RunningHead:GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s1

GenerationYandWhyTheyCantLetGoofthe1990s
TerraFox
MadonnaUniversity

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s2
Abstract
Althoughpeopleofdifferentgenerationsreflectonthepastdifferently,itisoften
agreedthatthepeoplewithineachgenerationseethingssimilarly.Whilemostpeople
whoexperiencedthe20swouldagreethatitwasalivelyandroaringtime,some
wouldarguethattheGreatDepressionlefttheeraasanythingbut.Everydecadehas
bothupsanddownswhichaffectpeopledifferently.Someonewhowasborninthe70s
wouldrememberitverydifferentlythansomeonewhowasanadultduringthattime.It
isacommonagreementthatpeopleborninthe1980sor1990s(oftenreferredtoas
GenerationY)viewthe'90sasaverynostalgictime.Mostpeoplethatarecurrently
betweentheagesof17to36rememberthe'90sasasimplerandmorerelaxedtime,
whiletheoldergenerationsrememberitnotonlyforthosefeatures,butalsoforthe
strugglesthatcame.Althoughnoteverythingaboutthe1990swasgreat,thereare
definitefeaturesthatqualifyitasbeingoneofthemostmemorabledecades.

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s3

GenerationYandWhyTheyCantLetGoofthe1990s
Withineverydecadetherearepeaksandvalleysthatdefinehowtheerais
remembered.Eachdecadeisrememberedfordifferentthings,suchasthe1900sbeing
rememberedfortheinventionoftheairplaneandthebeginningofsilentmovies.While
the1950sremindpeopleofrecoveringfromwar,anewsymphonicstyleofmusic,and
thelaunchofSputnik1,italsobringsbackmemoriesoftheKoreanWar,McCarthyism,
andthebeginningofdecolonizationinAsiaandAfrica.The60'sareoftenrecalledas
beingtheerathattheColdWarheatedupalongwithJohnF.Kennedy,MartinLuther
King,andthe70sasthehippiedecade.Thepositiveandnegativeeventsofeach
decadeleavesomemorememorablethanothers,aclassicexampleofthisisthe
1990s.
Whenyoungpeoplefirstreflectonthe'90s,theythinkoftheNickelodeon
channel,therisingofnewtechnology,andtheoverwhelmingworldoffashion.This
decenniumiswidelyrecognizedandstandsoutfromotherdecadesbecauseofits
upandcomingalternativemediaandmulticulturalismaswellastheriseofgrungeand
hiphopwhichwereaidedbythenewtechnologiesofcabletelevisionandtheWorld
WideWeb.Despitetherebeingplentyofpromisingeventsthathappenedduringthe
'90s,therewerealsoaspectsthatwerentsofavorable.TheWorldTradeCenter,
OklahomaCitybombingsandtheRodneyKingverdictandL.A.riotsarejustsomeof
theeventsthatleavepeopletobelievethatthe'90sareanythingbutsentimental.

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s4
Althoughpeopleborninthe1980sand1990s(GenerationY)tendtothinkquite
positivelyofthe'90s,oldergenerationstendtorememberitinsomewhatofanegative
light.The'90sarereferredtoasthelastgreatgenerationduetotheeventsthat
occurredinthe2000ssuchas9/11andtheoverpoweringadvancementoftechnology.
Whiletheadultswerewrappedupintheeconomyandpoliticaleventsthatwere
occurringatthistime,youngerpeoplewerebusyenjoyinglifeasitwaswithoutworries.
Itwasntuntilthebeginningofthe2000sthattheyrealizedthatlifewasntsoeasyand
thattheydidhavethingstoworryabout,makingthemwanttogobacktothe'90swhen
theyrememberlifebeingfarlesscomplicated.Thesimplicityoflifeandeaseofliving
fortheyouthduringthe1990scausesittonowberegardedasoneofthemostwistful
erasinhistorybyGenerationY,althoughsomewhatunfavorablebyoldergenerations.
Aspreviouslymentioned,eachgenerationhasbothpositiveandnegative
aspects.The'90scanbethoughtofasanamazingdecadewherelifewassimpler,the
economywasbooming,andtheWorldWideWebwastakingoff.However,some
peoplecouldarguethatthe'90swasfullofracismandcontroversy,whichbroughton
newwavesofterrorism.Whileanalyzingwhatcouldqualifythe1990sasnostalgic,I
foundmultipleeventsthatbothsupportedandarguedmyclaim.Throughouttheriseof
multiculturalismcamemoreacceptanceoftheAfricanAmericancommunity.The'90s
couldbedescribedasamarvelousandperiloustimetobeyoungandBlackin
America(Whitaker,29).Theblackcommunitysawthe'90sastheirfirstchangeto
opendoorsandreachbacktoprovideamorepositiveimpactontheircommunitysuch
asimprovingtheschools,insteadoffocusingonthehatredofthepast.Whilesome

