Generation Y Not
Generation Y, more commonly referred to as the “millennials”, is today’s group of young people. Similar to other generations, each cohort is labeled with unique characteristics and inevitably faces adversities while taking its place in society. Many American’s today debate their views on the youngster generation, but none the less all sides can agree the discussion has become a hot topic. Catherin Rampell creates an open discussion in her article, A Generation of Slackers? Not So Much, addressing the main issue: Are millennials a generation of slackers. I feel strongly that my views align with Rampell’s, in believing my generation has already begun to show its capability of doing great things. Through analysis of the text and my own personal experience I am able to dispute the opposition towards my generation as well as, express the positive relationship of millennials in
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Studies show that opposed to popular opinion, community service has increased and looks to continue that way. The data shows Generation Y and their amount of charitable giving. “Between 1989 and 2006, the share of teenagers who were volunteering doubled, to 26.4 percent from 13.4 percent, according to a report by the Corporation for National and Community Service”. Also, “incoming college freshmen who say they plan to volunteer is at a record high” (11). I think anyone would agree that the rise in community service combats the degrading stereotype placed on the younger generation. As a former social chair of a sorority I can say that I spent a large amount of time doing philanthropic work with multiple organizations including Girls on the Run, Special Olympics, and town cleanups. I believe that millennials bring a new spirit of togetherness that everyone could take away from. With teamwork a common goal of unity and stability is being created amongst the new
Since both authors can relate to both age groups, they have written this article to describe the reasons behind Gen Y’s characteristics and allow older generations a chance to understand their younger counterparts. The article is written not towards Gen Y but instead is written for their critics. Since the article allows readers inside the lives of Gen Y members, it is directed at people who do not already understand this generation and all it has to offer to the world. The authors’ knowledge of the criticisms that Gen Y faces allows them to portray their purpose to intended audiences. They do all of this while remaining mindful of older generations that work full time and live busy lives by breaking the article up with headings and subheadings that allow readers to read only sections at a
It is very hard to tell from the article whether or not Matchar truly believes what is written in support of millennials. Perhaps it is a parody of the earlier generations to say “Be selfish, Gen Y! Be entitled!” (235), but she seems to contradict her earlier statements. The constant repetition that millennials are lazy, unwilling to work, etc paints a bleak picture of their futures for the whole world. Millennials are often portrayed as spoiled rich people who still rely heavily on their parents for everything. This makes them seem childish, and Matchar’s questionable usage of these terms nonetheless is an obvious jab at the poster minority. Millennials overall are hard working and put under more stress than their predecessors, and the ridicule they endure for their work is uncalled for. Therefore, the thesis’s major flaw almost entirely overshadows its main
Not only Millennials are finding ways to improve their own social life and interactions, Millennials are genuinely helping others around them. In an educational argument called "Millennials Don't Stand a Chance", Millennial writer David Bernstein says that " 75% of millennials have given to charity" and "...an overwhelming majority of people in this generation actually say they would take a job that pays them less money if they could have more impact in that work. " Millennials at my high school are all about giving back to others through community service and going out of their own comfort zones in order to impact more people and make a difference. In the same educational argument, Millennial Jessica Grosse says "And the percentage of college freshman believing that it's essential or for very important to help people in need is
“A Generation of Slackers? Not So Much” written by Catherine Rampell is an informative article about today’s millennial generation after high school. It provides the reader with a deeper look into young people’s work ethic, or what some to think to be, lack-there-of. The author does a fantastic job using research, credible resources, and statistics to support her belief that Generation Y (children born in the 1980s and 1990s) is no less productive than previous generations. I will admit that before reading this piece, I was one of those who believed that Millennials were in fact the “coddled, disrespectful and narcissistic generation” (Rampell, 2011, para 3). After reading this article, my opinion has changed. It has touched on issues
Millennials are accused of being tough to manage, behaving entitled, unfocused, lazy, narcissistic; however, they seek to have a purpose that they love and make an impact. Yet, the more they receive, they are not happy. Sinek jokingly states that they could be offered “free food and bean bags, because that is what they want, and they will still not be happy.” According to Sinek, there is a missing piece for millennials, furthermore, he goes on to say there are four characteristics that make millennials the way they are, “parenting, technology, impatience, and environment.” (2016).
This spoiled generation has hit a wall called life and is currently trying to find a way to get over it. The workplace has been a brutal environment for generations now. The millennials, also known as Generation Y, are not the first generation to want change in the workplace, but they are the first ones to be brave enough to step up and place their demands over their own job. The millennials shouldn’t be criticized, they should be admired by every other worker in the workplace. Matchar supports the addition of millennials, but added negative connotation in her article about them.
