Generation Jones

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Generation Jones is a term that describes people born between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s. U.S. social commentator Jonathan Pontell identified the existence of this generation and coined the term “Generation Jones” for it.^[1][2][3][4] Generation Jones has been referred to as a heretofore lost generation between the Baby boomers and Generation X, since prior to the popularization of Pontell’s theory, its members were included with either the Boomers or Xers. The connotations of the name “Generation Jones” include:

• a large, anonymous generation
• the slang term “jonesin,” which refers here to the unrequited craving felt by this generation of unfulfilled expectations

The term has been cited in the U.S.,^[5] U.K.,^[6] Western Europe,^[7] Australia,^[8] and New Zealand ^[9]. The birth years typically used in the U.S. are 1954-1965, but tend to vary slightly in other countries, usually starting no earlier than 1953, and ending no later than 1968.^{[10][11][12][13][14]} Since its introduction, Generation Jones has been the recipient of extensive media attention. It has been written about in hundreds of newspapers and magazines and discussed frequently on TV and radio shows.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][1]} Pontell appears regularly on TV networks like CNN, MSNBC, and BBC, discussing the cultural, political, and economic implications of this generation’s emergence.^{[26][27][20][16][28][29][30][31]} In the business world, Generation Jones has become a part of the strategic planning of many companies and industries, particularly in the context of targeting Jonesers through marketing efforts.^{[32][2][3][33]} Numerous industries have created new products and brands to specifically target Jonesers, like the radio industry, which has created “GenJones” radio formats.^[34][35][36] Politically, Generation Jones has emerged as a crucial voting segment in Western elections. In the U.S. 2006 Midterm and 2004 Presidential elections, and the 2005 U.K. and New Zealand Prime Ministerial elections, Generation Jones’ electoral role was widely described as pivotal by the media and political pollsters.^{[37][19][9][38][4][39][40]}

See also

• Baby Boomers
• Generation X

External links

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15592086/
• Rasmussen Reports: Generation Jones Women Are Swing Voters
• http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200504/85503c19-df76-48ab-a2fb-3ef731c1459a.htm
• http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=GENJONES-11-11-05
• http://www.research2000.us/2006/11/01/generation-jones-could-be-key-to-06-midterm-election-results/
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2004/11/24/njones24.xml

References

American generation succession