WHAT THEY SAY
If there was no pre-existing perception of Generation-Y there would be no need for this page, but that’s not the case. Generation-Y is being viewed as the most apathetic generation the world has ever seen. This is a generation that is more taken with their fancy iPhones and texting their friends than with forming relationships beyond a screen. In an article written for Time, Stanford University graduate Joel Stein, and Indiana University graduate Josh Sanburn write, “This is a generation that would have made Walt Whitman wonder if maybe they should try singing a song of someone else” (2). Stein and Sanburn are referring to the massive population of millennials who would rather play video games, double tap Instagram photos, and comment heart-emojis on Facebook statuses than give back to the world around them or contribute what they learn in school to making the world a better place; they have a point. Just consider these facts:
-San Diego State University psychology professors Jean M. Twenge and Elise C. Freeman, and University of Georgia psychology professor W. Keith Campbell report, Only 15.7% of American first-year college students that belong to Generation-Y wish to influence the political structure in society, and only 33.3% of these students envision themselves becoming a community leader"
What does this all mean? It means that we are placing the future of our world in the hands of teenagers that have little to no interest in cultivating positive change on a global-scale, and who have an even a smaller interest in making an impact on how society is governed. If only 33.3% of first-year college student millennials envision themselves becoming community leaders, who will we turn to when our world finally comes face to face with the daunting challenges that are establishing themselves as this essay is being written; challenges such as global warming, inequality, and an increased threat of terrorism? Those who came before Generation-Y are asking themselves the same question and given the statistics, the answer doesn’t seem entirely promising.
-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes that, "Nearly one million teens drank alcohol and got behind the wheel in 2011. High school teens drive after drinking 2.4 million times a month. 1 in 5 teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had some alcohol in their system in 2010, and most of these drivers (81%) had BACs higher than the legal limit for adults."
With statistics like these, who wouldn’t believe the millennials are reckless? It’s almost as if Generation-Y is out to cause trouble, making one poor decision after another and lacking any acknowledgement of the fact that their actions have real, and often harmful consequences that affect more people than just themselves. It’s this kind of carelessness that has earned the millennials such a bad reputation among older generations. Still not convinced that Generation-Y is as apathetic as many keep claiming they are?
-The National Institutes of Health reports, "The incidence of narcissistic personality disorder is nearly three times as high for people in their 20s as for the generation that’s now 65 or older."
What does this mean for Generation-Y—that is— a generation that grew up on reality t.v. shows that idolize narcissists, follow the lives of the rich and famous whose greatest accomplishments include the price tag of their designer bag and latest tabloid article, and are basically documentaries on the lives of the privileged, self-obsessed and apathetic?
It means that the millennials are more lazy, more self-absorbed, and more apathetic than those who came before them. It means they have a lot of work cut out for themselves in order to go from aspiring Kardashians to hopeful change-makers of the preconceived notions of generations who came before them. Pre-millennials are ultimately left with little room to believe other than that Generation-Y is “stunted,” “fame-obsessed,” and “selfish” (Stein and Sanburn 1-2) because they have yet to see otherwise.
-San Diego State University psychology professors Jean M. Twenge and Elise C. Freeman, and University of Georgia psychology professor W. Keith Campbell report, Only 15.7% of American first-year college students that belong to Generation-Y wish to influence the political structure in society, and only 33.3% of these students envision themselves becoming a community leader"
What does this all mean? It means that we are placing the future of our world in the hands of teenagers that have little to no interest in cultivating positive change on a global-scale, and who have an even a smaller interest in making an impact on how society is governed. If only 33.3% of first-year college student millennials envision themselves becoming community leaders, who will we turn to when our world finally comes face to face with the daunting challenges that are establishing themselves as this essay is being written; challenges such as global warming, inequality, and an increased threat of terrorism? Those who came before Generation-Y are asking themselves the same question and given the statistics, the answer doesn’t seem entirely promising.
-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes that, "Nearly one million teens drank alcohol and got behind the wheel in 2011. High school teens drive after drinking 2.4 million times a month. 1 in 5 teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had some alcohol in their system in 2010, and most of these drivers (81%) had BACs higher than the legal limit for adults."
With statistics like these, who wouldn’t believe the millennials are reckless? It’s almost as if Generation-Y is out to cause trouble, making one poor decision after another and lacking any acknowledgement of the fact that their actions have real, and often harmful consequences that affect more people than just themselves. It’s this kind of carelessness that has earned the millennials such a bad reputation among older generations. Still not convinced that Generation-Y is as apathetic as many keep claiming they are?
