"I was scrolling Reddit the other day and found something interesting in the /r/GenX subreddit about male breakfast clubs. That got me thinking about the movie The Breakfast Club (1985). I know it's a tad different, but nonetheless, what a perfect slice of GenX. The Breakfast Club, for those of you who might not know, was a GenX-defining movie about a ragtag group of high school students, who, for disparate reasons, had Saturday detention."
"Iconic for its depiction of the various personalities that defined a generation, not unlike Dazed and Confused (1993) did almost a decade later, The Breakfast Club stood as a middle finger in the face of authority and its "I don't give two shits about what you think, even if I get into trouble" attitude. I feel that swagger is sorely missing from our discourse, but that's a whole other post. The point is how the characters bonded over the shared space and experience."
GenX male friendship commonly depends on shared space repeated over time rather than formal plans or deep confessional talk. Regular rituals such as breakfast or coffee groups create a low-pressure environment where presence and routine sustain connection. Snark, ribbing, complaining, and playful teasing operate as social glue that signals familiarity, affection, and mutual recognition. Being seen, known, and quietly missed provides protection against male loneliness. Cultural touchstones and online threads reflect appreciation for these bonding patterns. When routines break apart because of relocation or life change, the loss of ordinary gatherings reveals a gap in men's social support.
Read at Psychology Today
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