Yuppie vs. Hippie — What's the Difference?

Economic focus.

Peace and love advocates.

Career-driven.

Communal living.

Technology enthusiasts.

Social activists.

Material wealth.

Sustainability champions.

Urban lifestyle.

Countercultural.

Yuppie, short for "young urban professional" or "young upwardly-mobile professional", is a term coined in the early 1980s for a young professional person working in a city. The term is first attested in 1980, when it was used as a fairly neutral demographic label, but by the mid-to-late 1980s, when a "yuppie backlash" developed due to concerns over issues such as gentrification, some writers began using the term pejoratively.

A hippie, also spelled as hippy, is a member of the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The word hippie came from hipster and was used to describe beatniks who moved into New York City's Greenwich Village, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, and Chicago's Old Town community.

A fashionable young middle-class person with a well-paid job

(1950s slang) A teenager who imitated the beatniks.

A young city or suburban resident with a well-paid professional job and an affluent lifestyle.

Someone who dresses in a hippie style.

A young upwardly mobile urban professional person with an affluent lifestyle.

One who is hip.

A young upwardly mobile professional person; someone under 40 who prospered during the 1980s

Of or pertaining to hippies.

Not conforming to generally accepted standards.

Someone who rejects the established culture, dresses casually, and advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle. Used especially of those in the late 1960's, mostly in their late teens and early twenties, who conspicuously rejected traditional culture by dressing casually, if male wore their hair long, and wore folksy or used clothing adorned with beads, headbands, and often flowers; they emphasized the importance of love and direct personal relations rather than success-oriented businesslike behavior, strove for spontaneity, sometimes lived communally, and in some cases tried to expand their consciousness by various psychological techniques such as meditation, or through the use of consciousness-altering drugs such as marijuana or LSD. By the end of the Vietnam war in the 1970's, the numbers of people living a visibly hippie lifestyle had dramatically decreased, though some people continue to develop similar views and live with the same outlook.

Someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

A yuppie is defined by a focus on career advancement, material success, and a preference for an upscale, urban lifestyle.

Hippies are associated with anti-war protests, environmentalism, and social justice movements.

While they represent contrasting values and lifestyles, individuals from both groups can coexist within a diverse society, each contributing in their own way to cultural and economic dynamics.

Hippies value peace, love, communal living, and an alternative lifestyle that emphasizes simplicity and environmental sustainability.

Yuppies view success in terms of career achievements and material accumulation, while hippies see success as living in harmony with nature and their community.

Hippies rejected mainstream society due to disillusionment with materialism, war, and environmental degradation, seeking a more meaningful and sustainable way of life.

Folk, rock, and psychedelic music are closely associated with the hippie movement, reflecting their values and lifestyle.

While the terms have evolved, modern equivalents can be seen in tech entrepreneurs and eco-conscious lifestyle advocates, reflecting contemporary expressions of similar values and priorities.

Yuppies contributed to economic growth through their high earnings and consumer spending, particularly in technology, real estate, and luxury goods.

The rise of yuppie culture was fueled by economic prosperity in the 1980s, technological advancements, and an increasing emphasis on personal wealth and status.