Generation Xers and Their American Dream

Jennifer Singer

Things you must know at the end of the lesson

• Background information----meaning of some important terms such as Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, American Dream, the Yuppies,

• Vocabulary• Grammar and Structure: use of multiplication;

may well, • Organizational features of the text

Background information: Generations prior to Baby Boomers

• The Lost generation: (1919 – 1931) used for the generation of young people who came of age

during and shortly after World War I, alternatively known as the World War I generation.

The term was popularized by Hemingway who used it as one of two contrasting epigraphs for his novel, The Sun Also Rises. In that volume Hemingway credits the phrase to Gertrude Stein, who was then his mentor and patron.

Seeking the bohemian lifestyle and rejecting the values of American materialism, a number of intellectuals, poets, artists and writers fled to France in the post World War I years. Paris was the center of it all.

The Silent Generation (1925– 1942)

• The Silent Generation was the American (US) generation born between the two World Wars, who were too young to join the service when World War II started. Many had fathers who served in World War I. (1925-1945). It is thought of as being an adaptive generation. Many served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

• They were characterized as being rather quiet and conformist.

The Baby Boomers (1945 – 1964).

• A baby boomer is a person born between 1945 and 1964 in Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Following World War II, these countries experienced an unusual spike in birth rates, a phenomenon commonly known as the baby boom.

• Different from their parents who were crazy about war, Baby Boomers take a very practical attitude toward life. They worked hard to make up for the losses wars had brought to their parents. They had fewer children, they were ambitious and well-educated and many of them were successful. The word “Yuppie” was coined to refer to those young urban professionals among them. For those who refused to have children, we have the term DINK. But not every baby boomer was a wealthy yuppie. Some of them had both children and parents to look after, hence the term “Sandwich Generation”.

Generation X(1965-1975)

• A small, often "invisible generation" in the wake of the socially-reconstructing baby boomers, those born in the U.S. between 1965 and 1975 received the "X" tag for lack of a defining social identity. As young adults, Generation X drew media attention in the late 1980s and early 1990s, gaining a stereotypical reputation as apathetic, cynical, disaffected, streetwise loners and slackers.

• Generation X is noted as one of the most entrepreneurial and tech-friendly generations in American history, as they've driven a majority of the Internet's growth and ingenuity from day one. Amazon, Google, Yahoo, MySpace, Dell, and countless other billion-dollar tech companies were founded by American Generation Xers.

• Generation Y (1977 – 1990): facing higher costs for higher education than previous generations and they have an intimate relationship with technology.

• Generation Z 1996 – present: The term has been used to refer to today’s pre-teens (born after 1996), but is used more often to refer to people born after the year 2000. Both refer to “the first generation to be born into a digital world”.

Essential vocabulary

• as opposed to: in contrast with, used to compare two things and show that they are different from each other:

eg. Students discuss ideas, as opposed to just copying from books.

The sign - , as opposed to +, indicates that the number is smaller than zero.

• pursue (v.): to make continual efforts to gain (something)--pursuit (n.)

• The poet has pursued fame all his life, but has never experienced it.

• She plans to pursue a career in politics.• Students should pursue their own interests, as well as do

their school work.• Many artists believe in the pursuit of perfection.• In pursuit of a healthier diet, Americans are eating more fish

than they used to.• In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson said

that human rights included the preservation of life, liberty and the pursuit of (= the activity of trying to achieve) happiness.

• slacking (adj.): If someone is slacking, they are not working as hard as they should.

• slack – a. showing a lack of activity; not busy or happening in a positive way

• Business is always slack at this time of year.• (disapproving) The job is taking a long time because

the workmen are so slack.• slack – v. • You'll be in trouble if you're caught slacking on the job

like that.

• fashion: a way of doing things• in a … fashion – in a particular way• She will be working out her problems in her

own fashion (=in the way that she usually does this).

• after a fashion – not very much, not very well, or not very effectively:

• 'Can you speak Russian?' 'After a fashion.'

