Sukupolku

Sukupolku is a Finnish term that refers to a generation or a line of descent. In everyday language it denotes a group of people born and living roughly at the same time, whose shared experiences shape common attitudes, values, and life patterns. In sociological and demographical research, a generation is typically defined by birth-year ranges that span about 20 to 30 years, although the exact window varies by study and context.

The concept is used to analyze how social, economic, and cultural conditions influence the behavior and outlook of different age cohorts over time. Researchers examine similarities within a generation and differences between generations, and they consider how historical events—such as wars, economic cycles, or technological change—leave lasting effects on attitudes toward work, family, and politics.

In Finnish, sukupolku can also denote a line of descent within a family, essentially a segment of a genealogy from one generation to the next. The term is related to, but not always interchangeable with, sukupolvi, the more common everyday word for generation in many contexts. Limitations of the concept include vague boundaries between generations and the risk of stereotyping, since individuals born in the same period may have diverse experiences and paths.

See also: sukupolvi; generational cohort; genealogy.