s-1980s, you may have heard of most of these people. This includes:
- Actors: Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand ^{[56]
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- Musicians: The Bee Gees, Queen, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Elton John ^{[58]
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  Research source}, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Madonna, David Bowie, Wham, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, Erasure, Hall & Oates, Eurythmics ^{[59]
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