Cusper

• Just before the 1920s, as identified by Graeme Codrington

These cuspers experienced the lows after World War I but also the highs of the early Roaring Twenties, the Flappers, the Charleston and early silent films. As these cuspers came of age, some of them become more visionary like the Greatest Generation or stoic like the Silents.

• 1933–1945 as identified by Susan Mitchell{{cite book |author=Susan Mitchell |title=American Generations: Who They Are, how They Live, what They Think |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bsiAQAAIAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=New Strategist Publications |isbn=978-1-885070-46-3 |oclc=51031116}}
• 1939–1945 as identified by Claire Raines Associates
• 1940–1945 as identified by Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman, authors of When Generations Collide, as well as The Mayo Clinic
• 1942–1948 as identified by Trompenaars and Woolliams
• 1943–1948 as identified by Deon Smit, writing for HR Future

Claire Raines Associates names these cuspers the Sandwich Group, Susan Mitchell calls these cuspers the Swing Generation,{{cite journal |last1=Wey Smola |first1=Karen |last2=Sutton |first2=Charlotte D. |title=Generational differences: revisiting generational work values for the new millennium |journal=Journal of Organizational Behavior |volume=23 |issue=4 |year=2002 |pages=363–382 |issn=0894-3796 |doi=10.1002/job.147}} Smit calls them Troomers and Trompenaars and Woolliams call them Shhh-oomers. According to the Mayo Clinic, these cuspers have the work ethic of the Silent Generations, but like Baby Boomers will often challenge the status quo. Codrington describes them as having the status-seeking, career advancement motivations as Baby Boomers. Codrington adds that they are old enough to remember World War II, but were born too late to enjoy the 1960s. Hart notes that research has found the younger members of the Silent Generation tended to share more traits with Baby Boomers.{{cite journal |author=Hart KA |title=Generations in the workplace: finding common ground. |journal=MLO Med Lab Obs |year=2006 |volume=38 |issue=10 |pages=26–7 |pmid=17086828}} Writer Marian Botsford Fraser described women in this cusper population as girls who "...did not smoke dope at high school, go to rock concerts, toy with acid and the pill and hippie boyfriends at university or tour Europe with a backpack." Instead, she notes "These girls wore crinolines and girdles, went to The Prom, went to nursing school and teachers' college, rarely university."{{cite journal |last1=Elve |first1=Barbara |title=Stats prof has come a long way |journal=University of Waterloo Daily Bulletin |date=2000-06-15 |url=https://bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/2000/jun/15th.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014235658/http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/2000/jun/15th.html |archive-date=2006-10-14 |access-date=2019-02-01}} Speaking of Susan Mitchell's population specifically they are believed to be an anomaly in that they tend be more activist and free thinkers than those born prior to them in the Silent Generation. Lancaster and Stillman echo this last point and note that these cuspers were on the frontlines of America's internal struggles as adults, agitating in favor of human rights. They go on to say many women among these cuspers entered in to male-dominated workplaces before the women's movement existed, blazing a trail for other generations of women to follow.

{{Main|Generation Jones}}

• 1954–1965 as identified by Jonathan Pontell{{cite journal |last=Wellner |first=Alison Stein |date=2000 |title=Generational Divide. Are Traditional Methods of Classifying a Generation Still Meaningful in a Diverse and Changing Nation? |journal=American Demographics |volume=22 |issue=10 |pages=52–58 |url=https://adage.com/article/american-demographics/generational-divide/42724/}}
• 1955–1960 as identified by Mary E. Donahue
• 1958–1967 as identified by Mark Wegierski of the Hudson Institute{{cite news |last1=Wegierski |first1=Mark |title=Defining the "Cuspers" |url=http://hudson.org/research/3287-defining-the-cuspers- |access-date=5 August 2016 |publisher=Hudson Institute |date=23 April 2004 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817224314/http://hudson.org/research/3287-defining-the-cuspers- |url-status=dead }}
• 1960–1965 as identified by Lancaster and Stillman, Mayo Clinic, and Andrea Stone writing in USA Today{{cite journal |title=Not boomers, not Xers, they are Tweeners |last=Stone |first=Andrea |date=22–24 March 1996 |journal=USA Today |url=http://www.tweeners.org/usatoday.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716203549/http://www.tweeners.org/usatoday.htm |archive-date=16 July 2012 |access-date=2019-02-01 |url-status=usurped }}
• 1961–1968 as identified by Trompenaars and Woolliams{{Cite book |last1=Trompenaars |first1=Fons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i8rvEAAAQBAJ&dq=zennials+2024&pg=PT46 |title=New Approaches to Recruitment and Selection |last2=Woolliams |first2=Peter |date=2024-01-29 |publisher=Emerald Group Publishing |isbn=978-1-83797-761-1 |language=en}}
• 1962–1967 as identified by Smit
• 1964–1969 as identified by Codrington