• Reaganomics denotes the economic policies of President Ronald Reagan (40th, 1981~1989) in the 1980s. He sought to remedy the high inflation and recessions of the 1970s, which conservatives attributed to the heavy burden government imposed on private enterprise. He called for widespread tax cuts, decreased social spending, increased military spending, and the deregulation of domestic markets.

• Reaganomics was and remains controversial. The country suffered a severe recession in 1981–1982, but inflation fell from 13.5 percent to 3.2 percent. In 1983, the economy began a substantial boom that lasted through 1989, and unemployment gradually fell to 5.3 percent. Throughout, inflation remained under control, but Washington ran heavy deficits throughout the 1980s, with the federal debt tripling.

• label (v.): to use a word or phrase to describe someone or something, but often unfairly or incorrectly

• label sb. / sth. (as) sth.• The newspapers had unjustly labelled him a

troublemaker.• Children who are labelled "slow" usually get

less attention from teachers. • He was labeled (as) a conservative.

• cynical (adj. ): (often a value-judgment) like, related to, or belonging to a cynic (a person who thinks that people only do things for selfish reasons and who often shows this attitude by making unkind and unfair remarks about people and things); such a belief or attitude is called cynicism.

• After his failure in the entrance examinations, he became harder and more cynical about life.

• non-committal (adj.): deliberately not expressing your opinion or intentions clearly

• non-committal about• The doctor was non-committal about my mother's chances

of recovery.• The driver mumbled a non-committal reply.• I asked my boss for a raise and got a non-committal answer.• committed (adj.): giving a lot of time and effort to

something because you believe it is right or important• Mrs Graham is a committed vegetarian.

• entrepreneur: someone who starts a new business or arranges business deals in order to make money, often in a way that involves financial risks

• — entrepreneurial adjective• He was one of the entrepreneurs of the

eighties who made their money in property.• She'll make money - she's got that

entrepreneurial spirit.

• Baby Busters: those born during the period when the population growth rate suddenly decreased (used as an antonym of Baby Boomers)

• baby bust: a sudden decrease in population growth rate (used as an antonym of baby boom)

• bust – • The economy went from boom to bust (=from

increasing to decreasing) very quickly.• When a company goes bust it is forced to close

because it is financially unsuccessful.

• disregard (n.): neglect; indifference, used when someone ignores something that they should not ignore (v.): to pay no attention to

• disregard for/of• his disregard for her feelings• He is a criminal with a total disregard of the law.• You have shown a total disregard for the law and for public

safety.• in disregard of something• He said the bombing was in complete disregard of the Geneva

Convention.• He did it in disregard of my instructions.

• Yuppie (n.): an acronym for "young urban professional". The Yuppie culture appeared in the early 1980s and was identified by the slogan "He who dies with the most toys wins." Yuppie "toys" include expensive brandnames such as Rolex watches, BMW cars, Gucci briefcases, Ralph Lauren clothes, and Nautilus exercise equipment. The term now carries a negative connotation because it implies that one is obsessed with materialistic goals such as money, social climbing, and social status.

• a person who is, or is thought to be, opposed to the standards of ordinary society, especially when the person shows this by dressing in unusual clothes, living together in groups, and often taking drugs for pleasure. Hippies, as a movement, existed mainly during the 1960s and 1970s.

• apathetic (adj.): not interested in something, and not willing to make any effort to change or improve things:

• Public opinion was apathetic toward the whole affair.

• His apathetic response to the play showed he did not understand the tragedy.

• How can you be so apathetic about the world and its problems?

• predecessor: someone who had your job before you started doing it

• Kennedy's predecessor as president was the war hero Dwight Eisenhower.

• shun (v.): to deliberately avoid; to keep away from• Although a famous singer, she always shunned

publicity.• When the rumors started, the children found

themselves shunned by their classmates.

• considerably (adv.): much; a lot; greatly; radically• It is considerably colder today than it was yesterday.• Conditions have improved considerably over the past few

years.• considerable (adj.): fairly large or great in amount, size, or

degree• We've saved a considerable amount of money.• considerate ( adj. ): thoughtful of the rights or feelings of

others• All of us should be considerate towards the elderly people.

