Entitlement Part 1.
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Generation Y gets a reputation for feeling entitled. Entitlement can be defined as the feeling one has that they have the right to something - that society owes them something. In the case of Millennials, critics have pointed to them feeling as if society owes them everything.
A study conducted by psychology professor Sean Lyons at the University of Guelph found that Millennials are more entitled when it comes to their careers than previous generations. The study turns to a common trend already occurring in the education system, where Generation Y students have pushed their teachers for mark increases, even though the work they are doing is not worth the mark increase. Although the switch from an advanced teaching system to a progressive one has somewhat destroyed the student/teacher barrier in that it allows for the challenging of viewpoints, it has also, in turn, given Millennials the belief that their teachers will go out of their way to accommodate the desires of the student. This new trend has led to Generation Y being entitled in the workplace. Professor Lyons reports that Millennials feel that they do not have to put in the same work ethic and sacrifices as previous generations. They feel as if they are the ones who are in high demand and that the company is the customer. Although they do have a lot to offer, Lyons finds that Generation Y thinks they are entitled to a promotion after the completion of a large task.
Ipsos-reid has an explanation for this entitlement of promotion behaviour. Seeing as Millennials are 'Digital Natives', they have grown up in a culture where video games and TV fill up the lives of many around them. Ipsos-reid finds that Millennials treat the workplace as a video game; where the progress they have made is similar to that of the different levels of a video game. Millennials expect to move from one level to the next (i.e be promoted) after they complete tasks at work because in video games once they have completed a task, they are promoted to a harder, more prestigious level.
What's interesting about video games is that we often fail in order to succeed. This gives Generation Y the belief that they will always have 'another life' when doing work. The idea of 'another life' explains Millennials' mentality at school in that they believe they can breeze through modestly (even fail some components of a course) and still do well in school. Millennials will also believe that they are entitled to 'another life' (or a 'second chance'), as a result.
You're of the Mature generation. Would you say that your generation ever felt 'entitled'?
"You never, ever felt entitled. You wouldn't have dreamed not getting a job and living in your parents' basement. We all knew we had to work very hard for what we got. You were promoted by merit alone. It wasn't until Generation X that we had universal health care. We didn't take anything for granted." - Barbara
Perhaps the other difference is with Millennials' university degrees - they may be too specific. Back in the 1950's, the majority of people applying for jobs had high school diplomas and were entering the workforce where the authoritarian system of education was used - treat everyone like a clean slate.
So, it may be true that Generation Y feels entitled, but who's fault is it? After all, it was these previous generations that raised Millennials.
What was your life like when you were Generation Y's age?
"We didn't have a lot of toys. Board games were huge - we had a cupboard full of those. My family got a TV when I was five years old. We would watch that together as a family in the evening and my parents picked what we watched." - Karen (Baby Boomer)
"There was no money for luxuries such as dining out, travel, toys and excess clothing. There was no television until the 1950's. Nothing was handed to us. We bought our own cars, houses, etc." - Barbara (Mature)
A study conducted by psychology professor Sean Lyons at the University of Guelph found that Millennials are more entitled when it comes to their careers than previous generations. The study turns to a common trend already occurring in the education system, where Generation Y students have pushed their teachers for mark increases, even though the work they are doing is not worth the mark increase. Although the switch from an advanced teaching system to a progressive one has somewhat destroyed the student/teacher barrier in that it allows for the challenging of viewpoints, it has also, in turn, given Millennials the belief that their teachers will go out of their way to accommodate the desires of the student. This new trend has led to Generation Y being entitled in the workplace. Professor Lyons reports that Millennials feel that they do not have to put in the same work ethic and sacrifices as previous generations. They feel as if they are the ones who are in high demand and that the company is the customer. Although they do have a lot to offer, Lyons finds that Generation Y thinks they are entitled to a promotion after the completion of a large task.
Ipsos-reid has an explanation for this entitlement of promotion behaviour. Seeing as Millennials are 'Digital Natives', they have grown up in a culture where video games and TV fill up the lives of many around them. Ipsos-reid finds that Millennials treat the workplace as a video game; where the progress they have made is similar to that of the different levels of a video game. Millennials expect to move from one level to the next (i.e be promoted) after they complete tasks at work because in video games once they have completed a task, they are promoted to a harder, more prestigious level.
