Yes, but is that necessary when we already have an established framework for class analysis? Age can be a useful intersectional category, but I don’t see that it has much use in this case.
It isn’t just age, but the age you were born and how it influences the social relations of yours to others. Young people in the US are having a much worse time since the contradictions of capitalism and the restructuring of the social net etc. came home. There is use it in, also there is a strong sentiment for applying specific generations - which are also location bound - towards class analysis here. The hate against the rich boomers which did profit from the rising housing prices (which other groups have to pay the profits and debts for) is also an economic distinction, but it isn’t just an economic distinction.
spoiler
Generations often have false consciousness which is influenced by their generation and shared experiences, intersecting with class positions. The feeling of superiority (which stemmed a bit from economic power and hegemony) of white boomers in the 70s/80s is one that you will more rarely find in millenials as example.
It is also a good shorthand “Ok, boomer” “when you worked without degree you could finance a house and a family of four with healthcare and holidays, since then the profits generated by porductivity gain didn’t land in the hands of the working class” is succinct and clear.
Marx himself did also talk about somewhat akin to generations when he talked about people who experienced some revolts first hand or second hand and how that changed them and their outlook. You of course can say “I don’t use generations” and it is good to take this stance at first to point to material conditions, especially when people try to do non-materialist talk, but I think there are uses. Not worth for me to do a struggle session about it, though.
Yes, but is that necessary when we already have an established framework for class analysis? Age can be a useful intersectional category, but I don’t see that it has much use in this case.
It isn’t just age, but the age you were born and how it influences the social relations of yours to others. Young people in the US are having a much worse time since the contradictions of capitalism and the restructuring of the social net etc. came home. There is use it in, also there is a strong sentiment for applying specific generations - which are also location bound - towards class analysis here. The hate against the rich boomers which did profit from the rising housing prices (which other groups have to pay the profits and debts for) is also an economic distinction, but it isn’t just an economic distinction.
spoiler
Generations often have false consciousness which is influenced by their generation and shared experiences, intersecting with class positions. The feeling of superiority (which stemmed a bit from economic power and hegemony) of white boomers in the 70s/80s is one that you will more rarely find in millenials as example.
It is also a good shorthand “Ok, boomer” “when you worked without degree you could finance a house and a family of four with healthcare and holidays, since then the profits generated by porductivity gain didn’t land in the hands of the working class” is succinct and clear.
Marx himself did also talk about somewhat akin to generations when he talked about people who experienced some revolts first hand or second hand and how that changed them and their outlook. You of course can say “I don’t use generations” and it is good to take this stance at first to point to material conditions, especially when people try to do non-materialist talk, but I think there are uses. Not worth for me to do a struggle session about it, though.