Generation Me, an inspirational book written by Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. talked about today’s young Americans problems. Twenge did lots of research about young American lifestyles to determine their differences compared to “Boomers” – people born before 1970s. Twenge compared the results of personality tests given to “Boomers” when they are under 30, and today’s young American. This book is also based on films, magazines, newspapers, anecdotal stories from her and, others. Twenge argued that people born in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s called “Generation Me” or “GenMe” is a generation highly optimistic but, faces crushing realities. Young people put themselves above all which can lead individualism, self-focus, and self-esteem. Therefore, today’s young American experience several problems as an outcome of focus on the self.
Since GenMe’ers were born, they have been taught to put themselves first. Media, school programs, and movies have told GenMe that they are unique from toddler until high school. Thus, they tend to be overconfident about themselves. However, this condition is hugely different compared to Boomers; they were taught to introspect and be self-absorption. GenMe is more self-important and individualism. They conclude that they are more independent, so they do not think the deleterious effects of being self-importance.
Firstly, Generation Me raised to believe that everyone should have high individualism. The focus of individual need begins when Genme are children, even though before they born. Some parents spend lots of money to look for the best nursery to their children for creating a perfect room. Parents usually decorate the room by painting the wall with large letter of the baby’s name, which symbolizes individualism. S...
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...n developing countries, Generation Me becomes worldwide and the more young people against the family and group-oriented. Technologies and material things may make Generation Me’s life easier, but they do not seem to be happy. Comparing to our descendant’s life, we now face the confusing world of many tricky choices. Like the essay above, that advises can combat the negatives aspects of the generation trends. Young people must learn how to accept and understand other people rather than give priority to themselves.
Works Cited
Last Fashion Tendencies: March 2009." Insert Name of Site in Italics. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2011
Twenge, Jean M. Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable than Ever before. New York: Free, 2006. Print
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In today’s culture, the number of issues that the average person has to face on a daily basis, are astronomical. Millennials, in particular, have been greatly affected by this, so much so that a new phase in the human lifespan has been created just for them! Dubbed “emerging adulthood” by psychologist Jeffrey Arnett, plopped smack dab in the middle of adolescence, and adulthood, this phase captures any, and all doubts that 20-29 year olds are plagued with. From their economic standing, to racial, ethnic, and identity issues, and to disabilities ranging from both mental, and physical, this phase captures every single uncertainty, fear, and qualm that one person can possibly have in a neat little package.
The millennial generation is made up of people that were born from 1978-1999. People from older generations say the millennial generation people are growing up being unprepared for the real world. In an article titled “The Tethered Generation” written by Kathryn Tyler she talks about why the millennial generation is so different than any other generation. She also explains how they depend heavily on their parents well into adulthood. In this article Tyler allows the reader to see why HR professionals are worried about the millennial generation entering their work force. Using Toulmin’s schema the reader can judge the effectiveness of Tyler’s essay to the audience, and this schema is used to persuade the audience to
Stein starts the article, “I am about to do what old people have done throughout history: call those younger than me lazy, entitled, selfish and shallow” (28). He uses the negative words and tone that the older generations have used to describe Millennials for years to obtain the older generations’ attention. Toward the older generation, this article is written with data that can support what they have been preaching since Millennials were born, which lures his audience to continue to read. Therefore, leading readers to the purpose of the article and displaying why the world should believe in Millennials. Stein also balances his article well by utilizing his arguments that support and oppose the success of the millennials and order to mask his true message. However, in the beginning, Stein provides more information against the Millennials, engulfing the topic of “The New Greatest Generation: Why Millennials Will Save Us All,” wherein the second half he talks about himself and convey his opinions about the millennials.
In the article “It’s Not About You” by David Brooks, Brooks takes a different perspective on this current generation. Many of the past generation huff at the thought of the new age group. Brooks has an incredible, somewhat biased opinion relating to the new generation, which is not unusual since he is from the current generation. Brooks discusses and explores the idea that the current generation is expected to grow up, get educated, get married and then have children. Brooks speculates that the new generation will be less family-orientated and maybe more adventurous and more about just living life and getting to experience things. Overall, Brooks wrote something different from most stories regarding generations.
Since the newer generation receives never-ending backlashes from the older generations. Kingston provides multiple examples of young men and women from Generation Z as evidence to their endless potential with her argument being that, not only is Generation Z being critiqued at an early stage of their lives, but the power of youth intelligence is also being underestimated. The article begins with the glory of Generation Z, which allows her to critique generations such as the baby boomers, or Generation Y. She points out negative traits of the older generation while pointing out the positive in Gen Z. Each of these generations are then compared to each other to portray that each generation was raised in different environments, that they all have a different point of views on running the world. In this article, she dumbs down older gens by bringing up gen Z, however still maintaining the power of gen Y over them.
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
In the article "Hunting for Hope in Modern America," Jeffrey Bosworth says "you're screwed" to provide a negative view on the world and presents that things are becoming easier to do, rather than Millennials having to truly work for what they are getting. In this article, Bosworth implies that Millennials' sense of entitlement is their own fault due to the fact that many make excuses and just barely do enough to get themselves by. Similarly, in the article "Preparing Students for the New Reality," Donald S. Miller and Thomas E. Slocombe explain the extent of entitlement of Millennials by referring to them as "Generation Me." They reveal that "...many students are unconcerned [and] feel their qualifications are above average." At the same time that Miller and Slocombe are presenting that Millennials are entitled due to their idealistic expectations, Bosworth is displaying his same belief by showing different reasoning in how Millennials are coming up with excuses, proving their
America’s youth is struggling to find success because they are suffering from an economy that was severely damaged by the previous generation. In many instances older generations insist that the reason young people are struggling to survive and succeed in today's economy is because millennials and those belonging to Generation Z are lazy and do not want to work hard in order to achieve their dream, or it is that those youths feel as if they are entitled to success so they complain when they do not have opportunities and jobs handed to them. In reality, the lack of success for the youngest two generations does not have to do with an attitude problem, but rather with an economy that is struggling to survive due to the actions of previous generations. According to Hardin and lifeboats ethics, there is a large divide between the rich and the poor and there is not a solution to decreasing that divide that would result in the survival
Nearly 3.7 million American babies born in 1982 were the first members of the new Generation Y, or more affectionately known as millenials (Thompson, par. 1). Many things play into whether a generation is considered to be faring ‘better’ than another one; job opportunities, the state of the environment, whether the U.S. is at peace or at war, income vs. living expenses, the general happiness of the people, and the list goes on. Millenials are part of a special generation because for decades, “The American Dream” has included the belief that the future generation will fare better than the present one; however, millenials are not projected to fare better than the present generation X for many reasons.
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.
He takes a strong stance and effectively discusses the impact of failed parenting techniques, the brutal destruction being caused by technology addiction, the impatience that acts as a giant hurdle and the negativity workplace environments have on millennials. Furthermore, Sinek is able to successfully get this message across to the audience with the frequent use of sarcasm. The sarcastic comments allow him to engage the audience through humour while targeting important issues with a strong opinion and voice. Furthermore, sarcasm helps the audience reflect upon what they are doing wrong and consider taking action to fix their mistakes, making it very effective. Thus, Sinek’s accurate representation of millennials is important to take into account when dealing with this struggling generation and raising a new generation. Otherwise, if these four factors persist within our society, our future generations will have to pay the
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.