How much information do you have as far as the world’s history is concerned? Almost every aspect of our lives, and every field, has its history.
When we look at fashion, there are trends that took up the stage back in the days, some movies that were released many years ago also have historical elements, not forgetting the medical world, where we get to know who came up with which approach to curing a particular disease, and so much more.
Fascinating right? That there is no field or aspect of life that lacks history. Now, let’s get to business. What do you know about World War II and baby boomers? Who are baby boomers? We’re glad you asked?
Baby boomers sprung up after World War II ended. As a result, birth rates across the world exploded, which led to the baby boom generation. During the boom, more than seventy-six million children were born in the United States alone.
Interesting right? It’s the things we’ve never heard of or were never taught in school, that make history so interesting.
Most families had put off childbearing during the war due to insecurity and men being drafted into the war. However, after the war, people developed an urge to start families. Another cause that led to the boom was the Great Depression, a sense of confidence that the era after the war would be safe and full of prosperity.
What is a Baby Boomer?
The term Baby Boomer is used to refer to a person born between 1946 and 1964. The baby boomer generation is a demographic that occurs when there’s an unusually high number of births following on from a major event, such as war, famine, or economic hardship.
The period between 1946 and 1964 was a time of great economic prosperity and growth in many Western countries. Check out more history trivia questions and fun facts and learn a thing or two about history.
During this period, birth rates increased significantly, and so did the size of families. As of 2019, baby boomers make up 21.19% of the United States population. The substantial baby boomers population highly impacted economic growth past World War II.
As a result, they were and still are the focus of business plans and marketing strategies, and campaigns.
There was also a spike in the number of young families relocating from the cities to the suburbs. In addition, through the G.I Bill, military personnel were able to buy affordable homes around city edges. During this period, families operated under a common ethos with the man being the sole provider, while the wife operated as a home-keeper and their kids.
In a bid to keep the economy growing, marketers targeted families and their children. Suburban families adopted a credit strategy to purchase appliances, cars, and television sets. However, as their children grew into adolescence, they loathed the ethos and consumer culture, which led to the development of the youth counterculture movement of the 1960s.
Baby boomers grew up during the civil rights movements, who civil rights activists greatly influenced. The activists promoted legal equality, which led to a higher tolerance throughout the growth of the boomers.
What Led to Baby Boom?
Besides the Great Depression and the urge for people to start families, other factors that led to the baby boom include:
- Improved and growing U.S. economy encouraged childbearing and family start-up
- There was a popular culture gaining momentum after the war among the citizens; glorification of marriage, pregnancy, and parenthood
- The adoption and usage of credit resulted in borrowing, which enabled support for larger families
- Government’s encouragement to its citizens to start families
Baby Boomers’ Characteristics
We tend to know quite a lot about celebrities and even name a few facts about them, right? Well, now that we’ve known what is a baby boomer, let us look at some of the unique characteristics observed with the baby boomer generation include:
Competitive
Due to the explosion of births, boomers were forced to compete for schools and economic resources. To place them at an advantageous place, boomers developed the characteristic of fighting for and winning resources.
Self-Dependent
From an early age and competing for resources, baby boomers developed self-confidence and an independent mindset through abilities and hard work. They also are excellent at handling situations by themselves, as they are resourceful.
Focused and Hardworking
Baby boomers were tasked with the realization of the American dream. They worked hard to achieve their livelihood. The baby boomers witnessed various reforms throughout the U.S., from the moon landing to the civil rights movement to women’s empowerment.
Impact of Baby Boomers on the Economy
Their impact on the economy will undoubtedly continue to change with time as they progress into old age and enter an entirely new stage of life. The spending habits at this stage may differ from what was previously experienced during young adulthood or middle age periods, such as raising children, owning homes, paying off mortgages, and saving for college tuition.
According to a study by AARP in 2016, baby boomers spend around $7 trillion annually on goods and services. This is also projected to increase to $13.5 trillion by 2032.
As of 2021, the youngest baby boomers are already in their late 50s and still hold economic and corporate power. According to Marketing Charts, baby boomers possess around 54% of personal net worth.
Baby Boomer Years and Age Range
Baby boomers’ years range from 1946 to 1964 and fall within a specific age range. According to Beresford Research, boomers are divided into two cohorts; boomers I and boomers II. This is because they have a large span, with the oldest cohort having different sensibilities than cohort II.
Cohort I of boomers comprises babies born between 1946 and 1954, currently aged sixty-seven to seventy-five years. Baby boomers in cohort II were too young to be included in the war. They were born between 1955 and 1964 and are currently between ages fifty-seven and sixty-six.
In Summary;
The Baby Boomer generation is one of the largest generations in history, accounting for about a quarter of the total population. These folks have been around since 1946 and are now nearing retirement age. As a result, baby boomers are a significant part of the workforce. They represent a massive market for businesses, and they also have a lot to offer in terms of knowledge and experience.