X-Men
What bone and muscle - and mindset - need to grow strong is stress that doesn't destroy and time to recover. What Gen X got—perhaps uniquely in modern American history—was just that.
Mom and Dad are working second jobs or second shifts.
I’ve been home alone since I got home at 3:30.
I’ve biked back to the house in the dark after riding out to a Webelos meeting where a friend’s mom is Den Mother.
I’ve taken the pot of hot dogs and baked beans out of the fridge, and placed it on the stove to heat up.
I’m kinda scared of watching that Jodie Foster film, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, by myself.
But I’ll do it. Why?
I’m Gen X. We kinda just do it.
Generation X (born roughly 1965–1980) grew up in a period of social change, economic uncertainty, and technological upheaval. Our formative years were marked by latchkey childhoods – many returning from school to empty homes as both parents worked or divorced – and exposure to cultural shifts like rising divorce rates, the AIDS crisis, and changing global politics. This environment forced Gen Xers to fend for ourselves in multiple contexts, from a young age.
Studies and reports describe them as “latchkey kids” who became “self-reliant, independent, and entrepreneurial”, used to being “alone and responsible.” Indeed, according to a marketing survey, Gen X “went through its all-important formative years as one of the least parented, least nurtured generations in U.S. history,” with about 40% raised as latchkey kids and many having divorced parents. As a result, we learned to solve problems and amuse ourselves on their own. These traits – independence, resourcefulness and a do-it-yourself attitude – have been widely noted by researchers and commentators as defining features of Gen X.
Gen Xers themselves often describe this upbringing as “forging resilience.” One commentator notes that growing up “left on our own to figure out a lot of things” made Gen Xers the “resilient, independent adults we are”, even if at times that independence was a reaction to trauma. In other words, Gen X’s toughness may have sprung from adversity. Decades of cultural commentary – from educational articles to workplace research – emphasize that Gen X values practicality, skepticism and self-sufficiency. For example, a recent analysis of Gen X decision-making highlights that their formative experiences “instilled a sense of resilience and adaptability … independence and resourcefulness”. Likewise, Gen Xers are noted for a “pragmatic, self-reliant, and skeptical outlook”, shaped by events like economic recessions and rapid technological change. This generation tends to value dependability and security – choosing stable careers and environments – as a reaction to having grown up amid volatility. Interestingly, those Gen Xers who, in the midst of the ostensible chaos, grew up with real or perceived stability, like I did, often eschew institutional forms of stability and use that stability as a platform to challenge the status quo…a sort of Gen X subset of Gen X.
We also developed a critical mindset: our skepticism toward authority and marketing spin means we “often require substantial evidence and convincing arguments to earn our trust and loyalty,” serving as a filter to avoid hype.
In short, Gen X’s hallmark strengths – formed by their youth – include self-reliance, adaptability and a questioning attitude.
But how does Gen X’s resilience compare with other generations? Emerging research suggests we often cope better with stress and crises than younger cohorts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, surveys of U.S. adults found that younger generations reported worse mental health outcomes than middle-aged and older adults. One study reported that Millennials and Gen Z had significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness during the pandemic’s early phase, whereas Gen Xers and Baby Boomers fared relatively better. In other words, Gen X was less vulnerable to the pandemic’s psychological impact than younger adults. Researchers hypothesized this was due to Gen X and Boomers having more life experience managing crises; my argument was that the meat-and-potatoes of that life experience for Gen X was finding small, medium and large ways to occupy ourselves…so when the pandemic hit, we were replete with the skills to amuse ourselves when everyone was locked away and had to do so.
Similarly, a 2022 research study specifically comparing Gen Z and Gen X coping with the global COVID-19 crisis found that Gen Z was significantly less resilient than Gen X. The authors report, “members of Generation Z were less resilient … as compared to Generation X” during the pandemic. This aligns with the idea that our ostensibly tougher and rougher and less accommodating upbringing may have equipped us with stronger crisis-coping skills, or, at minimum, very different ones.
Notably, the same study found that Gen Z was more open to change and to self-enhancement than Gen X, but it was the younger group that reported the lower resilience scores. In sum, at least in the context of a shared crisis, Gen X showed higher psychological resilience than Gen Z.
