TALKING ABOUT GENERATION-X - DEFINING THEM AS THEY DEFINE THEMSELVES

Citation
A. Williams et al., TALKING ABOUT GENERATION-X - DEFINING THEM AS THEY DEFINE THEMSELVES, Journal of language and social psychology, 16(3), 1997, pp. 251-277
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Language & Linguistics","Psychology, Social
ISSN journal
0261927X
Volume
16
Issue
3
Year of publication
1997
Pages
251 - 277
Database
ISI
SICI code
0261-927X(1997)16:3<251:TAG-DT>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
In response to a recent explosion of media attention to so-called Gene ration X; the authors investigated young peoples' responses to media c onstructions of this generational category label. Twenty-six volunteer s aged 19-23 participated in six audiotaped focus group discussions. A discourse analytic perspective enables the authors to explore how the se young participants worked together to negotiate their generational identity and their position in the life span vis-a-vis other generatio nal groups. The respondents' talk uses personal accounts to reject the negative media stereotypes of Generation X, yet reveals that the medi a may be one of the defining characteristics of their generational ide ntity The analysis also reveals themes of out-group denigration and bl ame, which are interpreted as indicative of the intergroup processes t riggered when groups are identified and made salient.