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s5
hadapositiveoutlookonthefutureofacceptance,eventssuchastheRodneyKing
verdictmadeitdifficult.
RodneyKingwasanAfricanAmericanwhowasfilmedbeingbeatenbyLos
AngelesPoliceDepartmentofficersafterahighspeedcarchase.Thefootagewas
airedandcausedfourofficerstobechargedwithassaultwithadeadlyweapon,along
withtheuseofexcessiveforce.Despitethecharges,threeoftheofficerswereletfree.
Theoneofficerwhowasnotletfreewaschargedwithassaultwithadeadlyweapon,
butaverdictwasneverreachedwhenitcametotheuseofexcessiveforce.Thisledto
theawarenessofpolicemistreatingminorities,whichcausedanoutrage.In1992there
were53peoplekilledandover2,000peoplewhowereinjuredduringLosAngelesriots.
In1993itwasdecidedthattheeventswereaviolationofKingscivilrightsandwhen
triedagain,twooftheofficerswerefoundguiltyandimprisonedwhiletheothertwo
wereonceagainacquitted.Whilethismayhavegivensomehopetothecommunity,
thereisnodoubtthatracismisstillaproblemtoday,eventhoughthe'90swerethe
beginningofanew,positiveerathatwasfilledwithhope.
PopulargamessuchasJumanji,Perfection,SuperMarioKart,andalmostevery
othergameonthePlayStationarejustsomeofthebestpartsaboutGenerationYs
childhood.Passingfoldednotessneakilyinclassandhavingtowaittousethephone
becausesomeonewouldntgetofftheinternetarejustsomethingsthathavegone
extinctduetotheprogressoftechnology.Mostpeopledontrealizehowsimple
communicationhasbecometoday,andtheysometimesmisstakingthetimetotalkwith
peopleortoachievetasks.Therapidadvancementoftechnologyhadahugeimpact

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s6
ontheyouthinthe'90sbecausemostparentsarentasinterestedinthebrandnewtoys
thatcomeout,nomatterwhatdecadeitis.Thebiggestchangethattechnologycaused
isthatitbegantocontrolpeople.Todaywehavetoworryaboutthedramaand
miscommunicationsofFacebookpostsortexts,whereasbeforetechnologyevolved,
peoplecouldenjoythemomentwithouthavingtoworryaboutcapturingitorsharingit
onsocialmedia.
Thesefewpointsaboutthe'90sshowsthatwhileeverythingmightnothavebeen
amazing,thereweredefinitelybenefitsfromtheoutcomes.Despitetheunfortunate
eventsthatoccurredduringthe1990s,theywerepivotalinshapingthegenerationand
showingushowluckywearetohavebeenabletolearnandgrowfromthem.When
theyouthreminisceaboutthe'90s,theydonttendtothinkofRodneyKing,BillClinton,
orbombings.Adultsrecallthoseeventsmoreclearlythanteenagerswouldduringthat
time,butpeoplearemorelikelytorememberthegoodoverthebad,eventhough
everythingthathappenedduringthedecadewasimportantinshapingthegeneration.
The1990swereveryimportantincontributingtoculture,aspreviously
discussed,therewereseveraleventswithintheAfricanAmericancommunitythat
affectedtheirculture.The'90sbeganwithskepticaloptimism.Alargenumberinmy
generationhavebeenlulledintoafalsesenseofsecuritybecausethingsarealittle
moreaccessibleforusthantheywereforourparentsstatedLinnyA.Bailey(Whitaker,
30).Dr.KeithE.Gilmerexplainsthatformostofus,theracismweveexperiencedis
notsomuchamatterof[White]peoplestandinginthedoorwayinhibitingyourprogress,
itspeoplesaying,Youcancomein,butwedontexpectverymuchofyou(Whitaker,