-The National Institutes of Health reports, "The incidence of narcissistic personality disorder is nearly three times as high for people in their 20s as for the generation that’s now 65 or older."
What does this mean for Generation-Y—that is— a generation that grew up on reality t.v. shows that idolize narcissists, follow the lives of the rich and famous whose greatest accomplishments include the price tag of their designer bag and latest tabloid article, and are basically documentaries on the lives of the privileged, self-obsessed and apathetic?
It means that the millennials are more lazy, more self-absorbed, and more apathetic than those who came before them. It means they have a lot of work cut out for themselves in order to go from aspiring Kardashians to hopeful change-makers of the preconceived notions of generations who came before them. Pre-millennials are ultimately left with little room to believe other than that Generation-Y is “stunted,” “fame-obsessed,” and “selfish” (Stein and Sanburn 1-2) because they have yet to see otherwise.
Guilty. *hair flip* "lol"
Wait... So wait why is the navigation for this page titled 'problem'? What's the problem?
How To Break Up: A short play
Nay-sayer: I mean come on! You just confirmed all my previously held beliefs about the terribleness of today's generation and it came from the essay of an angsty millennial herself!
The Millennial: We've had a good run, you and I... but it's over.
Nay-sayer (desperately screaming): Why can't we just not talk about the problems?!
The Millennial (turning the other cheek, a single tear drops to the floor): It's not me, it's you. Really. I'm just not ready for a serious relationship with someone who can't acknowledge why their negative generalizations, and stereo-typing is a problem.
Nay-sayer: I can change!!!
The Millennial: Okay but you're going to have to really listen and try not to JUDGE me just because I'm a teenager...
Nay-sayer: (it begins to pour) It wasn't over. It still isn't over.
The Millennial: K.
While it may be true that we are taken with our iPhones, hashtag and "Insta" everything we do, and occasionally overuse the word 'like' in everyday conversation (I'll admit, it's embarrassing amount); before you thank me for validating all your perceptions of my generation- YAY FINALLY A MILLENNIAL TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR GENERATION! THEIR WAYS!
I'm not done (#sorrynotsorry as my fellow Gen-Y-ers would say). The bigger problem here is not that we're young, (hey, remember, you were once one of those confused, wandering pubescent beings too! Ew. The word pubescent is just so gross). The problem is that we, as millennials, are being perceived in just one way when we are "projected to surpass the outsized Baby Boom generation as the nation's largest living generation according to the population projects released by the U.S. Census Bureau last month. Millennials are projected to number 75.3 million, surpassing the projected 74.9 million Boomers." That's right, the largest living generation. What does that mean? It means that the stereotypes and labels assigned to our generation are leaving a huge part of the population of millennials- the change-makers, doers, and dreamers- out of the picture. Oh, and that one big umbrella of judgment and criticism meant to keep everyone protected from society's torrential flood of diversity and individuality? Yeah, it's affecting how millennials respond in, and to the world.
Have you heard of this sociology "thing" called the Labeling Theory? Basically what the Labeling Theory asserts is that deviance results from an interpretation of behavior; it's an interactive nature with an emphasis on power to define meaning that what must be present is an expectation, a violation and a reaction. Is this making any sense? Let me give you an example. By labeling the millennials as "selfish," "entitled," "careless," "apathetic" and "lazy" older generations are essentially reinforcing a pretty negative expectation that the millennials are supposed to live up to. Sorry, the Michael Scott 'reverse psychology' trick isn't going to work here (please tell me you've seen the Office, that's a show I think we can all agree on). We're human beings, we listen to those wiser than us, and we've been raised to believe that those are the people older than us. The people older than us are telling us that we can get whatever we want at the snap of a finger- or maybe more accurately the swipe of our gold platinum credit card (is that a thing? IDK? Call a friend?)- and that we're apathetic and lazy... so while this may say more about the generation that raised us... (just saying)... lets get back to the problem at hand. Maybe the real problem isn't that all millennials are selfish, entitled, careless, apathetic, and lazy- maybe it's that people keep saying we are and so that's the exact guise we've taken on.
Okay okay. Get off your soap box, stop making excuses for your behavior and blaming your parents for who you are today. Get to the point. So what if I want to stereotype a generation based on the few up-to-no-good millennials I know and have encountered throughout the years?
What does it matter what I think about Generation-Y?
