When considering notions of tradition and modernity, I suppose one has to start somewhere. Therefore, let me provide that proverbial somewhere. It's either "now" or "then" and for the sake of beginning close to the familiar, let us start with where we are now, what we know about ourselves and the generation that we are.
The following is a link to a pamphlet published by Deloitte Consulting, outlining the characteristics of "the Millenials," as our generation is called. Other names include Generation Y, the Digital Generation, the i Generation, and the Net Generation. A generation considered as "digital residents" who have enjoyed the luxuries of digital technology from a young age.
"Although they are better educated, more techno-savvy, and quicker to adapt than those who have come before them, they refuse to blindly conform to traditional standards and time-honored institutions. Instead, they boldly ask 'Why?'" says Eric Chester from his article, "Employing Generation Why?"
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_consulting_millennialfactsheet_080606.pdf
This is the launch point. Read and consider...
Who are we? Is this really who we are? Or does this only represent a select portion of our generation? Does it favor any particular section of society? Any particular group with a certain socio-economic status? Does this only describe American youth or does it encompass our generational counterparts in other countries, particularly Japan?
4 comments:
Defining a generation is a process which is incredibly difficult. To wrap 75 million individuals into one, all-encompassing set of attitudes and methods is nearly impossible. That said, I see a lot of myself in this pamphlet.
What I am unsure of is how well the rest of my generation fits into this pamphlet. One conspicuously absent thought pertaining to millenials which I come across often in my research is the selfishness involved in these characteristics. Independence and impatience particularly breed selfishness.
Moving into examples from within my own life I know that I expect respect from those that I work with. I refuse to take on tasks which I see no purpose in- busy work, as it were. I can be brutally honest with people at times (and often have to check myself to make sure I am not). I dislike slow, inefficient processes or unnecessary meetings. I have spent the last year of my life incredibly frustrated by the positions I work in which require me to sacrifice efficiency because they say so.
But does this really define our generation? I am not so sure. I spent last summer orienting new students to our university and I fully understand what the pamphlet means when it claims "unprecedented parental supervision." We have a name for those parents: "helicopter parents," and we don't appreciate them. Personally, I was lucky to not have helicopter parents. But such helicopter parents seem at odds with the otherwise independent, free-thinking nature of the Millenials. Is it possible that this pamphlet is describing two sides of the same coin in one piece? Is it possible for these two types to coexist in a professional and personal sense? Who do you surround yourself with? Other high achieving Millenials? Or something different?
On that same line I am unable to contemplate how I would have been in a less well-off family. I was extremely catered to--some might say spoiled. I have never been denied a pleasure on this Earth by my parents. At 18 years old, however; I provide my own funds to college, my own funds for housing, my own funds for living expenses, and none of it at a cost to my education. Am I one of the lucky ones? It's a tricky question.
I look forward hearing the thoughts of our Japanese counterparts as I must confess that I am entirely un-knowing in this regard.
I found this interesting article about GenX and the trouble they have with working in a corporate environment. It touches a bit on GenY as well. Give it a read if you get the chance!
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2008/ca20080515_250308.htm
Just copy and paste that link below and it should work... If not try this:
I found this interesting article about GenX and the trouble they have with working in a corporate environment. It touches a bit on GenY as well. Give it a read if you get the chance!
http://www.businessweek.com/managin
g/content/may2008/ca20080515_250308
.htm
Nice work, Jon-Michael! I'll post this next. Quite interesting, when considering generational interactions. We shouldn't only consider our own generation, but the generation previous. It might just reflect what will happen sometime down the road when we ourselves have been in the workforce for a greater number of years. Time, technology, and information move fast. Seeing what (in the writers opinion) the generation X-ers are going through can help us understand the challenges we currently face and what challenges we will see in the future. I like this article in that it touches on the socioeconomic situation of generation x whent they were our age and how it might affect their way of thinking- generally speaking of course.
Also- you mentioned the selfishness of the millenials. I'm so sure I found on article on that a few months ago. I'll try to find it again for you.
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