A New Generation Gap?

Here we go again …

Full disclosure…I’m a Baby Boomer. Granted, I’m at the absolute bitter end of the Boomer generation, but I’m still a Baby Boomer. And also full disclosure, there was a MAJOR generation gap between my generation and our parents. We thought our parents were so uncool, un-with-it, and out of touch. Because, here we go, they were! The generation gap was a mile wide when I/we were young.

“Don’t trust anyone over thirty.” How could we? They were old and out of touch! Seriously. :) When I was in my late 20’s and working in marketing at J&J, we honestly used to ask ourselves, “What happens to marketing people when they turn 30?”

And here I am, well over 30. I’ve already disclosed that I’m a Boomer. But I’m still in marketing! :)

But then, over time, I thought we were getting good with each other. I thought we starting to see the generation gap soften and narrow. I remember doing market research a few years ago and when answering the question, “Who is your hero?,” the most popular answer was either ‘my mom” or “my dad.” Ahh. My generation would have NEVER said that!

And then the day of the Dad started, thank you very much. I felt so, well, in it. And if you’ve read my book Out and About Dad, you know that didn’t come easy!

But now I see us going backward. You’ve likely heard “Ok, Boomer.” At least a million times already! The latest “Ok, Boomer” craze is just merely a manifestation of yet another generation gap. But amplified on social media over and over again. With brands kicking in.

And now we have “Really, Karen” that is targeted at Gen Z.

“Ok, Boomer” is meant to point out that, perhaps, we aren’t quite staying up to speed on the issues. Perhaps as Boomers we’ve lost a bit of our activism and maybe, quite possibly, started to focus on ourselves too much. I’ll accept that as a generation.

So here’s the choice that I’m going to make: “Ok, Boomer” and “Really, Karen” is a challenge. It’s a challenge to keep up. To stay involved. To think of others. To actively work toward reducing the generation gap.

That’s how I choose to view it. And accept it. And be motivated by it.

Join me, “Ok, Boomer?” I mean “Really, Karen” join me!

What’s your experience? JIM