I'm glad you asked.
It matters because if adults keep labeling the millennials with words such as “lazy,” “entitled,” and “self-centered,” that may become the exact persona we take on. It matters because with every doubt placed on a teenager, we begin to question our own self-worth, often losing one of our greatest assets: our ability to dream big. It matters because many of those from foregoing generations act unconcerned with the well-being of Generation-Y. Many display an unwillingness to look at the millennials as an opportunity to create a better world together. Many are averse or too fearful to see that the greatest asset for the promise of a better future is held in the same teenager who cut them off in traffic, or doodled instead of taking notes in an important meeting (and really- are they any less guilty of either of those things? Where is their empathy?) It matters because if we want to create a better society, we need to start recognizing the worth and potential each other possesses, regardless of the difference in our age. It matters because we're not all the same and that's one of our generation's greatest strengths. Most importantly, it matters because Generation-Y isn’t who everyone keeps saying we are— we are defined not by our aptitude for taking photos of ourselves (although we’ve gotten pretty good at that), but rather, by the selflessness of our hearts— and it is time the world becomes aware of this side of the story.
I'm not done (#sorrynotsorry as my fellow Gen-Y-ers would say). The bigger problem here is not that we're young, (hey, remember, you were once one of those confused, wandering pubescent beings too! Ew. The word pubescent is just so gross). The problem is that we, as millennials, are being perceived in just one way when we are "projected to surpass the outsized Baby Boom generation as the nation's largest living generation according to the population projects released by the U.S. Census Bureau last month. Millennials are projected to number 75.3 million, surpassing the projected 74.9 million Boomers." That's right, the largest living generation. What does that mean? It means that the stereotypes and labels assigned to our generation are leaving a huge part of the population of millennials- the change-makers, doers, and dreamers- out of the picture. Oh, and that one big umbrella of judgment and criticism meant to keep everyone protected from society's torrential flood of diversity and individuality? Yeah, it's affecting how millennials respond in, and to the world.
Have you heard of this sociology "thing" called the Labeling Theory? Basically what the Labeling Theory asserts is that deviance results from an interpretation of behavior; it's an interactive nature with an emphasis on power to define meaning that what must be present is an expectation, a violation and a reaction. Is this making any sense? Let me give you an example. By labeling the millennials as "selfish," "entitled," "careless," "apathetic" and "lazy" older generations are essentially reinforcing a pretty negative expectation that the millennials are supposed to live up to. Sorry, the Michael Scott 'reverse psychology' trick isn't going to work here (please tell me you've seen the Office, that's a show I think we can all agree on). We're human beings, we listen to those wiser than us, and we've been raised to believe that those are the people older than us. The people older than us are telling us that we can get whatever we want at the snap of a finger- or maybe more accurately the swipe of our gold platinum credit card (is that a thing? IDK? Call a friend?)- and that we're apathetic and lazy... so while this may say more about the generation that raised us... (just saying)... lets get back to the problem at hand. Maybe the real problem isn't that all millennials are selfish, entitled, careless, apathetic, and lazy- maybe it's that people keep saying we are and so that's the exact guise we've taken on.
Okay okay. Get off your soap box, stop making excuses for your behavior and blaming your parents for who you are today. Get to the point. So what if I want to stereotype a generation based on the few up-to-no-good millennials I know and have encountered throughout the years?
What does it matter what I think about Generation-Y?
I'm glad you asked.
It matters because if adults keep labeling the millennials with words such as “lazy,” “entitled,” and “self-centered,” that may become the exact persona we take on. It matters because with every doubt placed on a teenager, we begin to question our own self-worth, often losing one of our greatest assets: our ability to dream big. It matters because many of those from foregoing generations act unconcerned with the well-being of Generation-Y. Many display an unwillingness to look at the millennials as an opportunity to create a better world together. Many are averse or too fearful to see that the greatest asset for the promise of a better future is held in the same teenager who cut them off in traffic, or doodled instead of taking notes in an important meeting (and really- are they any less guilty of either of those things? Where is their empathy?) It matters because if we want to create a better society, we need to start recognizing the worth and potential each other possesses, regardless of the difference in our age. It matters because we're not all the same and that's one of our generation's greatest strengths. Most importantly, it matters because Generation-Y isn’t who everyone keeps saying we are— we are defined not by our aptitude for taking photos of ourselves (although we’ve gotten pretty good at that), but rather, by the selflessness of our hearts— and it is time the world becomes aware of this side of the story.