New Poll Shows Those Born in '61 - Like Obama - Don't Think of Themselves as Baby Boomers NEW YORK, Aug. 4
NEW YORK, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- A new poll conducted on the occasion of
Senator Barack Obama's birthday sheds light on the much-debated issue of his
generational identity. While experts have clashed over whether he is part of
the Baby Boomer generation or not, respondents who were born the same year as
the senator -- 1961 -- are much clearer on the issue.
The survey, commissioned by ThirdAge, an established non-partisan website
catering to midlifers, asked 500 people born in 1961 which generation they
felt a part of: 57 percent responded to Generation Jones as defined in birth
years in the survey, 22 percent reported Baby Boomer and 21 percent said GenX.
Further, when asked which generation they believed Obama belonged to, 51
percent responded Generation Jones, 24 percent labeled him a Baby Boomer and
25 percent said GenX.
Traditionally defined, Baby Boomers are comprised of 76 million people
born between 1946 and 1964. Through the study of this diverse population
group, some experts have realized that there are actually two distinct cohorts
that comprise this group. They are often further defined in generational terms
as leading-edge boomers, the older set born between 1946 and 1953, and
trailing-edge boomers, born between 1954 and 1965. Recently, the term
Generation Jones was coined to describe those born between 1954 and 1965 as a
way to define this group's unique characteristics. Generational studies have
further indicated that GenJonesers have values and behaviors much more aligned
with those of the younger generation that followed them, GenXers (those born
between 1966 and 1978). In broad strokes, some experts generally describe
Boomers as idealistic, GenXers as cynical, and GenJonesers as practical
idealists.
"Having exclusively served Baby Boomers and the over 40 population for
more than a decade, we greatly value the importance of further understanding
the generational make-up of our visitors," said ThirdAge CEO Sharon P.
Whiteley. "Although the majority of ThirdAgers are comprised of people between
44 and 66, traditionally regarded as Boomers, our audience in fact spans three
different generations with people in their early 40s through early 70s. Many
share the same values, attitudes and behaviors. However, they also differ in
many significant ways as a result of generational differences and events that
happened during their formative years."
After watching numerous experts debate this issue, ThirdAge decided to ask
those who were actually born in '61 which generation they believed was the
accurate one for them. Obama himself has been reported as saying that he is
Post-Boomer, but has not identified which specific generation by name.
This Presidential election has other strong generational themes. Senator
John McCain, who is unambiguously a member of the Silent Generation -- those
born between 1925 and 1945 -- is the oldest presidential candidate in history,
and the age difference between him and Obama is the largest ever between
candidates. McCain's Silent Generation is also the only generation in U.S.
history which has not produced a President ... so far.
The polling of a nationally representative sample of 500 U.S. adults born
in 1961 was conducted by MarketTools, using their TrueSample technology, July
31 -- August 1, 2008.
ThirdAge Inc. is a leading online, media, marketing and consumer insight
destination exclusively focused on serving the Baby Boomer and aging midlife
audiences, and premiere marketers who want to build a trusted relationship
with them. Pioneers in the arena, ThirdAge currently attracts over 1.1 million
unique visitors a month with a core focus around community-based content in
health and wellness, relationships, growth and enrichment, and life stage
transitions. http://www.thirdage.com
Media Contacts:
Hilary Allard
617.337.9524
hallard@thecastlegrp.com
Linda Walsh
617.337.9516
lwalsh@thecastlegrp.com
SOURCE ThirdAge Inc.