Overall evidence about generational resilience is mixed, but trends often favor older cohorts. For example, current data on mental health consistently show that younger Americans (Gen Z and Millennials) exhibit higher rates of anxiety, depression and maladaptive coping behaviors than Gen X and Boomers. Whether this is due to Gen X’s inherent traits or differences in circumstances, the pattern suggests Gen X has held up better under recent societal stresses. That said, it is crucial to note that not all research finds large generational gaps. Meta-analytic reviews conclude that broad claims about generational differences are often overstated; many comparative studies find “little variation” between cohorts on key work and psychological outcomes.
In other words, while Gen X’s resilience is often highlighted, the evidence indicates substantial overlap and individual variation within generations.
Nevertheless, where differences do appear, Gen X tends to come off well in terms of coping and commitment. In the workplace, for instance, Gen Xers are often described as loyal and pragmatic employees, valuing work-life balance and being less work-obsessed than Boomers or Millennials. One industry analyst notes that many of the leadership skills being praised in Gen X – such as agility and behind-the-scenes problem-solving – directly stem from their background of independence. A business leader observes: “some aspects of the transitional time that Generation X grew up in … might have created a particularly agile and resilient type of executive. We’ve never needed them more”. Such perspectives imply that Gen X’s formative adversities may translate into steadiness and adaptability in high-stakes roles.
Gen X came of age on the cusp of the digital revolution. As the Pew Research Center notes, “Generation X grew up as the computer revolution was taking hold”, whereas Millennials grew up amid the internet boom and Gen Z after smartphones and social media were ubiquitous. This timing shapes how each generation views social media. Unlike younger cohorts who are true digital natives, Gen Xers had an analog childhood. They are often described as “digital immigrants”: comfortable with technology but not defined by it. This gives Gen X a unique vantage: they recognize the convenience of online networks yet recall life before constant connectivity.
Today almost every adult uses social media. For example, a 2024 Pew survey shows that 83% of U.S. adults have used YouTube, 68% use Facebook and 47% Instagram. This chart illustrates how pervasive social media is: the majority of Americans engage with multiple platforms (YouTube and Facebook are used by most adults, and even about half are on Instagram). Gen Xers are part of these statistics – but because they remember a pre-social-media era, they may treat online platforms more as tools than as central to identity. Their skeptical, practical worldview can help them filter out digital noise. In effect, Gen Xers often view social media as one aspect of life rather than the whole. Pew research and analysts note that Gen X is more cautious - or, entirely dismissive - about new technology claims and privacy than Gen Z.
When it comes to social media’s downsides – misinformation, polarization, addiction – Gen X’s lived experience could be an asset. They are likely to recognize problems like echo chambers or fake news because they have memories of news media before the internet and have had decades to see digital trends evolve. For instance, a recent study suggests Generation Z is the most susceptible to online misinformation, with older cohorts (including Gen X and Boomers) generally better at spotting fake news. Gen X’s skepticism means they often fact-check news rather than taking viral posts at face value. In family and work settings, Gen Xers frequently play the role of explaining or mediating between traditional and new media habits (for example, they often teach digital skills to their own kids or aging parents). In sum, Gen X’s intermediary role between analog and digital eras may make them adept at identifying social media’s harms without being swept away by them.
A full evaluation of Gen X’s uniqueness requires comparing them to other cohorts:
Baby Boomers (born ~1946–1964) grew up in post-war affluence and authority-trusting culture. They tend to be optimistic about institutions and career-long loyalty to employers. Boomers value social activism and collective ideals. In many studies, Boomers report higher trust in government and more traditional attitudes. They also entered adulthood before the internet, yet by now many have adapted to technology for work and social use.
Millennials (born ~1981–1996) came of age during 9/11, the 2008 recession and the dawn of social media. They are often characterized as tech-fluent, team-oriented, and open to change, but also more stressed and less financially secure (having entered the labor market in crisis). Research typically finds Millennials reporting higher rates of anxiety and mental health challenges than Gen X. Millennials are digital natives who can be overly credulous online, but also largely aware of social causes.
Generation Z (born ~1997–2012) is the first generation to grow up entirely in the smartphone/social media age. They are hyperconnected, diverse, and well-informed about global issues, but survey data indicates they have the highest rates of reported loneliness and the lowest resilience during crises. Gen Z tends to be more open-minded on social issues but also more anxious.
Gen X (born 1965–1980) sits between Boomers and Millennials, and indeed has sometimes been called a “forgotten” or “sandwich” generation. Comparative studies emphasize that Gen Xers tend to value stability and balance. They have witnessed recessions at each life stage (college, career start, home-buying)edutopia.org, which made them realistic and cautious. In contrast to Boomers, Gen X does not assume institutions will care for them; they respect but do not trust authority. Compared to Millennials and Gen Z, Gen X is less prone to show and share emotions on social media, taking issues like personal branding with a grain of salt.
