Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research Volume 7 Article 6 2019 Male Gender Expression Conflict Between Baby Boomers and Millennials Annelise Green Pepperdine University Caroline McClelland Pepperdine University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/pjcr Part of the Communication Commons Recommended Citation Green, Annelise and McClelland, Caroline (2019) "Male Gender Expression Conflict Between Baby Boomers and Millennials," Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research: Vol. 7 , Article 6. Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/pjcr/vol7/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research by an authorized editor of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Pepperdine Communication Research Journal 6 Male Gender Expression Conflict Between Baby Boomers and Millennials Annelise Green & Caroline McClelland Written for COM 515: Intercultural Communication: Case Studies (Dr. Charles Choi) Ellen Degeneres cheerfully identifies cohort emerging before and during the late-20th herself as a Baby Boomer to her TV show century technological revolution (Kohut et. al., audience, explaining that her generation was 2010). The conflict between Baby Boomer and so-named because after World War II their Millennial cohorts has included difference in parents said “We lived through the war, let’s make male gender expression. The differences these whoopee!” (Degeneres, 2016). Ellen then quips groups have are not only caused by their different that “For you Millennials, making whoopee is like ages but derive from the cultural climate that Netflix and Chill… But they were married,” developed their perspectives. (Degeneres, 2016). Here, Ellen has identified one Conflict has arisen between the Baby of the key differences between two generations. Boomer and Millennial cohorts over a multitude Inasmuch as a person can be influenced by their of topics, but this analysis will dive deep into the parents, friends, or education, generations (or specific differences between generational male cohorts) can be impacted through the societal gender expression as it pertains to sexuality and context surrounding their time of birth. the workplace. First, cohorts and gender will be Differences within cohort effects can reflect defined before further detailing the generations of varied societal priorities and can persist Baby Boomers and Millennials. These throughout a person’s lifetime. descriptions will be used to inform the different Due to the unique characteristics of each perspectives within the conflict regarding male cohort, occasionally cohorts can clash because gender expression before recommendations for of differences in values. In 2015, the U.S. Census conflict resolution are presented. reported 76.4 million Baby Boomers and 83.1 million Millennials. The sheer magnitude of these Cohort/Generational Differences subpopulations results in the tension of this It is important to delineate the difference conflict affecting multitudes of people today. between age effects and cohort effects. A cohort Sometimes known as the “hippie” generation, the is a group of people of similar age, such as a Baby Boomers were born during the population generation (Hegelson, 2017). The context of what boom after World War II, and they are currently was happening socially, politically, and globally of between the ages of 54 and 72 (Hughes & the time results in effects that impact the O’Rand, 2004). The Millennial generation, on the ideologies of a generation. As stated previously, other hand, are between the ages of 18 and 35; due to the unique characteristics of each cohort, their generation is widely understood as the Pepperdine Communication Research Journal 7 occasionally cohorts can clash because of differing Blockheads. The ages of Boomers in 2018 range values. Age does not determine gender role from 54 to 72 (Hughes & O’Rand, 2004). The attitudes, nor is age accompanied with Boomers’ male gender expression will be traditionalism (Lynott & McCandless, 2000). examined by studying the characteristics of Rather, these differences between people are more romance/family life and work life. associated with life experiences. In particular, the male gender role produces conflicts regardless of Overall Boomer Male Gender Expression age concerning emotional expressiveness that Traditional masculinity. ​Traditional have negative effects on psychological health and gender ideology dictates that a man’s sphere is interpersonal relationships (Cournoyer & work and, on the contrary, a woman’s sphere is Mahalik, 1995). The social context that Boomers the home (Hegelson, 2017). These gender role and Millennials developed in will, therefore, be expectations for men involve being strong, discussed at length to help understand the dominant, and autonomous in order to properly differences in male gender expression. support the family (Hegelson, 2017). Traditional or hegemonic masculinity is further defined Male Gender Expression through courage, inner direction, certain forms of Gender is the term used to refer to the aggression, mastery, technological skill, adventure, social categories of male and female (Hegelson, and considerable amounts of toughness in mind 2017). Socially, men and women are expected to and body (Donaldson, 1993). Traditional behave in accordance to their gender roles masculinity encompasses how men have largely (Hegelson, 2017). As time has permitted, men can been expected to behave throughout history. thus express their gender through traditional These expectations range from the aggressive routes, or they can be more explorative and enact demands on boys and men that society their gender in non-conforming ways. perpetuates daily such as “Don’t cry,” “Bros before hoes,” and “Grow some balls,” (The Mask Baby Boomers You Live In, 2013). Men fight to meet these The Baby Boomer generation, born standards in an effort to be accepted and finally between the years of 1946 and 1964, were “Be a man.” These strict expectation barriers can radically be harmful by making people feel like they have to unique from prior generations because of the large be aggressive or insensitive to be masculine; this societal transitions during this time. The Baby limits people’s ability to be explorative Boomers are so named because of the high surge emotionally (Planned Parenthood, 2019). of children born post World War II, making However, many believe that these tenets of them the largest generation in size until the traditional masculinity are still valuable, such as Millennial cohort. Living in post-war anxiety, the independence and supporting families, and Boomers participated in anti-war movements, should be maintained for future generations. multiple revolutionary social movements, and, of Boomers express gender mostly through course: “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll,” as lyricized traditional masculinity. Boomer men tend to and popularized by Ian Dury & The Pepperdine Communication Research Journal 8 hold onto traditional male roles out of lack of World War II, women increased in the workforce familiarity with where they belong in a dramatically, which started to shift the transformed society. In the midst of an era of high traditional male breadwinner family structure change, Boomer men, as they entered the (Hughes & O’Rand, 2004). Women’s workplace and began families of their own, were empowerment lead to a reorganization in the afraid of adapting their masculinity and losing expectations within the model of masculinity. their place of privilege in society. Burnett (2018) Women were traditionally in charge of the commented that Luke Skywalker, the legendary relationship domain, but with sexual and hero of the Star Wars films, represents the soul of economic independence, women started Baby Boomer men: Skywalker has complex father expecting further effort from men. For instance, issues and has trouble listening to women. While a men were encouraged to be more active in dramatic critique of Boomers, Burnett’s housework; however, men found these new arguments highlight the tension that Boomer men demands unexpected and challenging, resulting in feel in appeasing the traditional expectations of men remaining only modestly involved in these the past and supporting the progressive future. duties (Hughes & O’Rand, 2004). These changes put high strains on the family structure, as society Romance/Family Life encouraged women to stay within their expected The sexual revolution during Boomers’ gender roles; yet, women were growing more young adulthoods changed how men were empowered and independent from these norms. expected to behave in romantic and family Amidst all of this social change, men were unable settings. Access to birth control reduced the to keep up with how to cater to these women. pressure of getting married and enhanced the It was difficult for men to get conflicting ability to have sex with multiple partners (Hughes information about what was attractive to & O’Rand, 2004). A Gallup poll in 1970 found women. Men admired rock stars like Mick Jagger, that three-quarters of college students no longer who was deemed as the epitome of masculinity; believed it was important to marry a virgin women, on the other hand, flocked to concerts of (Kutulas, 2010). The term ‘relationship’