Lovin’ this Generation
September 26, 2008
Generation X is the generation born after the baby boomers. Born between the 1960s and 1980s, they are classified as the “downer” generation. Highest rates of suicide, homicides, and drug abuse paged over the X’s. But at the turn of the century came the Millennials or Generation Y. Born between 1982 and 1994, this generation it is characterized as apathetic, rude, lazy, and spoiled. Yet these harsh statements hold some truth. More than ever, children are more and more showered with anything tangible, or not.
This generation was part of the “self-esteem moment where [Generation Y] have been given rewards and awards for breathing,” said Sociology teacher Hugh Flanders. There is a sense of entitlement that is engraved in this generation. Yet characterizing this entire generation as a variant of “wild” is wrong. “When anyone characterizes a generation of youth, it’s obviously generalizing to an extreme degree,” said Flanders. History has shown that every new generation causes discomfort. Take in to account the flappers of the 1920s or radial hippies of the 1960s. Generation Y is no exception to the rule that teens shock elders.
Teenagers nowadays are so technologically wired. With cell phones, iPods, iTouch, and laptops as thin as paper, it seems that this generation has lost touch.
Despite all this, there is a lot to marvel about. In particular, this generation has a plethora of paradoxically driven characteristics. For as protected and “babied” Millennials may be, they have been growing up faster than any other generation. Millennials are classified as lazy, but it is a generation craving energy and spontaneity. Everyday there is talk on the news of how another teenager made a big impact on society. “I do think sometimes some kids are narcissistic, but then I see [Generation Y] kids involved in a lot more activities,” said Flanders. A part of this is because more community involvement is encouraged and available. Fortunately, there are problems in which Generation Y can show its strength and ability to solve a problem.
First off, the economy is an issue that will have to be addressed by Generation Y. In a recent survey carried out in a Pew Research Center, it showed that 81% of eighteen to twenty-five year olds identified that “getting rich” was their generation’s most important goal. The second was being famous, with 51S% agreeing. A part of a reason for this that this generation lives “in a time of economic and consumer uncertainty, so [Generation Y] more concerned with they’re own future” said Flanders. As of right now, a recession cannot be officially declared, but there is a characteristic of being in a recession-like state. Pensions by hundreds of companies will never been seen by workers. Through the years, the government has taken out of Social Security but never really put anything back. It’s running dry, and Millennials are the ones who will have to face this fate.
Then there is the issue of the environment. It is official that there is global warming, but whether people believe it is man made or natural does not matter. Problems such as oil spills in Lebanon, rainforests disappearing in the Amazon, or China’s industrialization causing health concern for citizens must be somehow stopped or possibly reversed. As the old generation fades away, the ingenuity of Generation Y will be left to make the world a physically better place to live in.
Lastly comes a pressing conundrum to the present world – globalization. Globalization is essentially the concept of the world becoming smaller, and ideas are made more worldwide. For example, as the world’s increasing industrialization spreads to china it is becoming a country of tremendous economic growth. With this comes the spread of ideas such as democracy. Currently, a war in Iraq is being fought to improve a country’s fledgling government. The U.S. is involved in about ten other countries to try and encourage a democratic government.
“I don’t think it is the question of ability,” said Flanders. “It’s a question of will power: do they want to do it?” Generation Y, like any generation, has a multitude of people with potential. “We have a lot of talent in this country that if they want to and are given the resources, I think we could solve those problems,” said Flanders. The negative generalization is, in many ways, false because “there are selfish, materialistic, narcissistic kids, but there have been in any generation” said Flanders. This generation has been left to solve the problems that the generation before it left behind or were unaware of.
By Christy Kim, Echo staff writer