Empirical surveys reflect these contrasts. For example, healthcare research notes that Gen Xers “respect but do not trust authority, and they do not trust government”, a stance much less common among Boomers or the younger cohorts who generally take technology and social media norms more on faith. In workplaces, Gen X employees report high levels of organizational commitment and tolerance for ambiguity, often bridging the Boomer and Millennial work styles. One comparative study finds Generation X displaying strengths in adaptivity similar to Millennials, though each generation has unique values like Gen Z’s flexibility preferences. Importantly, research warns that broad generalizations are risky: “the evidence … does not support broad generalizations or stereotypes of generational differences”. Individual variation is high, and many values overlap. Still, when patterns do emerge, Gen X stands out for its blend of analog and digital savvy, and for navigating change without losing perspective.
It is important to consider alternative perspectives. Some scholars argue that any perceived “special” attributes of Gen X are often retrospective myths. The notion of Gen X as inherently resilient or self-reliant has been questioned. Critics note that Gen Xers’ independence may have been a survival mechanism for neglect rather than a positive choice. For instance, an analysis of Gen X childhoods reminds us that “not every Gen X kid was so lucky”: many faced bullying, harassment or trauma without support. As one writer observes, reliance on oneself during those years was “likely what made us … independent, but … independence and resilience were a trauma response”. In other words, the toughness of Gen X may come at the cost of unaddressed childhood wounds. And this was, Xers remember, the era of the missing child message on the milk carton.
Another counterpoint comes from research on generational myths. Meta-analyses show that most generational comparisons find minimal differences. One review bluntly states that it is a “fiction” that scientific research supports strong generation gaps; in fact, “the majority of generational comparisons… reported little variation”. This suggests caution: maybe Gen X is not so unique after all, and many claimed traits are simply shared with others or vary by personality. For example, although many highlight Gen X’s independence, some Baby Boomers (raised in larger nuclear families) were also latchkey kids in dual-income homes. Likewise, while Gen Xers tend to distrust institutions, so do many younger people today (albeit for different reasons).
Furthermore, demographic and socioeconomic factors complicate the picture. Resilience might owe more to class, community, or education than birth year. Certainly, not all Gen Xers had the same experience: many were privileged suburban kids, while others faced extreme hardships. Studies controlling for income or education often find that differences within a generation (e.g. rich vs. poor Millennials) rival differences between generations. Thus, even if Gen Xers on average learned to “chill out” about technology or adulthood, it might reflect cohort timing more than an innate generational superpower. In short, skeptics warn us not to overstate Gen X’s uniqueness or destiny.
(Gen) X-Men vs Trump & The Masters of The Universe
As the U.S. embodies a second Trump presidency, a comic-book‐style drama unfolds: Donald Trump’s administration embodies a villainous force, testing democratic norms, while Generation X – the cohort born roughly 1965–1980 – emerges as an unlikely band of heroes. Political analysts note that Trump’s early actions in 2025 have “launched a blizzard of executive actions” challenging key principles of democracy. In this context, Gen Xers’ trademark traits – resilience, pragmatism, teamwork, and leadership – are cast as heroic powers in the struggle. Like covert mutants or reluctant champions in a pop‐culture saga, Gen X has spent decades bridging extremes and quietly preparing for a crisis. Their response to Trump’s second term can be seen in the initiatives and voices they bring forward, often in the shadows compared to flashier Millennial or Gen Z activism. Anecdotally, Gen Xers joke that those early lessons in resilience instilled grit: scraped knees were walked off, not fussed over. They witnessed seismic events (the Challenger disaster, 9/11) that “taught us how quickly life could shift” and “taught us how to navigate uncertainty”. In popular culture terms, it’s as if they were trained for adversity - for a battle with Trumpism - from the start.
Crucially, straddling the analog and digital ages, experiencing rotary phones and typewriters then adapting to cell phones and the Internet: all that ensures that Gen X “is an effective bridge generation,” deeply familiar with the analog past while still young enough to shape the digital revolution..and revolution. Indeed, Gen Xers were the first to send emails, launch websites, and build the early Internet (think Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page, born 1973). In the 200 days since Trump’s second-term inauguration, Gen Xers have begun to assert themselves in media, politics, and grassroots movements. For example, leading political scientists warn that actions like pardoning January 6 participants and purging government watchdogs are “grave threats to American democracy”. These warnings have been echoed by journalists and analysts (many of them Gen X themselves) who serve as truth-tellers in a storm. While specific events remain unfolding, Gen X politicians and commentators have taken varied stands: some have voiced staunch defense of norms, others pragmatic compromise.