• Wall Street is a city street in lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs east from Broadway downhill to South Street on the East River, through the historical center of the Finacial District. Wall Street was the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange.

• line (n.): words that actors speak when performing

• He was learning his lines for Shakespeare's play.

• He liked to introduce himself with a witty opening line. (= remark)

• hit the shops/streets if a product hits the shops, it becomes available to buy:

• I managed to get a copy of the book before it hit the shops.

• Here the author is comparing herself, a college graduate with a diploma, to a finished product, waiting to work in the society.

• Are you ready? Let's hit the road.• When the new record hit the market, it attracted

countless fans.

• deficit ( n. ): the difference between the amount of something that you have and the higher amount that you need

• the US's foreign trade deficit• a deficit of £2.5 million• swell (v.): to increase in size or amount• It took another 20 years for the population to

swell to twice its size.

英语倍数的用法• 1."A + be + 倍数 + as + 计量形容词原级 + as + B". • This tree is three times as tall as that one. 这棵树是那棵树的三倍高。 • His father is twice as old as he. 他父亲的年纪有他两倍大。 • 2."A + be + 倍数 + 计量形容词比较级 + than + B " • The Yangtze River is almost twice longer than the Pearl River. • 长江差不多比珠江长两倍。 • The dictionary is exactly five times more expensive than that one. • 这本字典比那本恰好贵 5 倍。 • 3."A + be + 倍数 + the + 计量名词 + of + B " • The newly broadened square id four times the size of the previous one. • 新扩建的广场是未扩建时的四倍大。• 4."The + 计量名词 + of + A + be + 倍数 + that + of + B " • The size of the newly broadened square is four times that of the previous one. • 新扩建的广场为以前的四倍大。

• I'm twice/ double his age. 我的年龄是他的两倍。 • I've paid five times the usual price for the stamp. • 我出了 5 倍于往常的价格买这枚邮票。 • The average income of the staff has been increased by

50 percent compared with last year. 与去年相比，该单位职工的收入增加了 50%.

• The price of TVs are twofold( adj. 两部分的 , 双重的 ) down over these years.

• 近几年来，电视机的价格下降了两倍。

• even though: used to emphasize that something is true although something else has happened or is true:

• Even though he's 24 now, he's still like a little child.

• I can still remember, even though it was so long ago.

• wait out: if you wait out an event, period, or time, especially an unpleasant one, you wait for it to finish:

• Let's find a place where we can wait out the storm.

• We could do nothing but wait out that long stretch of winter.

• recession ( n. ): a temporary decline in economic activity or prosperity

• The recession caused sales to drop off.• The oil price increase sent Europe into a deep

recession.• land (v.): (informal use) to win or obtain (a prize, job,

etc.)• She has landed more than 20 TV-drama roles in less

than 6 years.• The company has just landed a big contract.

• layoff: the temporary discharge of workers [C]• The textile company announced 2 000 fresh

layoffs last week.• let go: to release; to fire (somebody)• Some of the faculty were let go for lack of

students.• I'm afraid we had to let several of our staff go.

• acquiescence (n.): consent by silence or without objection• Jane went to see a movie with the acquiescence of her

mother.• I was surprised by her acquiescence to/in the scheme.• acquiesce (vi.): to accept or agree to something, often

unwillingly• He reluctantly acquiesced to/in the plans.• She begged to be allowed to go and her parents finally

acquiesced.• acquiescent adj. ready to agree with someone or to what

they did• She has a very acquiescent nature (= agrees to everything

without complaining).

• lead somebody down/up the garden path: to trick somebody into believing what is not true and acting on it; to deceive or mislead

• The voters had been led down/up the garden path too often to take the candidate's promises seriously.

• pendulum (n.): a part in an old-fashioned clock, a rod with a weight fixed at one end that swings to make the clock work; (figurative use) used to talk about the tendency of ideas, beliefs etc to change regularly to the opposite

• the pendulum of fashion• (the) swing of the pendulum: the change of public

opinion from one belief to another• After several years of Republican government, the

pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.

