The Difference Between GI And Gen-Z: The Entire Timeline

We have come a long way in terms of generations. From the Greatest Generation (GI Generation) to today's Generation Z (Gen-Z), there have been various generations in between. There is a clear difference between the Greatest Generation and Generation Z; let's take a look at that!

Defining a generation

Before we understand what Gen-Z is, you need to understand what a generation is! As it is a pretty common topic, almost everyone knows what a generation is. In case you’re unfamiliar with it, in layman's terms, a generation is "a group of people born and living during the same time."- Top G (a.k.a Google). In terms of Millennials and Generation Z, a generation is a group of people alive at the same time but belonging to different categories based on when they were born and the social changes of that time! 

For example, the Greatest Generation (GI) was the one that fought in World War II and is remembered for their sacrifice! Their children, called the Silent Generation, were born just after the war and were more careful than their parents! The main thing to note when learning about generations is that not everyone from each generation will be the same since we are all human beings and unique! This is just a raw way to define exactly how generations differ!

What is the difference between the Greatest Generation and Gen Z?

To understand the difference, you must understand how the Greatest Generation affected their children, their future generations, and so on. There is a set timeline that you can study to understand how one generation affected the other! So let's take a look at that.

1. The Greatest Generation 

Years Served: 1924 and before. 
The Greatest Generation was a term first used by an author called Tom Brokaw. He coined the Greatest Generation (GI) as a tribute to the Americans who lived through World War I, the Great Depression and fought in World War II. This defined their personality as more patriotic, motivated, and with a strong work ethic! They are also the parents of the Silent Generation!

2. The Silent Generation

Years Served: 1925 - 1942/45

The Silent Generation are the successors of the Greatest Generation, and unlike their parents, the Silent Generation were more cautious and determined. This generation was born during the Great Depression and World War II, with an uncertain life ahead. Due to a war-ridden world and economic crisis, this generation grew up with a method to save resources, which led to them thrifting. This generation also shaped pop culture in the 20th century through the help of iconic rock musicians, filmmakers, and many more! They are also the parents of the Baby Boomers!

3. Baby Boomers

Years Served: 1946 - 1964

Just as World War II ended, there was a spike in the birth rate, and these children were named the Baby Boomers. As the war and economic crisis finally started to roll down their curtains, many people who wanted a family could finally have one. Soldiers started returning home and providing a better life for their families due to the passed GI Bill, which provided veterans with economic and educational opportunities. This, in turn, helped the baby boomers to boom even more. They got a great education, saw many technical advances that no other generation before them had seen and had access to plenty of resources. This generation bore children who belong to the generation of Gen X!

4. Generation X

Years Served: 1965 - 1980

They were also called the "latchkey generation" because many would return home to an empty house due to an increase in divorce rates and dual family income. Gen X is the first generation that grew up with a personal computer and cable television when MTV was widely available, which led to this generation also being dubbed the MTV Generation! This generation has seen the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic, which resulted in the 'safe-sex' notion; they saw the end of the Cold War and the recession of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, which led many of them to be unemployed! Generation X was more ethnically diverse than the previous generations. Gen X also left their mark on pop culture with multiple bands, like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

5. Millennials

Years Served: 1981-1996

Right after Gen X came the 'oh so proud' Millennials, this generation of people was different from all the generations before! Millennials had a different set of characteristics that no other generation shared. They were more tech-savvy than Gen X since household electronics became a must-have for many homes. Millennials were dependent on the internet, yet still did not understand how it would work! They were also very confident, but sometimes this confidence would enter the realm of narcissism, and Millennials were also more concerned about religious, racial, gender, and sexual orientation differences. They cared more about equality than the generations that came before!

6. Generation Z

Years Served: 1997 - 2012

Generation Z, commonly known as Gen-Z, is among the last of the real ones! Like the Silent Generation, Generation Z is currently living in a world of uncertainty due to the pandemic, as it has changed the world in a lot of ways, such as economic and political situations! This generation is constantly on their phone, scrolling through social media, and shows interest in topics such as mental health, and equality in terms of race, religion, caste, and more! Generation Z is among the most ethnically diverse and progressive among all the generations before them! They have shaped the pop culture scene like never before. 

So what is the difference?

As you go through all the generations, you can see how each generation has affected each other and shaped their world accordingly. The Greatest Generation faced many issues during their time, and so did Gen-Z after the pandemic. Generation Z enjoyed a life of peace, while the Greatest Generation didn’t. Generation Z are way more tech-savvy than GI since they hardly got the chance to interact with technology and they are also more inclusive and open-minded. Though GI did partake in a war, Generation Z only knows the war against the epidemic and the close-minded.

What does the future hold?

Gen-Z is the last of the real ones; they are the few who are interested in saving the planet while also turning the world on its head. Breaking the rules helps them keep things moving forward while keeping physical and mental health at the forefront, which was never done before and might not be done again. Their openness to try new things ensures they don't become narrow-minded like the people of the past and will ensure that never happens again. With Generation Alpha taking over slowly, it is up to us, 'the middle children of history,' to make sure that the future is safe and happy and don't face problems that Generation Z did! To make the most of your skills make sure you checkout guide for freelancing gigs for GenZ

With Generation Z caring more about mental health and ways to take care of it, this was how the Greatest Generation is different from Generation Z. Also, check out this blog to know the difference between Gen Z vs millennials.