'Baby boomer' is a term given to someone who was born during the Post-World War II baby boom.
Different societies, groups, individuals, and specialists have varied differences in perspectives or insights regarding on what makes a baby boomer, both in a contextual aspect and socio-cultural perspective. Drawing the distinction and putting a finger on some unique attributes of a baby boomer is nearly impossible, nonetheless, the majority of people have tried to determine the broad socio-cultural similarities and historical impact of the generation, and thus, this term has gained popularity for its usage.
More often than not, baby boomers are cast aside or often labeled as those who are devoid from cultural or societal values. And yet, a lot of critics and observers have been debating over the magnitude of rejection, Taking into consideration the extent of the progression of given values with the old and the young alike.
Ironically, they are often associated with wealth and privilege in North America and Europe as many grew up in a period of great luxuries. In that time, they were considered to be the healthiest and wealthiest as a group, and were expecting the world to change for the better within a matter of time.
One of the most unique attributes associated with the Boomers was that they had these ideals to think of themselves as a special generation, Far distinct from those that had come before. Large groups of young people created specific eloquence around their social groups along with the change they so claim they were contributing.
This grandiose eloquence had consequently made a vital effect in how they have perceived themselves, as well as their urge to delineate the world in terms of generations, which was a relatively new occurrence.
The baby boom has been described inconsistently as a "shockwave "and as "the pig in the python." By the arduous force of its volume, they were a demographic bulge which has redefined the society as it has moved on through it.
Jonathan Pontell used the term ' Generation Jones'to distinguish those born from 1954 onward from the earlier Baby Boomers and is now currently used by English speaking nations although some non englisg countries also use this terminology to some extents.
Boomers grew up at a period of drastic social transition. That social change has labeled the generation with a strong socio-cultural division amongst the people who are driven for social change, and those who are more conservative in the United States.
Some critics claim that this division has played out politically since Vietnam War, to some extent defining the political landscape and division in the country.
In 1993, Time magazine reported on the boomers and their religious organizations. Wade Clark Roof was a sociologist at the University of California at Santa Barbara, h said that 42 percent of the boomers were 'dropouts' from a formal religious organization that had never been strayed away from church and that 1/4th of the boomers are returning to their religious affiliations. They are more open-minded, less inclined with tradition and less dependent on church members. They then became more receptive to moral issues such as homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia.
As time passed, the aging boomers have tried to stay away from discussions about their impending demise. However, in recent years, time has also changed and this change brought about a more receptive attitude and thus, more and more discussions about the end-of-life issues had been growing. Some commentators have said that the boomers are in a state of denial regarding their advancing age and are leaving economic liabilities and burdens on their children.
With this comes the problem of homelessness, hunger and poverty. Not to mention discrimination, alienation and social stigmas. At this point, the children of the boomers can and might become like those people we see on the streets. Beggars, drifters, bums, hobos, etc.
