There is absolutely no façade that can possibly cover the fact that millennials have a strange way of expressing their emotions. Posting a “deep” quote on VSCO or retweeting a sentiment from an account with “feels” or “vibes” in the handle is considered the pinnacle of emotional expression and frequently reveals so much more about our inner workings than what we choose to share in person. To anyone outside of the 18-30 age group, this way of communicating how we feel is bizarre and, in some cases, too much information to share on social media.
We’re so often confronted with the question of “why would you post that?” from the older people in our lives, or “who is this about?” from our friends. It is these questions that trigger an explanation of our emotions, but without prompting we definitely refrain from being open about our feelings. The primary reason why is centered around the stigma that men and women who openly express their emotions are “soft” or “dramatic.” This omnipresent stigma prevents millennials from being transparent with their friends and relatives, frequently forcing us to overlook some of the most inherent feelings that we possess out of the fear that we won’t be taken seriously or our vulnerability will be capitalized upon. The ignoring of feelings and lack of conversations about how we feel contribute to a generally cold and unfriendly twentysomething population.
Don’t get me wrong, being closed off and choosing to remain private about your feelings is nothing to ever be ashamed of. As someone who has been called out for “lacking emotion,” though, it has forced me to examine the stigma more closely. Personally, I prefer to keep my feelings to myself, as I have a natural fear that my confessions and emotions will be shared with the wrong people. My own inclinations don’t prevent me from listening and attempting to empathize when my friends or family members want to vent, though. Everyone has their own methods of coping and, in some cases, being completely open is what is most therapeutic. Stigmatizing this desire to share one’s most raw emotions does very little beyond placing those we care about in a position that is both uncomfortable and impertinent.
Despite the fact that being “cold hearted” or not caring about anything besides “guac and like three people” may be what’s trendy, being open and honest about our feelings will certainly outlast the passing kitsch of disregarding our emotions for the sake of seeming coolly aloof.