What's interesting about video games is that we often fail in order to succeed. This gives Generation Y the belief that they will always have 'another life' when doing work. The idea of 'another life' explains Millennials' mentality at school in that they believe they can breeze through modestly (even fail some components of a course) and still do well in school. Millennials will also believe that they are entitled to 'another life' (or a 'second chance'), as a result.
You're of the Mature generation. Would you say that your generation ever felt 'entitled'?
"You never, ever felt entitled. You wouldn't have dreamed not getting a job and living in your parents' basement. We all knew we had to work very hard for what we got. You were promoted by merit alone. It wasn't until Generation X that we had universal health care. We didn't take anything for granted." - Barbara
Perhaps the other difference is with Millennials' university degrees - they may be too specific. Back in the 1950's, the majority of people applying for jobs had high school diplomas and were entering the workforce where the authoritarian system of education was used - treat everyone like a clean slate.
So, it may be true that Generation Y feels entitled, but who's fault is it? After all, it was these previous generations that raised Millennials.
What was your life like when you were Generation Y's age?
"We didn't have a lot of toys. Board games were huge - we had a cupboard full of those. My family got a TV when I was five years old. We would watch that together as a family in the evening and my parents picked what we watched." - Karen (Baby Boomer)
"There was no money for luxuries such as dining out, travel, toys and excess clothing. There was no television until the 1950's. Nothing was handed to us. We bought our own cars, houses, etc." - Barbara (Mature)
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Both the Baby Boomers and the Matures grew up with very little compared to the excess luxury goods that Generation Y has today. But it is perhaps because of these generations and their desire to make their children's lives better than their own that has led to this entitlement among Millennials. During the Baby Boomers generation, the lives of family, society and the very infrastructure (i.e. roads, buildings, schools, etc.) of cities were built around the children. Through the latter half of the 20th Century, the Vietnam war and the cold war were ending - bringing optimism - the advancement of unions created more job security and universal health care and welfare programs were established. Not to mention the considerable advances in technology! Generation Y was born with these luxuries already in place. The reason they feel this sense of entitlement is because they have taken these advances for granted. Unlike previous generations, Generation Y has never been conscripted for war, had to ration food, had to worry about the threat of a nuclear war or catching a disease and not having the capability to receive treatment. Not to mention that they now have 'helicopter parents' who care for them with an intensity never before seen. So, yes, Generation Y does feel entitled, but it is not their fault. It is the previous generations, who made the advances to the point that Generation Y didn't know of a worse time, and the Millennials' parents, who intensely care about their success and are willing to give them anything because it is a 'good investment', who are at fault.
This mentality of caring for your children right up until they are adults has translated into the competitive world. With globalization, students around the world are applying for universities/colleges and for jobs. Because both markets are highly competitive, students and those looking for work are going to seek competitive advantage through personal differentiation (i.e. high grades, work experience, extra curricular, etc.). Because students don't have life experience dealing with competitive advantage, they will call upon their parents to help. Subsequently, the parents will help Millennials not only pass, but success by helping them with homework, hiring tutors or even going as far as to get them a job working at the parent's company or through other connections, even though the Millennial may not have the proper qualifications. As a result, Millennials have to worry about rarity hitting them. This entitlement they have through everyone helping them is actually in many ways hurting them. Such is the case with school grades. By intensely helping their children achieve higher marks, the Millennials grades may end up inflated. Come the time for post-secondary education, where the parents may not be intensely involved, the Millennial may find himself/herself to be ill prepared as he/she may end up being too reliant on his 'helicopter parents' for the critical thinking and work ethic involved.
Karen, the Baby Boomer, lives in the Atlanta, Georgia, USA and notes that parents are so concerned with their child having competitive advantage that they are going to great lengths to make this happen. This once again enforces the entitlement the Millennial feels he or she deserves:
"I saw an article in the New York Times that discussed how kids are now applying to dozens of schools to increase their chances of getting in. How crazy! In my generation we applied to three to five schools, and if your marks were decent, you got in. I also find there is a cultural difference between American and Canadian Baby Boomer parents. American parents are extremely anxious about the future of their children (getting into college etc.) whereas Canadian parents are concerned but not maniacal. American parents are putting their kids in SAT prep in grade 9, if not before. In addition, after school tutoring is a huge business and is not just for kids that are struggling, but also for kids that are doing extremely well."
