Answer Wiki. Strauss & Howe, the social historians known for pioneering generational theory[1], would say that Gen X (the 13th generation) and Gen Y (the millennial generation) each have the traits of their corresponding generational archetypes. Generation X is generally used to refer to people born in the 60s and 70s. According to Strauss & Howe, it is a Nomad generation, an archetype they share with the Lost Generation of the 1890s and 1900s. Both generations are characterized by a disaffected attitude and general disdain for everything that came before.