On a Scale of 1–10, How Gen X Are You?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
On a Scale of 1–10, How Gen X Are You?
Image: Flashpop / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Can you differentiate the generations? Do you know where to locate Generation X between the years? Let us help you there.

Different organizations and companies peg the years differently. But their markers aren't that too far off. That's why it's safe to assume the birth range of each generation.

For instance, when we say millennials, that's the kiddos born during the '80s and the '90s. They're way past coming of age now; they're already the young faces of today's workforce. The generation that came after them is "Generation Z." They're the ones about to join the workforce or currently in school. 

Baby boomers came way before everyone else. This is the population born after World War II or thereabouts. They know life after the war, and it was a hard life for many. But they persevered and made something out of themselves, too. Creating a nuclear family was a priority (hence the term); it was also a natural reaction from a society recovering from the losses of war. 

After the boomers, there's Generation X. People who belong to this category saw the world change from being analog to being digital. They were at the forefront of the booming computer era. They were also responsible for creating some of this tech advancements. They know the value of hard work and realize the importance of relaxation, too. Does this sound like you?

Let's try it. See where in the Gen X scale you belong. Have fun!


"The Breakfast Club" is definitely one of the greatest films ever made, yeah?
Definitely! Along with "Reality Bites," of course!
Well, yeah, it's all right.
It's a bit dated but I can appreciate its message.
Haven't seen that one. Who's in it?

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Grunge music rules! Do you dig it?
Nirvana rocks!
I prefer alternative rock.
I like specific songs, not bands.
Too noisy!

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Got excited when you read your first email?
Are you kidding? That was a life-changing moment!
I thought it was just a novelty at the time.
It was cool. No biggie.
Don't know how you folks survived without this. How did you send letters?

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Admit it: You also grooved to disco beats growing up. Is this you?
Well, I learned how to walk during the '70s so yeah, disco was in, too!
Nah. Not for me.
Well, I love all things retro.
Techno was more my thing.

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Studies show that around 35% of Generation X graduated from college. Are you one of them?
Yup! Got my bachelor's degree.
Yeah, I graduated.
I don't have one.
Not really needed to succeed in life, I think.

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Is work-life balance a myth for you or not?
It's a fact! I try to live it.
Sometimes, depends on the situation.
I don't subscribe to that. It's cool if others like it, though.
Myth. Who stops working?

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Media consumption-wise, Gen Xers like their social media time and their traditional media time combined. Spot on for you?
Super spot on! In between analog and digital, baby!
I think I prefer traditional media more, depending on my mood.
I can go without both, actually.
I'm more into social media.

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Do you consider yourself a part of the "latchkey generation" growing up?
Yes! Both my parents worked full-time jobs.
Not really. Someone was always at home.
No, but my parents trained me to be independent.
I don't think so. A parent was always present.

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You OK with being called a slacker?
It's just a label. Who cares?
No. I hate that label.
It sounds hurtful sometimes.
No one will dare call me that!

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Windows: something you open in your house and in your computer, too. Does this sound like your life?
Pretty much!
It's a funny development, isn't it?
Oh yeah! I forgot it's also part of the house.
The computer one, yeah, I know.

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Aware of the collapse of communism, the Cold War or the Berlin Wall?
Yup. My nose was on the news from time to time, too.
Yes. I try to update myself with important things.
I know the general stuff but not the specifics of it.
It's something we studied back in school.

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"I want my MTV!" Was that your growing up motto, too?
Heck yeah! MTV! Woot woot!
There was a limit to our TV-watching time back then.
Not really. But I tune in from time to time.
Never heard of that motto. When did they air it?

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Remember the first time you used your own ATM card to withdraw money from a machine?
Oh yeah! That was so mind-boggling and cool at the same time!
It was a welcome development in my life, yes.
It's a cute milestone.
The ATM has always been there. For me, at least.

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"Friends" was a great show, indeed. Can you relate?
Totally. Love this bunch.
I watched something else.
Not a fan of sitcoms.
I find certain storylines problematic.

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Movie date! Indie films OK with you?
Sure. Let's see them!
Not the ones with subtitles, OK?
Only if they're nominated for an award or something.
Ugh, no.

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You can survive without the internet, right?
Surely! I remember the time when we didn't have it yet.
Maybe for a while. Couple of hours or so.
I've got my online and offline life balanced. I'm good.
No! You're killing me!

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One of your all-time favorite authors is Douglas Coupland. True?
Hail to the greatest! Of course! Love his books.
I've seen some of his works. They're OK.
He's the one who popularized the term "Gen X," right? That's all I know.
Not familiar.

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"Work hard, play hard!" Is this your motto, too?
Pretty much so. Work-life balance, am I right?
Maybe rest is more of the right pair for that.
It's OK.
Nah.

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Atari fan?
Yep! We had one at home.
Nope. I had one of those portable game consoles.
We had a few gaming systems over the years.
What's that?

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Big earner, big spender. Sound like you, too?
You know me well.
More like saving up. That's me.
Not such a big earner. But I spend, of course.
I think I spend more than what I earn.

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Love all Quentin Tarantino films?
Yeah, they're cool.
Not classics but they're OK.
Not a fan of his work.
Who's that?

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Apple and Blackberry ceased to be mere fruits for us. Get it?
Come to think of it, yeah! That's clever.
Guilty. I used them both.
I know them but I use a different brand.
Blackberry?

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Did you ever wish you were Ferris Bueller who had the same day off?
That guy's a genius! Hilarious, too! Why not?
It's a funny film but his antics are quite dangerous.
Didn't see that one.
Who's that?

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As a tech-savvy person, you can also appreciate being offline. Correct?
Of course. Everything has to have balance, right?
I can work on my tech offline, sure.
I think I'll get frustrated but I can try this.
I can't live without Wi-Fi!

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Malling is our thing! And so is online shopping. Agree?
I'm more of a mall person. Brick and mortar stores still rock!
From time to time, yes, both serve me well.
I prefer online shopping sometimes.
Online shopping is better!

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Alternative lifestyles are cool. To each their own, right?
Yes. Let's respect diversity of all kinds.
As long as it won't bother me on a personal level, why not?
That's the P.C. thing to do, so sure.
It's a non-issue for me.

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Is hip-hop a cool genre for you?
I liked it better when they called it "rap" but hip-hop's also cool.
Not my type of music.
It's OK.
Yup! But I like fusion stuff more.

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Research showed that, for a time, Gen Xers believed "sex kills" because of the '80s AIDS epidemic. True for you?
Unfortunately, yes. The '80s was a confusing time; but I educated myself and knew better later.
Well, that's what you get from the media hype.
I researched better and learned the proper info for myself.
Nope. I'm aware of what kills and how HIV behaves. We're more enlightened now.

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You didn't mind switching from a keypad cellphone to a touch-screen smartphone, did ya?
It was a struggle at first. But I warmed up to it.
I still prefer the keypad, to tell you the truth. Stuck with a touch-screen now, though.
Well, I used both kinds. Still do!
Never had a keypad. Touch is the way to go!

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Admit it: After retirement, you'd still prefer to work, right?
Yes. Who wants to stop?
Not sure about this yet.
I think I'd rather chill.
I prefer retiring now! Oh, why do we need to work?

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