Same energy, just older: a picture of Gen X defiance
We didn't grow into our attitude, we were born with it. Raised by punk chaos, DIY everything, and standing up to bullies in the playground.
I came across this meme whilst scrolling through Facebook the other day, and I really resonated with the attitude! Its got a real Gen X ‘don’t mess with me’ energy, but with more years etched in our face. We’ve been there, got the t-shirt, and now only need our emotional support animal, a well placed hand gesture, a headscarf (and perhaps a good cup of coffee) to survive!
Then I remembered a meme I shared recently with my (also Gen X) brother, and realised its the same energy, the rebellious kids on that school trip flicking the V passers by, didn’t disappear, they just got older. We are still doing it in spirit, but just in different ways.
I used to think my grumpy attitude as I’ve got older has come from what life has thrown at me over the years. Now I’ve realised, my generation were probably this feisty all along! I blame it on The Young Ones and Punk. That anarchic, no-apologies-for-misbehaving stance became part of our childhood. We thought it was funny to be naughty and play up a bit at school. But we did it with warmth and wit, just like Rik and Vyvyan on TV. Our grumpiness and “don’t mess with me” attitude has just become more refined and polished as we have aged, like a fine wine with a hint of sarcasm.
Growing up in the 1980s, there was a lot to contend with. If you were a bit different, it was a beacon to bullies. Ridicule and dodgy nicknames were common then, often passed down through generations. So in general you just towed the line and tried to be like everyone else, blending in to get through.
Outside the school gates, there was civil unrest being reported in the news, and we didnt get any trigger warnings. Events such as the Brixton riots, IRA bombing, as well as disasters like Lockerbie, Hillsborough all affected us. We also learned about scary new threats to health such as the AIDS/ HIV epidemic. Who can forget forget that awful government ad, looking like it was directed by George Orwell himself!
Our parents, often distracted and emotionally distant, just let the TV run. They didn’t seem to care what we got up to, and we were the original latchkey kids. We played outside with friends and got up to all sorts of adventures that our parents didn’t know about. We rode our bikes without helmets, fell off walls and have the scars to prove it. We maybe tried alcohol and herbal cigarettes far to early, and are still here to tell the tale. There were no mobile phones or GPS then for our parents to check on us. Some may find this really shocking nowadays but they trusted we would be back before dark (or sometime soon, eventually!).
This made us grow up to be tough, independent and resourceful, being able to deal with our own mistakes and growing pains on our own. We turned to our peers for advice and just got on with it, as our parents were hardly ever there to ask. As a result, we grew up very fast, by the time we were about 9 or 10 I’d say!
Our peers were also there to provide us with music, clothing or film / TV recommendations. It was a real DIY time. We learned from each other, not Google or what the algorithm feeds us. Mixtapes were shared and last nights TV discussed in the playground. Posters from Smash Hits or Just Seventeen filled our bedroom walls and we found out about our latest crushes through their articles or Saturday morning TV. We had no social media to shove more into our faces. We chose when and where we got our information from.
Fashion? We just looked at what others were wearing, to see what was trendy, and copied. Trips to the local market or high street shops such as Top Shop, Miss Selfridge, Chelsea Girl etc also gave us inspiration. We were able imagine outfits and try them on, plus getting our friends opinions all in one day. Unlike ordering from a website, waiting for the post, finding out it didn’t fit, or waiting for an opinion on social media.
It really was a different time to grow up, but it really did shape who we have become. Some parts were probably damaging to our young minds and we did have to grow up too soon. However other parts taught us how to deal with things in our own way. That’s why we don’t trust authority or tolerate being told what to do. Those kids making the V sign to grown ups from the window of a school bus? I like to think we are still doing it today, but in different, perhaps more socially acceptable ways; those defiant memes we share on social media, taking a stance at social injustice online, telling people what we really think to their face, making a blunt comment or demanding better service in a restaurant. Maybe some of us still flick the actual V or show them the middle finger.
Either way we have earned that attitude. And I’m with you all the way.
Rachel x
PS If you enjoy the historical threads in my writing, you might also like my blogs Rachel’s Vintage & Retro and 80skids.uk where I blog about all things vintage, nostalgia, lifestyle, interiors and collecting. I also regularly share nostalgic finds and timeworn treasures to buy in my online shop. You can also find out more about me as a writer at Rachel Toy Writes.