The activist legacy of Gen X provides context. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Gen Xers “led some of the largest and most significant protest movements in the history of this country”. They were at the forefront of 1990s LGBTQ and abortion rights marches, of Seattle’s anti-globalization protests, of the massive anti-Iraq War mobilization in 2003, and of immigration and marriage equality campaigns. This track record suggests that, even if older Gen X activism is less visible now, those capacities for organization and dissent still exist. In fact, it would be the worst possible epitaph for Gen X, critics warn, if “in the face of fascism, we became the slackers our parents always accused us of being”. In other words, the generation has been nudged to reclaim its activist roots as new threats emerge.
At the same time, Generation X includes many in positions of influence who act as moderating or truth-seeking forces. Senior journalists, think-tank experts, and legislators in their 40s and 50s (the prime of Gen X) often emphasize fact-based oversight. In storytelling terms, Generation X fits the mold of the reluctant hero. Like the archetypal “last-born child” or an X-Men character (their generational nickname conveniently starts with X), they’ve long worked in the shadows. Now they’re stepping into the limelight not as brash champions, but as undaunted underdogs with hard-earned insight. Think of an aging Luke Skywalker guiding newer Jedis, or Robin under Batman: Gen X brings experience without ego.
Some analysts put it plainly: Gen X’s hallmark is quiet effectiveness. As one summary puts it, Gen X “doesn’t need to shout to make an impact – they’ve already proven that their strength lies in the power of steady, deliberate disruption”. This suggests that in the battle against a Trump-era “villainy,” Gen Xers may play the role of stabilizing truth-tellers and bridge-builders. Their generation’s legacy, it is said, will be “quiet, thoughtful leadership” – exactly the kind of heroic counterbalance needed in a polarized time.
Generation X’s response to the second Trump term is a complex tapestry of heroism. On one hand, they embrace teamwork and leadership, drawing on their “work hard, play hard” ethos to tackle crises. On the other, they remain cautious moderators between extremes, valuing practical solutions over partisan theatrics. Whether described as X-Men or underdog champions, Gen X brings resilience and insight forged over decades – the very attributes needed to confront the era’s challenges. In this allegory of democracy’s defenders vs. authoritarian foes, Generation X stands as the generation of tempered heroes: underestimated, but in many ways uniquely prepared to fight the good fight.
Gen X was indeed shaped by its era – the first to grow up wired and unwired – and this has given it certain durable traits. As documented above, Gen Xers became largely self-reliant and adaptable in response to early adulting at school and an unpredictable world. Many evidence sources (academic studies, surveys, expert analyses) suggest Gen X exhibits healthy cynicism, steadiness under pressure, and bridging capabilities between analog and digital worlds. In modern terms, they may excel at situating social media and technology in a balanced perspective, noticing both benefits and pitfalls, because they remember a time without those tools. This could make them effective voices of reason in an era often criticized for “post-truth” skepticism and information chaos.
That said, we did not find a smoking gun proving that Gen X is the only possible savior of today’s challenges. Alternative viewpoints remind us that Gen X’s independence often stemmed from unmet needs, and that scientific evidence of generational differences is mixed. Nonetheless, many analysts and Gen Xers themselves believe their generation’s blend of life experience makes them well-suited to address 21st-century issues. Several studies and commentators conclude that Gen X is indeed poised to lead in bridging gaps – not seeking the spotlight, but quietly solving problems. In an age of polarized media and technocentric youth, Generation X’s lived narrative – one foot in each world – could be invaluable for “finding the truth in between.”
Sources: I drew on peer-reviewed studies and respected analyses of generational characteristics to inform these conclusionspubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govcml.orgpewresearch.orgedutopia.org, as well as recent surveys and social-commentary piecespewresearch.orgmediaculture.comlinkedin.comupworthy.com. This evidence set yields a nuanced picture: Gen Xers do often show remarkable resilience and independence, but these traits arose under challenging circumstances, and other generations share many strengths and strugglespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govcml.org. We encourage readers to view generational findings as trends, not certainties, while recognizing Gen X’s potentially pivotal role given their unique context.