A generation is typically defined as the number of years it takes parents to grow up and have children. In biblical contexts, the word can also mean a more indefinite period.
Viewing people in social generations is relatively new and entered the mainstream in the late 1900s. The length of a social generation can vary by geography, and journalists or writers often coin popular generation names.
Biological Generations
Biologically speaking, generations span the years from birth to death. People born and living within a similar time frame share a set of experiences and characteristics that define them as part of the same generation. Until recently, most societies didn’t view their populations regarding social generations. Today, we often group individuals into different categories based on their age. Popular generation names include Gen X (those born from 1965-1980), Baby Boomers (1950s-1960s), and Gen Z (those born between 1997-present).
Researchers have used various methods to query population patterns over time when studying historic human generation times. Some studies have examined the age difference between men and women during parenthood. In contrast, others have leveraged genetic mutations to estimate average generation lengths for males and females throughout history.
Depending on the method, these estimates can vary significantly. Generally, however, it is safe to say that average human generation times are much shorter than we might have expected from looking at contemporary cultures alone. The numbers get even more revealing when you look at generation times broken down by geographic area. Average generations are shorter for men and women when they are compared by location.
When examining family trees and considering the passage of time, individuals often ponder a fundamental question: How long is a generation in years? The answer varies, but it is commonly estimated to be around 25 to 30 years, representing the average age at which individuals become parents and the next generation begins.
Social Generations
Unlike biological generations, social ones are often defined by events and experiences. For example, baby boomers are characterized as the first generation to grow up with television and experience its impact on their lifestyles and connection to the world. Similarly, Gen X and Millennials are known for their early exposure to the internet. The most recent generation, Generation Alpha, will likely usher in the next technological breakthroughs and have grown up connected to a global world from birth.
Defining generations is often tricky, and researchers need more consensus on when a generation begins or ends. However, they are a popular tool in demographic analysis and marketing because they help organize age cohorts of people with similar experiences and behaviors.
For example, marketing campaigns geared toward Millennials focus on being raised in an environment where technology constantly changes and has shaped their attitudes toward work, relationships, and family. This makes them an excellent target market for marketers to advertise their products.
There are some drawbacks to this approach, however. One is that the term generation needs to be more scientific and has been re-characterized and misappropriated over time. This leads to a need for more understanding of the evidence that supports the theory, and it encourages false explanations for time-based variations in social phenomena.
Marriage & Divorce
The definition of generation has changed over time, with longer life expectancies and people putting off having children. But the general idea is that a family generation lasts 20 to 30 years, while a social one is based on averages and may last only 15-20 years.
Sociologist Karla Hackstaff takes us into a family tree to discover how much the world has changed regarding marriage and divorce since her parents married in 1957. Today, fifty percent of couples who marry eventually get a divorce, and the number is even higher for second marriages. She examines what has caused this shift from a culture of marriage as forever to one that views marriage as contingent.
Divorce has become the norm, but it is not always healthy for a person or society. Marriage is a significant life-changing event that should not be entered into lightly. It requires sacrifice, sharing, and a great deal of selflessness. It is not a thing to be done for money or status but for the honor of God.
This wide-ranging resource reveals marriage and divorce’s many cultural, economic, and political aspects. It covers high-interest topics, including broad trends in relationships, such as delayed marriages and blended families; financial/legal issues like prenuptial agreements, division of assets in a divorce, and the wedding industry; and social problems, such as sexual attitudes and infidelity.
Deaths
Throughout history, death has had the power to change the course of generations. Until recently, it was a subject eschewed mainly by serious scientific research, medical practice, and most societal discussions. But now we regularly see articles in our newspapers describing the deaths of relatives—in some cases with great detail. Television interviewers ask the dying of questions that would have been considered too delicate or personal a few decades ago, and films often depict murders or executions in graphic and sometimes disturbing ways. Death is no longer a taboo, and it has become an increasingly popular topic for study.
When we discuss generation length, it is essential to distinguish between family and social generations. A family generation lasts for about 20-30 years. It goes from your parents to you and then from you to your children. It is best to use a family generation for genealogical purposes to calculate your ancestor’s lifespans.
Conclusion
A social generation is much more complicated. It is determined by the number of people born and died simultaneously, including those not yet alive. This calculation can take a lot of work to make. Many factors can affect the length of a social generation, such as changes in the average age at puberty and menopause, changing trends in marriage, divorce, and remarriage, and fluctuations in birth rates due to economic conditions or societal mores that favor child-bearing at particular ages.