This population is sometimes referred to as Generation Jones, and less commonly as Tweeners, Baby X’s by Smit and Boomerex by Trompenaars and Woolliams. These cuspers were not as financially successful as older Baby Boomers. They experienced a recession like many Generation Xers but had a much more difficult time finding jobs than Generation X did. While they learned to be IT-savvy, they did not have computers until after high school but were some of the first to purchase them for their homes. They were among some of the first to take an interest in video games. They get along well with Baby Boomers, but share different values. While they are comfortable in office environments, they are more relaxed at home. They are less interested in advancing their careers than Baby Boomers and more interested in quality of life.

{{Main|Xennials}}

• 1975–1980 as identified by Donahue,{{cite book |author1=Mary E. Donahue |title=Message Received: 7 Steps to Break Down Communication Barriers at Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXP7DwAAQBAJ |date=29 September 2020 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-1-260-45636-3 |page=35 |chapter=Chapter One Step 1: Stop Assuming}} as well as The Mayo Clinic
• 1976–1982 as identified by Hannah L. Ubl, Lisa X. Walden, and Debra Arbit{{cite book |author1=Hannah L. Ubl |author2=Lisa X. Walden |author3=Debra Arbit |title=Managing Millennials For Dummies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pZuqDgAAQBAJ |date=24 April 2017 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-31022-8 |page=266 |chapter=Chapter 13: Making Adjustments for Ages and Life Stages}}
• 1977–1981 as identified by Doree Shafrir, writing for Slate{{cite journal |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2011/10/generation_catalano_the_generation_stuck_between_gen_x_and_the_m.single.html |title=Generation Catalano |last=Shafrir |first=Doree |date=24 October 2011 |journal = Slate |access-date=6 November 2015}}
• 1977–1983 as identified by Smit, Merriam-Webster{{Cite news |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/words-were-watching-xennial |title=Words We're Watching: 'Xennial' |access-date=2017-12-02 |language=en}} and Trompenaars and Woolliams
• 1977–1985 as identified by Business Insider{{Cite web |last=Lebowitz |first=Shana |date=10 March 2018 |title=There's a term for people born in the early 80s who don't feel like a millennial or a Gen X-er–here's everything we know |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/xennials-born-between-millennials-and-gen-x-2017-11 |access-date=2019-01-29 |website=Business Insider}}{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/people-born-between-gen-x-millennials-xennials-2017-11 |title=There's a term for people born in the early 80's who don't feel like a millennial or Gen Xer |date=10 January 2018 |access-date=2 May 2018 |website=Business Insider |first1=Marleen |last1=Stollen |first2=Gisela |last2=Wolf}}

The Generation X/Millennial cuspers are most commonly referred to as Xennials, although other names include the Oregon Trail Generation, Generation Catalano and The Lucky Ones. Researchers point out that these cuspers have both the healthy skepticism of Generation X and the optimism of Millennials. They are likely to challenge authority, but also are more career-focused than Generation X. While not all of these cuspers are digital natives,{{cite journal |last1=Fluck |first1=A. |last2=Dowden |first2=T. |title=On the cusp of change: examining pre-service teachers' beliefs about ICT and envisioning the digital classroom of the future |journal=Journal of Computer Assisted Learning |volume=29 |issue=1 |year=2013 |pages=43–52 |issn=0266-4909 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00464.x}} they are very comfortable with technology.

