Spare a thought for X — the forgotten generation

Stuck between the more showy boomers and millennials, Gen X is well placed to play peacemakers

- Leslie Koh

What to make of generational labels? While essentially broad-brush, they can be catchy tags that offer glimpses into the challenges and achievements that shape the attitudes and behaviour of people born during different eras.

The silent generation, born between 1928 and 1945 (the actual years vary with different definitions, but the general timeframe is consistent), bore the horrors of World War II with grace and grit. Resilient and disciplined, they were known for their strong sense of duty, which probably explains their reluctance to rock the boat — unlike their successors.

These were the baby boomers (1946-1964), who flourished in a time of post-war recovery and development. With better access to education and modern standards of living, they were the rebels of their time — more ready to break with tradition, to speak their minds and to assert their individuality.

Millennials (1981-1996), who became adults at the turn of the millennium, grew up with the internet and other 21st-century technological advancements. As a result, they're always plugged in, and have lives, lifestyles and values that are strongly influenced by technology and the online world.

So have members of Gen Z (1997-2012), sometimes called zoomers, who were pretty much born and bred on social media. Some consider them to be the true digital natives, even more so than millennials, but some appear to be harking back to the good old analogue days, which might explain the resurgence of LP players and film cameras.

And then you have Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980. No name, no label, just "X". A nomenclature that proclaims mystery, anonymity — or perhaps a refusal to be typecast.