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s7
32).Thesestatementsgavethecommunityachancetopursueequality,evenifthey
werestillcautious.Mostpeoplerecognizedthattheyhadbeengivenalotof
opportunitiesthroughotherpeoplesefforts,anditallowedthemtoreinvestintheir
communitiesandreachout.Theconfidencethatcamewiththe'90sallowedashiftin
attitude,whichgavethecommunityachancefortheirculturetochangeinavery
positiveway.Thisgaveevenmoreopportunitiestonotonlytheyouth,buttoolder
generationsaswell.
Whiletherearesomedrawbacksoftechnology,thereareseveralpositive
aspectsthatcamewithitsadvancement.Peoplebecameeasiertocontactincaseof
emergencyandthetechnologyhasallowedformassiveadvancementsinscienceand
medicine.However,therapidadvancementcausespeopletomissthedayswhenyou
interactedmorewithpeoplefacetofaceinsteadofthroughscreens.GenerationY
tendstobemorenostalgicofthisthanolderindividualsbecausetheyarenowshoved
intotheworldoftechnology,andtheresnoescapingitasitisgrowingmoreandmore
popularandnecessaryeveryday.Aschildren,theygrewupskateboarding,jumping
rope,playingstreethockey,andcollectingbutterflieswhereaschildrennowhavea
technologybasedchildhood.ItisbelievedthatGenerationYisthegenerationinthe
middleofthetechnologyadvancementbecausetheirparentswereofnontechandtheir
childrenoryoungersiblingswillbealltech.
Nostalgiacanbedefinedasasentimentallongingorwistfulaffectionforthe
past,anditisclearthatGenerationYexperiencesmuchnostalgiatowardsthe1990sfor
variousreasons.Theywerethelastgenerationthatgrewupwithallthosebright

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s8
promisesofworkhard,gotocollege,andyou'llhaveasuccessfullife,onlytofind
thosehopesabruptlydashedwhenthehousingbubbleburst.Millennials(someone
whohadreachedyoungadulthoodaroundtheyear2000)havegrownupexpectingthat
disappointment,becauseforthem,theproblemhasbeentheresincedayone.(Geers,
figure3).Thiscouldbeagreatfactorinwhyoldergenerationsdontseemtobeas
nostalgictowardsthistime.Theydidntexperiencethepromisesoflifeandtherapid
advancementoftechnologythatGenerationYdid,sonaturallytheywouldntreminisce
aboutthe'90sthesameway.
Ireadapostoncethatdescribed90skids(peoplebornbetweentheyears1980
and1992)asthegenerationofnostalgiabecausesomuchtechnologicaladvancement
happenedinsucharapidtimeframewhenweweregrowingupthatwecanclearly
rememberhavingtechnologiesthatarenowobsolete,likegoingfromacordedphoneto
asmallcomputerinyourpocketjustwithinourformativeyearsisamajorthing.It
sparksnostalgiaforourseemlysimplerchildhoodsbecausesomuchrapid
developmentmakesitseemlikeitwasalotlongeragothanitactuallywas.(Geers,
figure2).
ThenostalgiathatGenerationYisexperiencingisntgoingunnoticed.Oneofthe
manyreasonsthatthe'90sismissedisbecauseofthetelevisionthatwasairedduring
thattime.Thetelevisionshowsfromthateraseemtohaveabiggermessageand
deeperconnectionstotheaudience,whereasmosttelevisionshowsarefilledwithmore
sexthanlifelessons.Therewassubstanceintheshowsthataired,andgavepeople
somethingtothinkaboutandbeinvestedin.Showssuchas
Friends
,
FullHouse
,and

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s9
TheMagicSchoolBus
arestillverypopulartoday.Becausemostoftheshowsareno
longerairingneworoldepisodes,itcausesademandforthemtocomeback.
Nickelodeonrecentlylaunchedanewprogrammingblock,The90sAreAllThat!which
willallowfanstorequestcertainseriesandepisodesviasocialmedia,andtheyarent
theonlycompanythatistakingadvantageoftheoverwhelmingloveofthe'90s.
Recently,thecreatorsof
FullHouse
launchedasequeltotheoriginalseries,
Fuller
House
.ThenewseriescameoutonNetflixinFebruaryof2016andwassolovedthat
ithasalreadybeenrenewedforasecondseason.
Televisionshowsarefarfromtheonlythingthatpeoplearemissingfromthe
90s.AstudyfromtheGrenobleSchoolofManagementinFrancefoundin2014that
peoplemightbemorelikelytobuysomethingwhentheywerefeelingnostalgictowards
it,whichopensmanydoorsformarketers.Brandshavebeguntofocusonthe'90s
becauseitisconsideredoneofthebiggestandmostdiversetimethathaseverexisted
duetothegrowingacceptanceofnewculturesandways.Withseveralofthepeople
whogrewupinthe1990snowenteringtheirpeakearningandspendingyears,itwould
beahugebusinessmistaketoignoreit.Theyalsofoundthatnostalgiafromhappy
memoriescausespeopletofeelgoodaboutthefutureandincreasetheirselfesteem,
whichcancausethemtofeelmoreconnectedtotheproduct.Smartmarketers
understandthatonewaytogetconsumerstopartwiththeirhardearneddollarsisto
remindthemofhappiertimes(Giang2)andthatsexactlywhatbusinessesaredoing.
Whilethe'90sareknownforthefashionandtrends,thosearenttheonlythings
affectingourlivestoday.Itwasfoundthatmothersofteenstodayaretreatingtheir

