Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future

by Jean M. Twenge

For Gen X, though, individualism wasn’t a journey—they were born at the destination. They didn’t need a map, because the culture of the self is their hometown. They didn’t need to explore the territory of the self in a group, because they were already there. Since they were small children, Gen X learned from their Silent and Boomer parents that the self came first. Gen X’ers didn’t have to march in a protest or attend a group session to realize that their own needs and desires were paramount. They just knew it. This is one of the key differences between Boomers and Gen X: Gen X’ers came of age after the culture had decided to leave behind the old, collectivistic rules and embrace individualism. The first Gen X’ers didn’t turn 10 until 1975, when American culture had already arrived at a loud, bell-bottom-wearing, pot-smoking rejection of the collectivistic culture of just a dozen years prior. For Gen X’ers, individualism is taken for granted: Of course the needs of the self come first. Duh.