Generations X, Y, and...F(?)

I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself an expert on the subject but rather a keen and reasonably educated student of the characteristics of the different generations currently found in our workforce. In fact, I’ve even written a paper on the subject which when converted to an essay for my MBA earned me a Distinction with a symbolic ‘+’ added for extra effect- thank you Professor M for that inspirational and highly motivational gesture.

What strikes me about the different generations is just how different they really are, particularly as far as values and behaviour is concerned. But let’s not delve into the various characteristics but rather focus on the emergence of a new generation- Generation F.

Proudly brought to us by our friends at the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), whom I suspect is the new generation (pardon the pun) of the former Office of Status of Women of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

I would be the first male to admit that women are special, in fact I would even be the first to celebrate that very fact. That said, I have yet to figure out why this selected group of women are so desperate to shove this already established fact down peoples’ throats at the expense of tax payers.

Regardless, these idealists obviously needed to justify their existence and therefore commissioned a consulting firm to assist them in establishing a new marketable product to ‘sell’. Voila, I give you Generation F.

On page 3 of this 36 page publication EOWA has included the definition which reads as follows:
“Generation F are women in the Australian workforce, including women wishing to return to work, who are aged between 16 and 65 years”. Pretty broad and non-specific, isn’t it?

It is further followed by quite a brilliant sales pitch: “Present across Baby Boomer, X and Y generations, Generation F are employers’ main solution to the nation’s proliferating skills shortage. Harnessing their skills, commitment and experience will help organisations to secure effective and sustainable workforces”. Yep, clearly the ultimate solution to our skills shortage crisis!

So here’s the $64.000 question- why on earth do women need their own Generation? Are they really being discriminated against in today’s modern workforce? Assuming that this is how they feel- why would they themselves discriminate against other women?

I personally have female acquaintances at the ages of 15 and 68 that are still part of the workforce- why exclude them? Don’t these women have enough oestrogen to qualify for this exclusive club? Also, would the Baby Boomers, Generations X and Y therefore only consist of men, or are there sub Generations, e.g. Generation XF?

I have been called many things in my days, which includes ‘chauvinistic pig’ and perhaps there is some truth to that. I have, however, reached a point where I seriously question these women’s’ motives and why they insist on wasting mine and other taxpayers money on inventing pointless new labels.

My message to these individuals is therefore- equality is here and hopefully for good- pick up your game and enjoy the opportunities instead of trying annoy regular people and embarrass those women who do not consider further labelling necessary or productive.