Karen brings up an interesting point when it comes to the function of the tutor. Before, the function of the tutor was to help those who were struggling academically learn the material in order to be able to apply it. Today, the function of the tutor is also to help those excelling academically, keep up their grades. The parents are paying for the tutor (not cheap either) and are giving it to the child to learn. This further reinforces the feeling of entitlement in that the Millennials feel society owes them something. The Millennials make no personal sacrifice in order to get a tutor, which in theory, gets them higher grades. The only sacrifice they make is their time, but this is a sacrifice they are willing to make in order to gain competitive advantage.
Research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found Generation Y to be less racist, less sexist, less prejudicial and overall more accepting than previous generations. This is a definitive positive for Generation Y. What the study finds, however, is that it has also created a sense of individualism among Millennials. Just because Generation Y is more tolerant, doesn't mean it will be more empathetic towards others. This reinforced sense of individualism further supports Millennial entitlement as it lowers the empathetic levels towards others and raises the individual want/need levels.
This mentality of caring for your children right up until they are adults has translated into the competitive world. With globalization, students around the world are applying for universities/colleges and for jobs. Because both markets are highly competitive, students and those looking for work are going to seek competitive advantage through personal differentiation (i.e. high grades, work experience, extra curricular, etc.). Because students don't have life experience dealing with competitive advantage, they will call upon their parents to help. Subsequently, the parents will help Millennials not only pass, but success by helping them with homework, hiring tutors or even going as far as to get them a job working at the parent's company or through other connections, even though the Millennial may not have the proper qualifications. As a result, Millennials have to worry about rarity hitting them. This entitlement they have through everyone helping them is actually in many ways hurting them. Such is the case with school grades. By intensely helping their children achieve higher marks, the Millennials grades may end up inflated. Come the time for post-secondary education, where the parents may not be intensely involved, the Millennial may find himself/herself to be ill prepared as he/she may end up being too reliant on his 'helicopter parents' for the critical thinking and work ethic involved.
Karen, the Baby Boomer, lives in the Atlanta, Georgia, USA and notes that parents are so concerned with their child having competitive advantage that they are going to great lengths to make this happen. This once again enforces the entitlement the Millennial feels he or she deserves:
"I saw an article in the New York Times that discussed how kids are now applying to dozens of schools to increase their chances of getting in. How crazy! In my generation we applied to three to five schools, and if your marks were decent, you got in. I also find there is a cultural difference between American and Canadian Baby Boomer parents. American parents are extremely anxious about the future of their children (getting into college etc.) whereas Canadian parents are concerned but not maniacal. American parents are putting their kids in SAT prep in grade 9, if not before. In addition, after school tutoring is a huge business and is not just for kids that are struggling, but also for kids that are doing extremely well."
Karen brings up an interesting point when it comes to the function of the tutor. Before, the function of the tutor was to help those who were struggling academically learn the material in order to be able to apply it. Today, the function of the tutor is also to help those excelling academically, keep up their grades. The parents are paying for the tutor (not cheap either) and are giving it to the child to learn. This further reinforces the feeling of entitlement in that the Millennials feel society owes them something. The Millennials make no personal sacrifice in order to get a tutor, which in theory, gets them higher grades. The only sacrifice they make is their time, but this is a sacrifice they are willing to make in order to gain competitive advantage.
Research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found Generation Y to be less racist, less sexist, less prejudicial and overall more accepting than previous generations. This is a definitive positive for Generation Y. What the study finds, however, is that it has also created a sense of individualism among Millennials. Just because Generation Y is more tolerant, doesn't mean it will be more empathetic towards others. This reinforced sense of individualism further supports Millennial entitlement as it lowers the empathetic levels towards others and raises the individual want/need levels.
Entitlement Part 2.