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s
10
daughtersmorelikepeersandarefocusedonbuildingarelationshiponfriendship,
ratherthanamother/daughterfoundation.Manymothersofgirlsborninthe1990s
discussrulesbeforesettingthemandaremoreopenandhonestwiththemthantheir
motherswerewiththem.Whensurveyed,themajorityofmothersclaimedthattheir
relationshipwiththeirdaughterwasmuchbetterthanwhattheyhadwiththeirown
motheratthatage.Althoughthegenerationgapbetweenmomsandteenshas
narrowedovertheyears,thereisasignificantlysmallergapbetweendaughtersborn
duringthe'90s.Thiscanbeattributedtotheattitudethatwassetinthe1990swhen
peoplerealizedthatthereneededtobechangesmadewithintherelationships.
RegardlessofGenerationYwishingtheycouldgobacktothe'90s,thereare
definitelypeoplewhowishtheyhadneverhappened.GenerationYrecallsthe'90sas
asimplertimewhentheyhadmorecontrolovertheirlives,whereassomeolderpeople
aswellasindividualsfromthatgenerationrememberitasanythingbut.Somepeople
tendtobeskepticalofholdingontothepastbecauseit'sjustthat:thepast.Many
arguethatyoushouldfocusonthehereandnowinsteadofalwaysbeingfondofthe
past,becauseitsgoneandtheresnowaytobringitback.Theoldergenerationsdidnt
careabouttechnologywhenitstartedtoboomanditdidnttakecontroloftheirliveslike
itdidwithyoungergenerations,especiallytoday.
TheOklahomaCityBombingwasoneofthemostmemorableeventsthat
happenedin1995.Thebombingkilled168peopleandinjuredover680,destroyingor
damaging324buildingswithina16blockradius.ThisbombingcausedtheU.S.
CongresstopasstheAntiterrorismandEffectiveDeathPenaltyActof1996todeter

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s
11
terroristattacks.Thisrestrictednuclear,biological,orchemicalweaponsandincreased
penaltiesandcriminalprocedurechangestocriminallawinvolvingterroristsor
explosivesamongotheradaptations.TheOklahomaCityBombingstruckfearinthe
peoplewhowereoldenoughtorealizewhatwashappeningasitwasthedeadliest
terroristattackonAmericansoiluntiltheoccurrenceoftheSeptember11thattacks,but
remainsthedeadliestdomesticterrorismincidentinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates.
BillClintonwaspresidentwhenthebombingtookplace,andsomewouldargue
thathedidapoorjobaspresident.Therewereconstantscandalsthattookawayfrom
Clintonbeingpresident,suchaswithPaulaJonesandMonicaLewinsky.Hewas
unabletofulfillhispromisestorepealthebanonhomosexualsopenlyservinginthe
militaryandhewashesitanttotakeactiontostopthegenocideinRwanda,whichwas
gettingfartoooutofhand.Whilehedidntdoeverythingrightduringhispresidency,he
didcreate22.5millionnewjobsthatdroppedunemploymentfrom7.5%to4.0%which
wasthelowestunemploymentratethecountryhadseenin30years.Alongwiththe
unemploymentrate,thecrimeratealsofelleachyearthatClintonwaspresident,putting
itata26yearlowbythetimehewasimpeached.TheUSalsowentfromhavingthe
largestbudgetdeficitinhistory($290billion)tohavingabudgetsurplusof$127billion
bythetimeClintonleftofficein2001.Whileitdidnttakeawayallofthestressfromthe
economy,ithelpedtoeliminatealotofournation'sproblems.
Somepeopleclaimthatmostyoungpeoplesolelyrememberthe'90sbecauseof
thefashionandgamesandthatmarketingmadeeverythingappearmuchmorefunthan
itactuallywas.ItisalsostatedbymanythatGenerationYisjuststuckinthepast