• careerism (n.): (usually political) devotion to a successful career, often at the expense of one's personal life, ethics, etc. 野心，名利欲

• careerism (n )--career (n.)--careerist (n.)• We find in him a pure passion for learning

unaffected by careerism.• I have determined to make teaching my

career.

• capitalize (v.): to use something to one's advantage

• That store earned money by capitalizing (on) the curiosity and vanity of its customers.

• She capitalized on his mistakes and won the game.

• She capitalized on her knowledge and experience to get a new and better paid job.

• heed (v.): to give attention to; to listen to and follow (advice)• If she had only heeded my warnings, none of this would

have happened. • Leaders should heed people's worries and anxieties.• heed (vt.) -- heed (vi.) -- heed (n.) -- heedless (adj.

[Antonym])• Heed what I say.• Take heed of what I say.• Leaders should give/pay heed to public opinion.• Heedless of hurricane warnings, they took the small boat

out in open water. （ not paying attention to sth. ）

• affinity (n.): a strong attraction or liking; the tendency of certain substances to combine with others

• affinity with/for/between• his remarkable affinity with animals• They seemed so different, yet he sensed an affinity between

them.• He felt a strong affinity with her views on art.• The little girl feels more affinity with her mother than with

her father.• She has/feels strong affinity for/with the homeless since her

experiences in India. [U]

• may/might/could well used to say that something is likely to happen or is likely to be true:

• Your job may well involve some travelling (=it is fairly likely).

• What you say may well be true.• You could try the drugstore, but it might well be

closed by now.• 'What's all the noise?' 'You may well ask.' – You

have a good reason to ask.

• quantity time: a parody of quality time, the time that family members sit and talk together, enjoying each other's company

• Quality time is time that you are able to spend developing your relationships with members of your family.

• Although we did things like shopping and housework together, our marriage suffered because we had very little quality time.

• snub (v.): to treat someone rudely, especially by ignoring them when you meet

• She snubbed her neighbors by refusing to speak to them. 冷落，怠慢

• He didn't know that the person he was snubbing was going to be his boss.

• At the party, we saw him give his poorer cousins an evident snub.

• In reality many of us Gen Xers are simply finding our own entrepreneurial solutions to a dramatic restructuring of corporate America.

• Paraphrase: In fact, many of us Gen Xers are trying to find our own individual ways to completely rebuild American society, which is thought by many to be a huge company.

• Yet when my classmates and I hit the streets with diplomas in hand at the end of the decade, that upwardly mobile brand of greed was gone.

• Paraphrase: When my classmates and I started our careers after we had graduated from college at the end of the 1980s, we quickly lost the ambition to chase after professional promotion and personal wealth.

• It was lost in a federal deficit that had swelled almost five times its size since my 5th grade class trip to Washington, D.C.

• Paraphrase: This change of attitude is resulted from the deficit created by the federal government. At the end of the 1980s, the state deficit was almost five times as big as that of the year when we, as 5th grade pupils, visited Washington D. C.

• As a result, Generation X is swinging the pendulum away from the blind corporate careerism we learned about on TV's "Thirtysomething" as teenagers.

• Paraphrase: The result is that we Gen Xers no longer believe in blindly devoting ourselves to career success, although TV plays such as "Thirtysomething" that we watched when we were children had taught us the importance of achievement.

• We are capitalizing on our experience with technology and heeding our affinity toward individualism to take a more entrepreneurial approach to our careers and our lives.

• Paraphrase: We are making full use of our experience with technology. We also follow our natural inclination to think and express ideas in our own way. We hope to fulfill our careers and our lives in a more ambitious and creative manner.

• Instead, give us some credit for remaining loyal to ourselves at a time when the business world can't.

• Paraphrase: Please show us some approval, since we are still faithful to our beliefs while the business world has broken its promises.

Woodstock • "Driving my Blatz Beer

truck to the festival. Hours later, this road was closed to traffic.“

• "My friend Tony and I slept in our stalled car along 17B on Friday night. We started to walk to the site at 6 a.m. 17B was a dormitory parking lot.“

Woodstock

Woodstock

• Significance• “People…are finally

getting together.”

Woodstock

• "There were no cell phones in those days. This was the message board. People left messages there for their friends."