Catherwood LibraryILR School

Charlotte Shelton and Laura Shelton

Nothing typifies Generation X more than career dissatisfaction. Gen X women are especially frustrated. Successors to a generation of feminists who fought for equal opportunity, these young women expected to reap the benefits of their mothers’ struggles—only to find that not much has changed. Disillusioned, many have chosen to leave the professional workforce. If this "opt out" trend continues, the corporate world will lose an invaluable pool of talent, just when retiring Boomers will trigger a labor shortfall. Worse, Gen Xers will lose the chance to take their place as tomorrow’s leaders. In this perceptive study, Charlotte and Laura Shelton, a Boomer mother and Gen X daughter, examine the roots of this frustration—in part, the feminist revolution—and what it will take to change frustration to transformation. In the first half of the book, the authors use surveys with more than 1,200 Gen Xers and interviews with many others to create a multidimensional portrait of this generation at work. Personal stories are interwoven with analysis to reveal how Gen Xers experience work, how Boomer workplace attitudes clash with Xer expectations, and how men and women differ in what they want from their careers. The second half of the book is a call to action, encouraging Gen X women to carry on the revolution their mothers started. A four-point plan shows Gen Xers how to change from victims to activists and take charge of creating a satisfying work environment. Examples of successful X-friendly companies demonstrate how Boomer employers can attract and retain Xer talent. Finally, the authors discuss seven quantum life skills offering both generations an opportunity for personal growth. The NeXt Revolution will benefit Xers and Boomers of both genders and the corporate world they share as it leads to a new understanding of the meaning of work and workplace possibilities. [from publisher’s web site]