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s
12
becausetheystartedoutasthehopeforabetterfuture,althoughseveraleventssoon
ruinedthathope.TheSeptember11thterroristattackschangedtheirperspective
forever,forcingthemtosuddenlyrealizethattheworldwasntassimpleandeasyas
theyhadbeenbroughtuptobelieve.
Were[GenerationY]notoptimistic,idealisticorbrave.Wereterrified.Weare
agenerationhidingunderthesheets,perpetuallyafraidoftheghostsandghoulsout
parentsandthemediahavewarnedusabout.Thatduvetcoveredhavenwevecreated
ourfantasyisrepresentedinthesupersoaked,frostedtippedmyththatwasthe'90s.
(KerrKeller,1)
KerrKellerexplainsthatdespitetheeventsintheMiddleEastandspeculationof
onlinestocks,peoplestillhadhope.WhileeventslikeY2KandthedeathofKurt
CobaincouldhavehelpedtodrasticallymoldthepersonalitiesofGenerationY,itis
arguedthatitwasmostlikelythefallingofthetwintowersin2001.Theywitnessedthe
fearsoftheirparentsandhadtolistentothemdiscussthenextDepressionand
financialmeltdowns.GenerationYcanberememberedasthegenerationwhocouldnt
bebotheredtocare,theyhavebecomesousedtotheheadlinesthattheyhavebecome
numb.Thereisnothingwrongwithalittletripdownmemorylane.Itsnormaltomiss
childhood,butsometimesitpreventsusfromfocusingonwherewereheadedand
sendsusdowntheeasiestroadinthefootstepsofourparents(KerrKeller,1).While
therearefewpeoplewhoaretrulythatengrossed,therearemanywhosimplyreflecton
the'90severynowandthen.

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s
13
Allofthesefactorsattributetothe'90sbeingregardedasoneofthemost
nostalgicerasinhistorybyGenerationY.Thosepeoplearecaughtbetweenthetimeof
limitedtechnologyandanoverwhelmingamountoftechnology,anditaffectstheway
theyseetheworld.Theywereshapedbysomanytraumaticeventsduringtheir
childhoodsthatitcausesthemtohaveadifferentperceptionoftheworldthanthatof
peoplethatareolderoryoungerthanthem.GenerationYlivedafairlyeasylifeduring
theirchildhoodandwereforcedtoplungeintotherealworldinacruelway.Many
peopleofanyagemightbenostalgicfortheirchildhood,butGenerationYseemstobe
oneofthemostnostalgicgenerations,becauseofallthechangesthatoccurredduring
themostimportantpartsoftheirlives.
Oldergenerationswouldntthinkofthe'90sasthatmemorablecomparedtowhat
theygrewupwith,butthatsbecausetheywerentthefocusofthefashionandgames
thatwerepopularduringthattime.Thingsthatwerepopularduringthe1990swere
directedspecificallyatGenerationY,andthatswhytheyhavesuchfondermemoriesof
it.Despiteallofthenegativeeventsthathappenedinthe'90s,GenerationYstillthinks
ofitinsuchafondwaybecausetheywerentexactlyworriedaboutthosethingsduring
thattime.TheyweremorefocusedongettinganIMandgoingtothemallthanon
somebombingthathappenedacrossthecountry,andwhocanblamethemas
children?WhenIwasyounger,eventslikethatwerenteveninmyfocus,children
shouldnthavetoworryaboutthingslikethat.Thatswhywhenthe2000scame
aroundandGenerationYwascomingintotheagerangewhenyouneedtostartto
worryaboutcurrenteventsandwhatishappeningintheworld,theywereunprepared.

GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s
14
Theycamefromacarefree,easylifeintoaroughandrealonesoquickly.Theybegan
tofuriouslylongforhowthingswerebeforetheyhadtoworrythismuchabouttheir
lives.

References
Geers,J.(2015,December12).Thisprofoundtumblrpostexplainswhy'90skidsare
endlesslyobsessedwiththe'90s.Retrievedfrom
http://thoughtcatalog.com/jacobgeers/2015/12/thisprofoundtumblrpostexplains
why90skidsareendlesslyobsessedwiththe90s/
Giang,V.(2014,August18).Theylovethe'90s:Usingnostalgiatowoomillennials.
AmericanExpress
.Retrievedfrom
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/smallbusiness/openforum/articles/theylove
the90susingnostalgiatowoomillennials/
KerrKeller,R.(2014,May7).Stuckinthepast:Whymillennialscantletgoofthe90s.
Retrievedfrom
http://elitedaily.com/life/stuckinthepastwhymillennialscantletgoofthe90s/
Whitaker,C.(1990,August).Introduction:Thenewgenerationofthe'90s.
Ebony,
2932.Retrievedfrom
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GENERATIONYANDTHE'90s
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