I want to start this article off with a quote from Emma Roberts’ character from American Horror Story: Coven:
“I am a millennial. Generation Y; born between the birth of AIDS and 9/11, give or take. They call us the global generation. We are known for our entitlement and narcissism. Some say it’s because we’re the first generation where every kid gets a trophy just for showing up. Others think it’s because social media allows us to post when we fart or have a sandwich for all the world to see. But it seems our one defining trait is a numbness to the world. An indifference to suffering.”
If you haven’t heard it before, then you will hear it now: Our generation is selfish.
People born in the early 1980’s to 2000’s are considered Millennials. The Millennials also have two different names: Generation Y and the “Peter Pan Generation.” Millennials traits are being confident, team-oriented, conventional and pressured to succeed. There are endless amounts of words that describe a Millennial; however, according to TIME magazine, “71% of American adults think of 18-to 29-year-olds as ‘selfish’ and 65% of us [adult Americans] think of them as ‘entitled’.”
So, why is this generation considered selfish?
One believed response to this is that older generations are bitter and ignorant. Generations, such as the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers, did not have the opportunities or technology that we Millennials are dependent on. With the increase in jobs, opportunities, and technology, the average Millennial feels an abundance of pressure to succeed. This pressure leads to why we are the most stressed out generation.
What does a millennial have to be stressed about- they’re young, right?!
To answer to this question: a ton. Many people from generation Y come from a broken home. It gives us a skewed outlook on healthy relationships and marriage, which leaves us skeptical of trusting others. We end up relying heavily on the media, and often look to it as a form of guidance. This leads us with the pressure to look, act, perform, and think a certain way. Another stressor is finance–education expenses are increasing, and our generation is stressed out more with the cost of living. All of these are pressures and stressors promise that if we take these certain steps, we are guaranteed success.
Fun Fact! Did you know that the millennial generation is the most studied in the world?
1. As of October 2014, only about 26% (18-32 years old) of the worlds Millennial generation is married
2. We are the most educated generation ever. 23% of Millennials have a bachelor’s degree or higher
3. 38% of generation Y is bilingual, and we have a higher percentage of interracial marriage than ever
4. Millennials are hard workers that strive for purpose. 87% of Millennials consider a company’s commitment to social and environmental causes when deciding where to work.
What really makes us the “Peter Pan Generation” of the world?
Our generation has been considered the one generation that bypassed and delayed our rites of passage into adulthood. Instead, we focused on personal abilities and characteristics to prove ourselves. We were also the generation where social media and current events influenced our decisions and shaped us into informed and connected human beings. This has allowed us to be more open-minded and liberal on issues that happen because we are introduced to them frequently. In Aimee Groth’s article, “Why Millennials Will Be The Generation ‘To Save Us All,’” she states the reasons that separate us from the other generations. My personal favorite point is: they believe they can change the world. Inherently, Millennials know what they are capable, self-confident, and that the choices they make will lead to greatness. We will achieve greatness not just for our personal gain, but also for the entire world.
This article would have not been possible without these great sources:
http://time.com/3154186/millennials-selfish-entitled-helicopter-parenting/
http://growingleaders.com/blog/six-millennial-statistics-every-adult-know/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rose-kumar-md/millennials-stress_b_2766829.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials#Political_views_compared_to_other_generations