Each generation has different values, experiences, and styles that they practice and are used to living by. These stages differ even from generations that are next to one another and are working closely together at this point in time. There is a sizable contrast between two generations in particular, generation x and millennials. You wouldn’t think that there would be much of a difference, considering our parents are generation x and we are millennials, but many factors have come into play that makes our generation far different than that of our parents.

Generation x citizens range from ages twenty­six to forty­one, while millennials, also known as generation y are from newborns to age twenty­five. Generation x is a smaller generation compared to generation y. This seems to be because our parents had more kids, making our generation larger. Generation x individuals experienced a shorter youth context, wanting to grow up and raise a family at early ages, getting married as early as the age of twenty for women and twenty three for men.

For us millennials this is not the case. The average marriage age has increased to twenty seven for women and twenty­ nine for men. For generation Y, early twenties is a time of exploration and deferred responsibility.

The millennial age has also been defined as the “hook up” generation, adverse to settled relationships, similar to those which took place during generations x’s youth. “Friends with benefits” is a common term used for people who act like a couple, but do not use the labels of boyfriend and girlfriend. This leaves an odd amount of freedom within the “relationship” since there is no commitment. This is very common within generation y.

Technology has played a vital role in the development of the millennial age making it something that generation x had to adjust to. Have your parents ever asked you how to work their new iPhone that we all know so well? Or try and zoom in on Instagram which we all know we can’t? This is the result of the millennial generation being the first to grow up with advanced technology. The new technological age and internet revolution has been developing since us millennials were little, as opposed to generation x being more nostalgic about their past as technology advances. This new lifetime of technology has also influenced dating within the cyberspace world, minimizing face­to­face relationships. It is common now to find people who are dating but, have never met or talked to one another outside of the computer screen.

Diversity is a big opportunity within the millennial generation because of the major incline in people accepting others. We are the most accepting generation, accepting gays, bisexuals, African Americans, and others. Gender equality did occur within generation x, who celebrated and promoted the movement, but gender equality was finally reached within the millennial’s years. This has created the most diverse generation yet to exist.

The millennial generation is also known to be the most health conscious generation so far as well. This is mainly promoted by millennial age celebrities such who are into working out, eating right and making overall healthy life choices.

Yes our generation may appear to be the most healthy living out of them all but at the same time are we considered the laziest? The Washington Post states that after a survey conducted by Mintel for its 2015 report, forty percent of millennials say that cereal is an inconvenient breakfast choice because of the cleaning up after. What most are saying, is that if you don’t just throw the whole thing away after you’re done eating, it is too cumbersome.

There are apparent differences and similarities within the millennial generation and generation x. I wonder what the differences will be between us and the up­in­coming generation, generation z?