Baby Boomers

BABY BOOMERS

Beth Nelson

Neal Raval

THE BOOM GENERATION

The term “Baby Boom” is used to describe the massive births after WWII.

AKA:Baby BoomersBoomiesThe Bulge

THE BOOM GENERATION

• 1943-1960• Predominately in their 50s and 60s.• Approximately 76 million boomers in the

world.• American Dream

– Abundance and Prosperity– New Market of Products

• Automobiles• TVs• Housing• Toys

THE BOOM GENERATION

Generation of optimism, exploration, and achievement.

Increased educational, financial, and social opportunities.

Stability, prosperity, and opportunity.

MAJOR EVENTS DURING BOOMER YEARS

1961 – Russians/US put man in space. Berlin wall goes up.

1963 – John F. Kennedy assassinated. Dr. Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream”.

1965 – Civil disturbances and Vietnam war play role in American society.

1967 – First heart transplant.

1968 – Dr. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy assassinated.

1969 – Wood Stock. Us lands man on moon.

1973 – US involvement in Vietnam ends. Abortion legalized by Supreme Court.

1974 – Nixon resigns – Watergate Scandal.

BOOMER MOVEMENTSocial and Economic Equality

Civil Rights MovementWomen’s MovementSexuality Movement

Differing ViewsPoliticsWarSocial Justice

The Boomer Generation experienced dramatic shifts in educational, economic, and social opportunities.

VALUES

• Individual choice

• Community involvement

• Prosperity

• Ownership

• Self-actualizing

• Health and wellness

ATTRIBUTES

• Adaptive

• Goal-oriented

• Focus on individual choices and freedom

• Adaptive to a diverse workplace

• Positive attitude

• Family Oriented

FAMILY ORIENTED

• Baby boomers love spending time with their families.

• Over-Protective

• Raising their Grandchildren– Kids very dependent on their parents.– Encouraged to take an interest in their

grandchildren.

• Traveling

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES• Selfishness

– “They're the most self-centered, self-seeking, self- interested, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing generation in American history.” Paul Begala

• Arrogance

• Ruthlessness

• Anti-Conflict– Confronted with a generation-defining

conflict, the cold war, the Boomers–those, at any rate, who came to be emblematic of their generation–took the opposite path from their parents during World War II.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BABY BOOMER IN THE WORKPLACE• Work-Centric: Hardworking, motivated by position,

perks, and prestige. They often criticize younger generations for a lack of work ethic and commitment.

• Independent: Confident and self reliant. Not afraid of confrontation and will challenge established practices.

• Goal Oriented: Very achievement oriented, dedicated, and career focused.

• Competitive: Clever, resourceful, and strive to win. Believe in the hierarchical structure in the workplace.

RETIREMENT• Labor statistics indicate that nearly 80 million

Boomers will exit the work place within the next decade.– Approximately 8000 per day.– Approximately 300 per hour.

• With the recession, approximately 57% of boomers will stay in the labor market affecting all the generations.

SOURCES• http://legalcareers.about.com/od/practicetips/a/Babyboomers.ht

m

• http://www.valueoptions.com/spotlight_YIW/baby_boomers.htm

• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/450405/New-Report-baby-boomer-characteristics

• http://www.babyboomeradult.com/2009/01/17/characteristics-of-baby-boomers.html

• http://www.babyboomeradult.com/

• http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2061.html#

• http://www.superseventies.com/worstgen.html

• http://www.bbhq.com/boomeryr.htm