Baby Boomers Dominate the American Culture
By Gina Hansen
The aging of the baby boomers have become the greatest impact to what has been termed the “Age Wave”. One third Americans were born between 1946-1964. The first boomers turned 65 in 2011. One hundred boomers turn 65 every 18 minutes. Ten thousand boomers will turn 65 every day. By 2029, when all the baby boomers will be 65 and over, nearly one in five U.S. residents will be 65 plus (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). As a result, for the next 14 years we’re going to see a major historical demographic shift, which will bring new concerns, needs, attitudes, and structures and styles towards aging.
Gerontologist Dr. Ken Dykwald, said, “When a few 1000 people across the country share an opinion, read a book, or buy a product that’s interesting; it may amount to a trend. But when 78 million people do so, it’s a revolution!” Hence “The Aging Revolution”.
When the baby boomers arrived:
- Diapers, baby shoes, and the photo industries prospered
- Spock was the man of knowledge
- Elementary schools were built
- TV kids shows emerged, like The Mickey Mouse Club, Captain Kangaroo, Ozzie and Harriet, My Three Sons, The Brady Bunch
- Teenagers demanded soft drinks, movies, cosmetics, and records
- McDonalds, Burger King, and the Gap were popular places to visit