In Catherine Rampell’s article, “A Generation of Slackers? Not So Much,” the idea of the younger generation, known as Generation Y or Millennials thought of as lackadaisical and indolent by older generations has been quashed by Rampell’s explanations of the differing behaviors and ideas held by these two generations, causing a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of productivity. The era of computers has especially been a major cause of such a rift, specifically the dependence on technology of which has contributed to the growth of synergistic and collaborative dispositions amongst the younger generations- behaviors once thought of as ineffectual in the workplace.
Those born between the years of 1982 and 2004, became known as The Millennials, however, this generation has been redefining traditional standards set by previous generations. By this generation's standards, they want to achieve higher education and travel, things that will set them back financially which has been made as a point to their change in the expected time for adulthood. One that is willing the delay the previous generation's’ dream of marriage and family to reach their more modern take on the American Dream. Millennials have many differences from them and previous generations, they were able to look more towards “who they were” than “what needs to get done”.
When the Baby Boomer generation was questioned about the newer generation, these words and phrases was often used: “slacker”, “lazy”, “has it easy”, “entitled”, “obsessed with their phones/internet/games” and “antisocial”. On the other hand, Millennials (or Generation Y) would say this about their older counterpart: “entitled”, “ruined it for those who followed”, “had it easier”, “narcissists”, “stubborn”, and “materialistic”. The reason for why the elders would see it that way is because they had to live without the quick solutions that teens have nowadays. This “elders bashing on the newer generation” isn’t uncommon, as seen by what was recovered from Aristotle’s and Plato’s time (Rampell 389). For Millennials, some of their tension comes from the fact that they will be the first generation earning less than previous generation for the same amount of work (Roos). Not only that, but the prices for land property, and college education, which is needed in many jobs nowadays, has skyrocketed compared to their parent’s and grandparent’s. Due to this wealth gap, it sparked a lot of tension between the generations, and this can be seen in smaller environments, such as in the
Blaising, Craig A., Kenneth L. Gentry, and Robert B. Strimple. Three Views On the Millennial and Beyond. Counterpoints. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.
In Millennials Rising, the authors found that “For teenagers, “community service” came to mean punishment for drunk drivers and Breakfast Club miscreants.” (p. 75) Because community service was marked as a punishment, it was seen as one every time serving was required. Many prisoners have to do service based on their crime, giving teens the impression that they are being treated as criminals every time they are doing mandatory service, adding to a negative attitude. However many people say that doing service makes teens a better person. This is seen in Dalton High School’s Community Service Mission Statement where it gives reasons for serving like “When an individual goes out in the world and interacts with other people in the spirit of bettering, that individual makes a contribution and will feel a sense of accomplishment.
...e in youth volunteers. Again those facts are genuine but invalid as evidence. An increase in teens volunteering is not necessarily the result of technology spreading knowledge. Peer pressure is far greater then before the digital era, because students are now in constant contact with their peers. As a result, trends are very easily spread. More competitive higher education also mandates community volunteer work as an unwritten perquisite for popular universities, which peer pressure forces students towards. As a teenager myself, I know many people that put up the facade of doing environmental volunteer work to help the environment. But upon asking them any in-depth question regarding why they are helping, their facade falls apart and they end up parroting off the goals of their organization. They volunteer because they are silently forced to, not because they want to.
For example, students that volunteered, or participated in a community service organization are sometimes genuine out of empathy to others. This can be supported by altruism, which involves helping others for unselfish reasons (Lilienfeld, 2014, p. 517). According to the article “Volunteering/Community Service”, the author stated, “young people who volunteered for environmental organizations generally did so to help other people (52%)”. This demonstrates the concept of altruism because young volunteers did it out of unselfish interests and that they did so to help others. The article continues to describe strategies that can be utilize to increase the number of young people to volunteer essentially reaching out to them, showing them role models, and discussing the experiences of volunteering with them. Also, students engage in volunteer work can be due to situational influences. They are more likely to help in community service when they have spare time than when their schedule is
In his May 2013 editorial for Time Magazine, “Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation,” Joel Stein explains his viewpoint on millennials, defined as people born 1980 through 2000. Using an occasionally humorous tone, Stein summarizes the typical bleak view that older people have for the younger generation, before offering what he believes is closer to the truth. In the end, he decides that while millennials are not without their flaws and vices, a lot of the fears that older people are mostly due to the advanced technology that we are now dealing with. By the end of the article, it is my opinion that Stein makes a very fair summarization and is correct in his idea that to write off the entire generation is unfair towards younger people.
Its a very useful, promising, and beneficial experience that every teen should want to be a part of. Volunteering gives people a sense of fulfilment, and the joy of knowing that so many people need help and being able to be that person to render those services makes a better person. Community service should not be a burden for any teenager, but a special gift being given to the community by a special individual. Community service should be a mandatory high school graduation requirement because it builds ones character, limits the rate of teenage delinquency, and establishes a path for a better future as an individual.