{{Main|Zillennials}}

• 1990–2000 as identified by Avery Hartmans, writing for Business Insider USA{{Cite web |date=17 January 2023 |title=Meet the 'zillennials,' who grew up online, live with their parents, and have retailers chasing their disposable income |website=Business Insider |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/zillennial-lives-with-parents-spends-on-luxury-goods-2023-1}}
• 1992–1998 as identified by Ubl, Walden, and Arbit, WGSN,{{cite web |last1=Napoli |first1=Cassandra |date=May 22, 2020 |title=WGSN: Zennials: The In-Between Generation |url=https://www.wgsn.com/insight/p/article/88103?lang=en |url-status=live |access-date=18 February 2021 |website=wgsn.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025231640/https://www.wgsn.com/insight/p/article/88103?lang=en |archive-date=2020-10-25}} Vogue,{{cite web |last1=Belen Archetto |first1=Maria |title=4 tendencias de moda zillennial que se despiden de la brecha generacional |url=https://www.vogue.mx/moda/articulo/tendencias-de-moda-zillennial |url-status=live |date=14 May 2021 |website=Vogue.mx |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518000657/https://www.vogue.mx/moda/articulo/tendencias-de-moda-zillennial |archive-date=2021-05-18}} Mary Everett, writing for PopSugar{{cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Mary |date=March 3, 2021 |title=Are You Confused by the Current Generational War? Congrats, You May Be a Zennial! |url=https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/what-are-zennials-48195753 |url-status=live |access-date=8 March 2021 |website=PopSugar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303231903/https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/what-are-zennials-48195753 |archive-date=2021-03-03}}
• 1992–2000 as identified by Ketchum{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ketchum-introduces-the-genzennial-an-influential-blend-of-two-generations-300429599.html|title=Ketchum Introduces the GenZennial, an Influential Blend of Two Generations|website=www.prnewswire.com}}
• 1993–1998 as identified by Smit,{{cite journal |first=Deon |last=Smit |title=Do you have enough "Generational Glue" in your organisation? |journal=HR Future |volume=2017 |issue=Dec 2017 |pages=22–23 |url=https://journals.co.za/content/journal/10520/EJC-b978fc1a0 |issn=1608-8506 |date=December 2017}} Maisy Farren, writing for Vice,{{Cite web |title='Zillennials' Are Haunted By Their Internet History |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/zillennials-are-haunted-by-their-internet-history/ |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=2020-10-15 |language=en |first1=Maisy |last1=Farren |website=Vice}} Lindsay Dogson, writing for Business Insider Mexico,{{Cite web |url=https://businessinsider.mx/zillennials-nacidos-entre-1993-y-1998-millennials-generacion-z/|title=Los zillennials atrapados entre los millennials y la Generación Z|date=18 August 2021}} Metlife{{Cite web|url=https://metlife-prod-2019.adobecqms.net/about-us/newsroom/2022/march/job-satisfaction-hits-20-year-low-across-u-s-workforce-lowest-among-zillennials/|title=JOB SATISFACTION HITS 20-YEAR LOW ACROSS U.S. WORKFORCE, LOWEST AMONG 'ZILLENNIALS'|website=MetLife}} and Britannica{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Experience-the-American-Generations-Which-Generation-Are-You-2226598 | title=The American Generations: Names, Years, & Key Differences | Britannica }}
• 1993–1999 as identified by Fullscreen, LLC{{cite web |last1=Dreisinger |first1=Kimberly |date=June 17, 2019 |title=Cuspers: Creative, Stressed, Impulsive --- Fullscreen Generational Study Shines Light on the Unique Life Stage Between Millennials and Gen Z |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190617005597/en/Cuspers-Creative-Stressed-Impulsive-----Fullscreen-Generational-Study-Shines-Light-on-the-Unique-Life-Stage-Between-Millennials-and-Gen-Z |access-date=11 December 2022 |website=businesswire.com}} and Trompenaars and Woolliams
• 1995–2000 as identified by Donahue
• 1992–2002 as identified by Deborah Carr{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/10/health/what-are-zillennials-wellness/index.html|title=Zillennials: The newest micro-generation has a name|first=Terry|last=Ward|date=10 May 2023|website=CNN}}

