Walking on Air
Above they city they pass in search of life’s meaning and a way to cope in a rapidly changing technological stratified society.
Acrylic on canvas/ 26.5″ x 49.5”/ wood frame/ $650.00
Xennials: Finding Community
The parenting focus in my last two newsletters discussed why couples with children born in the the United States score at the bottom of an international scale for happiness. Last week I shared these findings with young adults who visited my “Do You Need A Mother?” booth which my son set up for me at Shift-Festival, an Oregon techno-art-music extravaganza (similar to Burning Man). A great many attendees appeared relieved to have a chance to talk about problems they were facing. I learned of a myriad of concerns Xennials have when coping with social and economic issues.
Who are these Xennials? They previously were under the “Millennia” umbrella, but found that it covered such a broad spectrum of ages they did not fit in. So, Mellenial was subdivided into two groups—Xennials (born between 1977 and 1983) and Millennials (born 1984 to 2,000). Millennials are often labeled as narcissistic and spoiled by helicopter parents. They are blamed for much of what is wrong in society today. Baby Boomers say they are lazy and entitled. Xennials didn’t want to be associated with such negativity which is why they christened a new category. Now, in their 30s and 40s, they are able to affect the dynamics of our country.
Though not digital natives, Xennials are comfortable with technological advances. They still remember dial-up internet and heavy mobile phones. In their teens, they mixed music on cassette tapes, owned a walkman and remember when they first heard about Google and Facebook. Xennials were the first group to embrace social media but squeezed through high school and college before it overtook their lives. They are cynical, though not as pessimistic as early Gen Xers and remain somewhat optimistic, though not as much as Gen Yers.
Xennials got rid of paper bank statements, brought down bar soap, nixed nine-to five works days and ended the time when interactions started off-computer. They are the sandwich generation, caught between analog and digital computers, and were hit hardest by a recession that caused job loss and created excessive student debt. Highly influenced by the tragedy of 9/11, they lost much of their optimism. As Monica Hunter-Heart says, “they were first given a sweet taste of the good life, and then kicked in the face.”
Most of the people I met attending Shift-Festival belong to the Xennial generation. They embrace health and wellness trends and have slightly more disposable income than the Millennials who follow. Many have chosen not to have children, but if they do, they likely waited until in their thirties and have only one. Xennial’s believe in relaxation and science based solutions, spending time and income on taking several vacations per year. They want to “do good,” support feminist ideals and accept those of LGBTQ persuasion.
Since they are not in the top economic echelon, the middle class world they inhabit is more brutal than the one I experienced at the same age. Their coping mechanisms do not depend on family or small town community fabric. Rather than go it alone, however, they band together sharing residences and forming friendship groups based on common interests. Meetup and Maker events lead the way. Festivals like Burning Man and Shift have camps composed of friends who design art and science projects that are worked on throughout the year. Sculptures, circus acts and musical entertainment are then brought to summer events. These social groups are reminiscent of the krewes that sponsor floats and balls for Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
The people I met at Shift are middle income Americans. For the most part, they are college educated computer scientists, engineers, teachers and psychologists or they received advanced training at a technical school. Though they applied themselves to their studies, upon graduation, they had a difficult time getting a meaningful job. Those who did, discovered that their salary was barely enough to cover living expenses and repay college debt.
Most began their careers enthusiastically and worked hard in hope of improving society, but when the market crashed, they became discouraged. Though previously earning a decent wage, a great many were suddenly deprived of employment and security. If married, the added stress contributed to depression and relationships that ended in divorce. They settled into a state of stress and worry and became hesitant to make long term commitments. Instead they started seeking gratification through rotating connections and continuous partying.
Many times over I heard people say they were engaged in a search for meaning. They were looking for something, but knew not what it was, and hoped to regain the passion they had felt when younger. They want a job that will help build community, provide a meaningful focus and contribute to their financial stability. Unfortunately, there are few job opening for those with a social conscience. They lucky few who don’t find what they are looking for at work are able to discover a purpose through Maker friendship groups.
So— instead, they attend festivals and dance in night long marathons, often escaping in a haze of alcohol and drugs. Underneath their cheerful exterior and wishful words, I heard fear and uncertainty. They expressed concerned about what will happen without having children to care for them as they age.
Yet, despite their confusion, I am cautiously optimistic that they will find a path. It will be different than mine, but their search for meaning and community is already taking expression in numerous communal forms. Living in over populated cities, affected by crime and climate change, they experiment with new friendship forms that meet their desire for family. I can’t help but admire the compassion and creativity they bring to their work and play. I hope that they will be better able to create a just society than the hippies of the 60’s espousing peace and love.
As Sharon Jackson wrote in the Star Tribune, “Baby boomers are stereotyped as hippies and tree-hugging idealists. Gen Xers are considered jaded slackers. Millennials are disparaged as coddled narcissists. But for the newly coined Xennials, there’s no bad rap: Their story hasn’t been written.”
Addendum:
Marriage status for each generation at age 25-30
Boomers -1980 = 60%
Gen X – 1990-54%
Gen X -2000 -50%
Xennials 2010- 38%
Millenials-2015 33%
References:
Lord, E. (2017) 11 Sisgns That You’re a Xennial Not a Millennial. Notable Live. retrieved from https://notablelife.com/xennial-millennial-definition/
Haunter-Hart.M. (2017) What is an Xennial? What People Born Between ’77-’83 Need to Know. The Bleeding Edge (A Netflix Documentary) retrieved from https://www.inverse.com
Wertz, Jia. (2018) Analog and Digital: Xennials present a Unique Opportunity for Marketers, Forbes, retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2018/04/19/analog-digital-xennials-present-unique-opportunity-for-marketers/#35da894266ba
Jackson, S. (2017) ‘Sandwiched’ between Gen X and Millennials, Xennials seek own identity. Star Tribune. retrieved from http://www.startribune.com/sandwiched-between-gen-x-and-millennials-xennials-seek-own-identity/461129323/