The Story of a Generation : Life Course Pathways of the Class of '73

This book presents the longest-running Canadian generational study of its kind, tracking nearly 50 years in the lives of a high school cohort from 1973.

The Story of a Generation, a follow-up to Opportunity and Uncertainty: Life Course Experiences of the Class of ’73 (2000), continues where its predecessor left off. Through surveys and in-depth interviews with a high school class that graduated in 1973, the researchers uncover how these individuals – part of the late baby boomer generation – navigated a rapidly changing world.
Through this process, some patterns emerged: parents’ education played a defining role in shaping their children’s futures, while technology revolutionized workplaces and homes. Gender roles shifted, with spouses sharing domestic duties – though not yet equally. And as they aged, this generation found themselves at the forefront of redefining retirement, balancing longer lives with evolving financial and social expectations.
Beyond personal stories, The Story of a Generation offers a deeper understanding of how broader social forces – economic shifts, cultural changes, and technological advancements – interacted with individual choices. It’s more than just a study of one group of Canadians; it’s a reflection on how societies transform and how people adapt along the way. For anyone interested in sociology, history, or the human experience, this book provides a rare, intimate look at the passage of time – and the stories we leave behind.