O P I N I O N
THE URBAN HIPPIE
By Irene Martin
Greetings fellow travelers on this big blue rock! It’s been quite awhile since I’ve written anything but I’m (mostly) retired now so have more time for writing and shenanigans. My hope is to entertain – and get you thinking – all at once.
I decided to write about Generation Jones because I have been fascinated with the term since I first read it. I can’t remember where but I recently came across an article about a new “micro generation” called Generation Jones. Apparently Generation Jones folks were born between 1954 and 1965. As I was born in ’59 I was immediately curious. You see, I am one of 7 children born between 1945 and 1961, When my father returned from WWII he and my mother quickly had 5 children. “Five by the time I was 25,” My mother would say. Then no babies for 9 years until me and my little sister showed up, Her “second litter” she called us. Our whole lives my sister Deb and I were lumped in with our older siblings as “baby boomers.” But their childhood and pop culture memories were very different from ours.
Instead of Howdy Doody we had Scooby Do. We heard all about Woodstock and the Summer of Love but watched the Watergate hearings on TV with our Mom and raced home every day after school to watch Dark Shadows. My older siblings loved Bandstand and the Jerry Blavet show on our local Philly TV stations. My little sister and I watched Soul Train. One of my older siblings and I compared our childhood experiences once and realized they were nothing alike. It was like we were raised in two different families. And by two different sets of parents.
When I was 8 my parents, younger sister (age 6) and our teenage brother relocated to a different county. But back in the 1960s Bucks County and Delaware County were like two different countries! At least to my child-self. And eventually, my parents changed as well. My father was overworked and my mother was exhausted. My little sister and I were the children who lived through their divorce, after three decades together.
So when I saw something that said Generation Jones are Not Baby Boomers or Gen X, I was immediately intrigued and researched it further. Some interesting findings I copied below:
- Born into economic turbulence: They entered adulthood during economic slowdowns, high inflation, and events like the 1973 oil shock and Watergate, which tempered the optimism of the preceding Boomer generation.
- A mix of idealism and pragmatism: They grew up with “Brady Bunch” optimism but were shaped by hardship, leading to a pragmatic and skeptical mindset that values authenticity and long-term benefits.
- A blend of analog and digital experiences: They have a foot in both worlds, with analog memories of typewriters and 8-tracks, alongside the digital skills to use Wi-Fi and emojis.
- Economic aspirations: The name “Jones” refers to a yearning for the success and prosperity they felt their older siblings, the Boomers, were handed. They are often driven to achieve success but are also more financially cautious due to their experiences.
- Bridging generation gaps: Due to their unique position between Boomers and Gen X, they are often seen as mediators who understand and can explain generational differences.
But why Jones specifically? The is credited to Jonathan Pontell, and is a play on the slang term “jonesing” (meaning a craving or yearning) and the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses,” reflecting this group’s experience of economic hardship and competition despite growing up in an optimistic era.
Which reminds me of the song “Love Jones” a 1973 hit by The Brighter Side of Darkness and of course the basis for the 1975 parody by Cheech and Chong, Basketball Jones. Our local radio station has a daily Jones for the Stones, etc. so yeah, I get the Jones thing.
While learning I’m NOT a boomer doesn’t have an impact on my life as it is now it does address certain things about my life that always felt out of whack with the classic baby boomer label. At first I thought Generation Jones was silly but the more I read and researched the more I found myself agreeing and saying “Yes, THIS is us!” I called my little sister and excitedly told her we have a new name, the only two Cronk kids who aren’t boomers. We’re Generation Jones and proud of it!
You can reach Irene Martin at ireneemartinother@gmail.com.
The Urban Hippie is a 60-something senior living in the Philly burbs. Still trying to figure out what she wants to be when and if she ever grows up. She welcomes all feedback and can be reached at ireneemartinother@gmail.com.