The Baby Boomers and the Potential for Inter-Generational Conflict

Author(s):  
Karen Rowlingson ◽  
Ricky Joseph ◽  
Louise Overton
Urban Studies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 210-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Hoolachan ◽  
Kim McKee

In contrast to the post-war period, the late 20th and early 21st centuries in the UK have been characterised by the advancement of neoliberal policies including privatisation of the housing system and employment casualisation. Consequently, there are growing socioeconomic inequalities between those born in the post-war period – the ‘Baby Boomers’ – and the younger generation – the ‘Millennials’. Such inequalities have led to narratives of inter-generational conflict with Baby Boomers framed as jeopardising the futures of Millennials. Drawing on Mannheim’s theory of social generations, the concept of generational habitus and qualitative data from 49 Baby Boomers and 62 Millennials, we unpack the ways in which inter-generational inequalities are intersubjectively understood and discussed. Our data indicate that while young people are aware of inter-generational inequalities, they do not feel resentful towards their parents’ generation for profiting at their expense. Instead, many blame the government for not representing their interests. Thus, narratives of inter-generational conflict misleadingly direct blame towards the agency of Baby Boomers rather than political structures.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Jennie Bristow

This chapter lays out the myths of the so-called ‘generation wars’ waged between the Millennials and Baby Boomers and the damaging effects of this generational conflict. The current generation war is presented as a clear conflict between two opposing sides. On one side are the Baby Boomers, born in the twenty years or so following the Second World War; on the other are the Millennials, born in the final two decades of the twentieth century. The chapter shows how the feverish debates about generational conflict reflect very little about the lives of people in any generation. It argues that Boomer-blaming is a narrative that has been constructed by political elites of Western societies to suit their policy agendas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-345
Author(s):  
Lee Su Teng

Workforce demographics have changed, and business leaders have started to question how to handle employees from different generations. With the noticeable generational divide, the issue of generational conflict is gaining prominence. Generational disagreement among employees is not new as each generation is shaped by different historical, socio-economic, and political events where each generation brings with them their unique perspective. Leaders in most organizations are aware of it, albeit few are willing to address such conflicts. Even if they do, uncertainties arise. These differences, or their unique generational characteristics, are due to the exposure to historical events during their early years. As most literature stems from the West and the historical events that happened are different, their characteristics may differ in terms of geography. An in-depth and practical understanding of generational dynamics could enhance the effectiveness of management in handling today’s multi-generational workforce. Hence, this research aims to provide insights into the characteristics of Malaysian Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y who are working locally and comparing them with the West.


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