Names given for these cuspers include the Snapchat Generation by Ubl, Walden, and Arbit, MinionZ by Smit, GenZennials by Ketchum,{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ketchum-introduces-the-genzennial-an-influential-blend-of-two-generations-300429599.html | title=Ketchum Introduces the GenZennial, an Influential Blend of Two Generations }} Zillennials,{{cite web |last1=Pence |first1=Laura |date=May 26, 2021 |title=There's a New Term for People Who Aren't a Millennial or GenZ |url=https://www.wfxb.com/2021/05/26/theres-a-new-term-for-people-who-arent-a-millennial-or-genz/|url-status=live|website=WFXB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527204927/https://www.wfxb.com/2021/05/26/theres-a-new-term-for-people-who-arent-a-millennial-or-genz/ |archive-date=2021-05-27}} and Zennials.{{cite web |last1=DeGering |first1=Nicea |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Do you feel left out of the generational war? You might be a zennial |url=https://www.abc4.com/gtu/do-you-feel-left-out-of-the-generational-war-you-might-be-a-zennial/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=abc4.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305023044/https://www.abc4.com/gtu/do-you-feel-left-out-of-the-generational-war-you-might-be-a-zennial/ |archive-date=2021-03-05}} They are characterized as being "raised less by optimistic Boomers and more by skeptical Xers and pragmatic Gen Jonesers, who raised them to focus more on the practical rather than the aspirational."

Communication misunderstandings between employees of different generations are detrimental to workplace morale, increasing turnover and absenteeism while decreasing job satisfaction, work commitment and productivity.{{cite journal |last1=Nwosu |first1=Moses C. |last2=Igwe |first2=Chuma O. |last3=Nnadozie |first3=Kingsley N. |title=Managing generational diversity in the workplace: implications for the digital era university library management |journal=International Journal of Applied Technologies in Library and Information Management |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=1–17 |url=http://jatlim.org/volumes/volume2/No2/MOSES%20ONLINE%20VOL%202%20NO%202%20AUG.pdf |date=2016 |issn=2467-8120}}{{cite journal |last1=Sakdiyakorn |first1=Malinvisa |last2=Wattanacharoensil |first2=Walanchalee |title=Generational Diversity in the Workplace: A Systematic Review in the Hospitality Context |journal=Cornell Hospitality Quarterly |volume=59 |issue=2 |year=2017 |pages=135–159 |issn=1938-9655 |doi=10.1177/1938965517730312 |s2cid=158703769}} Effective communication between employees of different generations, however, allows for collaborative relationships and ensures that information is retained from one generation to the next. Cuspers play an important role in multi-generational workplaces and other organizations. Metaphorically, cuspers are like bridges or glue that connect members of their adjacent major generations. Between generations, they are naturally skilled at mediating, translating, mentoring and managing.{{cite book | last=Lancaster | first=Lynne C. | last2=Stillman | first2=David | title=When generations collide: who they are, why they clash, how to solve the generational puzzle at work | publisher=HarperCollins | publication-place=New York | date=2002 | isbn=978-0-06-662106-7 | page=}}{{cite book |author1=Lynne C. Lancaster |author2=David Stillman |title=When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bn_mxJboF0IC |date=13 October 2009 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-175589-7 |chapter=Chapter 3: The Tie-Dyed Preppy}}{{cite book |author=Graeme Codrington |title=Mind the Gap: Own your past, know your generation, choose your future|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ChE0xMDGNv4C |date=1 October 2012 |publisher=Penguin Random House South Africa |isbn=978-0-14-352911-8 |chapter=Chapter 9: If you don't fit in ... You could be a 'Cusper' |author-link=Graeme Codrington}} Strategically placing cuspers in the workplace has the potential to reduce generational workplace friction and give organizations doing so a competitive advantage.{{cite journal |last1=Taylor |first1=Melissa Kempf |title=Xennials: a microgeneration in the workplace |journal=Industrial and Commercial Training |volume=50 |issue=3 |year=2018 |pages=136–147 |issn=0019-7858 |doi=10.1108/ICT-08-2017-0065|doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |title=The organizational value of Xennials |journal=Human Resource Management International Digest |volume=26 |issue=4 |year=2018 |pages=22–24 |issn=0967-0734 |doi=10.1108/HRMID-04-2018-0066 |s2cid=242049521 }}{{Cite book |last1=Ubl |first1=Hannah L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g36gDgAAQBAJ&dq=cuspers+between+gen+z+ubl+walden&pg=PA266 |title=Managing Millennials For Dummies |last2=Walden |first2=Lisa X. |last3=Arbit |first3=Debra |date=2017-04-06 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-31023-5 |language=en}}

