Baby Boomer Research Paper

The term “Baby Boomer” is a nickname used to categorize one of America’s generations. This generation has experienced many social, cultural, and political changes throughout the years. Today they are currently the largest generation in America’s history and face many issues. Who exactly is considered part of the Baby Boomer generation? What has this generation experienced over the years and what kind issues they are facing in 2015. “Baby Boomer” is a term used to define a person who was born during the American baby boom. The term baby boom is used to describe the dramatic increase in the birthrate of America. The years 1946-1964 are known as the baby boom, thus a person born in this time frame is referred to as a “Baby Boomer”. After World
These events shaped the values of the generation. “When they were in their teens they experienced the Roaring Sixties, a decade of war, free sex, protests and drugs.” The most iconic events that took place during this time were John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr being assassinated, the Vietnam War and Neil Armstrong, the first American to walk on the moon on July 21, 1969. This generation is also sometimes referred to as the Rock and Roll generation. New music exploded in the 50’s and 60’s. Some of the most iconic artists are from these years, including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Who, & the Beatles. An iconic music event also took place during this time known as Woodstock. The baby boomers were the first generation introduced to television. “They watched the Nixon-Kennedy debate, dead American soldiers being brought back home from Vietnam and Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon.” The introduction of television changed social patterns and redefined American lifestyles. While Baby Boomers experienced a lot of social and cultural changes they also have shaped politics and economy like no other generation. This generation fought for civil rights in the 1950’s & 1960’s and stood strongly behind the feminist movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s. “Baby Boomers found the fifties, sixties, and early seventies exciting, dramatic, fast-paced and
population over the age of 65 will triple in size by the year 2020. “Baby Boomers are expected to live longer than any previous generation”, and life expectancy continues to increase each decade. As Baby Boomers age in the 21st century, they are expected to present challenges for the U.S. when it comes to social security. Social security will be impacted due to the fact that the baby boomers are so large in number and many have not saved accordingly for retirement which will cause them to turn to social security, as well as Medicare. Baby Boomers draining social security will affect the following generation’s access to social security which will force them to consider other options to finance their retirement. Researchers have discovered that not all Baby Boomers want to retire. They have also discovered those that can’t afford to retire. Other issues Baby Boomers are currently facing are health issues related to obesity, mental illness as well as drug and alcohol abuse/addiction. Even though a large number (83%) of Baby Boomers are said to exercise the recommended amount for their age, only 25% are actually doing so. Baby Boomers are “are drinking and drugging their way into old age at a higher rate than their parents’ generation”. The drug abuse may be linked to pain management, but it along with the drinking could possibly be linked to the lifestyle they were exposed to growing up, a time of sex,