Many cuspers do not feel a sense of belonging to a specific generation. Researchers studying generational subculture theory have speculated that there may be populations within larger generational cohorts whose values are more in line with those of preceding generations, for example, someone born in the range of Generation X who has a moral philosophy more similar to the Silent Generation.{{cite journal |last1=Robertson |first1=Christopher J. |last2=Ralston |first2=David A. |last3=Crittenden |first3=William F. |title=The relationship between cultural values and moral philosophy: a generational subculture theory approach |journal=AMS Review |volume=2 |issue=2–4 |year=2012 |pages=99–107 |issn=1869-814X |doi=10.1007/s13162-012-0029-2 |s2cid=143055702}} Generations are heterogenous, and differences within a generation can be as great as differences between generations.{{Cite web |last=Dimock |first=Michael |date=2019-01-17 |title=Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}

The generational fuzziness theory proposes that one's generation is best defined as the combination of one's birth year and generational identity—the cultural generation to feel most similar to.{{cite journal |last1=Campbell |first1=Stacy M. |last2=Twenge |first2=Jean M. |last3=Campbell |first3=W. Keith |title=Fuzzy But Useful Constructs: Making Sense of the Differences Between Generations |journal=Work, Aging and Retirement |volume=3 |issue=2 |year=2017 |pages=130–139 |issn=2054-4642 |doi=10.1093/workar/wax001 |url=https://academic.oup.com/workar/article/3/2/130/2997409#63061717 |doi-access=free}}{{cite conference |url=https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/workplace-needs-and-their-support-are-millennials-different-from- |title=Workplace needs and their support; are millennials different from other generations? |last1=Appel-Meulenbroek |first1=H.A.J.A. |last2=Vosters |first2=S.M.C. |last3=Kemperman |first3=A.D.A.M. |last4=Arentze |first4=T.A. |date=2019 |location=Melbourne, Australia |pages=1–14 |conference=Twenty fifth annual Pacific Rim Real Estate Society conference (PRRES 2019) |access-date=2019-02-03 |archive-date=2019-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203202113/https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/workplace-needs-and-their-support-are-millennials-different-from- |url-status=dead }} Not all cuspers identify with both sides of the generational dividing line. Many adopt the values of one side and conduct themselves accordingly.{{Cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Meagan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HV9WOn0voLUC&dq=johnson+and+johnson+cuspers+generations&pg=PA8 |title=Generations, Inc.: From Boomers to Linksters--Managing the Friction Between Generations at Work |last2=Johnson |first2=Larry |date=2010-05-19 |publisher=AMACOM |isbn=978-0-8144-1576-4 |language=en}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

• {{wiktionary inline}}

{{Generation}}

{{Young adult development}}

Category:Cultural generations

Category:Demographics