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When the concept of entitlement is deconstructed it becomes apparent that societal expectations have changed and comparing the generations is difficult. While it is clear that there are some similarities between generations, there are some crucial differences which makes this comparison flawed. These differences include academic pressures, parenting styles, prevalence of technology.
In previous generations a post-secondary education was not mandatory for career success. It was possible to to achieve a successful career without attending a post-secondary school fifty years ago. The same cannot be said for today’s Generation Y students. Post-secondary school training is mandatory for today’s students if they hope to achieve employment after school. A post-secondary education is not a guarantee of financial security in today’s world. Furthermore, the academic pressures facing today’s youth from parents, peers, teachers and post-secondary institutions can be crippling. To obtain successful admission into university, students are required to achieve grades that are significantly higher than they were even a decade ago. When considering factors such as academic pressures it becomes clear that Generation Y and previous generations are working towards the same goals, but under a set of very different parameters. What appears to be entitlement to previous generations is, in actuality, a generation attempting to reach a precedent of success set by the pervious generation.
Furthermore, the shift in parenting styles has drastically impacted the skill set of Generation Y when compared to previous generations. The dominate parent style that Generation Y children grew up with is the “Backbone” parent which provides numerous boundaries while providing them opportunities to explore and take minimal calculated risks. This has impacted Generation Y because it has forced them to rely heavily on the expectations laid out for them rather than establishing their own expectations as previous generations were able to do. Baby Boomers grew up with strict parents, but were provided with different type of freedom and were raised with less direct supervision. In contrast, Generation Y was raised with a more relaxed attitude towards discipline but with an excessive amount of supervision. When the thought of entitlement is brought towards Generation Y its quite alarming to them, in their eyes they have not done anything they have simply been a product of their environment. They have grown up with parents supervising and micromanaging their lives and from that have not fully learned anything different.
Technology has, with out a doubt, been a large contributor to Generation Y’s identity, it has formed a generation of people who are constantly reaching out, in communication with others and aware of world events in a moments notice but with that has also come entitlement to having said technology where other generations believe Gen Y is unable to distinguish the line between wanting technology and needing it. When laptops and phones and other technological devices surfaced they were seen as a luxury, there was a specific audience technology was aimed towards, those who need it for work. In years since these elevated devices have become necessary to be a contributing member of society, and while previous generations see laptops and smartphones as inessential the reality of the situation is that one cannot be as successful without using technology. To be a functional member of society one needs to have access to databases, ebooks, social media, entertainment, online classes and countless others. Generation Y recognizes that technology is expensive and a luxury but more than that, technology is vital for communication, education and entertainment in a society that demands it from us.
The stereotypical perception of Generation Y is that they are entitled to the life that their parents have worked hard for. While the Baby Boomer generation was forced to work hard to achieve an economically stable career, their Generation Y offspring were born into financial security and have come to see it as a social norm. This is the root cause of their perceived entitlement. Growing up in households where the dominate message regarding academic achievement was “do you best”, created a mind set where Gen Y was satisfied with results achieved through minimal efforts which have branded as “their best”. It is this thought process that leads previous generation to believe that Generation Y is entitled when really they have been conditioned to expect greatness as that is what they were raised with.
In previous generations a post-secondary education was not mandatory for career success. It was possible to to achieve a successful career without attending a post-secondary school fifty years ago. The same cannot be said for today’s Generation Y students. Post-secondary school training is mandatory for today’s students if they hope to achieve employment after school. A post-secondary education is not a guarantee of financial security in today’s world. Furthermore, the academic pressures facing today’s youth from parents, peers, teachers and post-secondary institutions can be crippling. To obtain successful admission into university, students are required to achieve grades that are significantly higher than they were even a decade ago. When considering factors such as academic pressures it becomes clear that Generation Y and previous generations are working towards the same goals, but under a set of very different parameters. What appears to be entitlement to previous generations is, in actuality, a generation attempting to reach a precedent of success set by the pervious generation.
Furthermore, the shift in parenting styles has drastically impacted the skill set of Generation Y when compared to previous generations. The dominate parent style that Generation Y children grew up with is the “Backbone” parent which provides numerous boundaries while providing them opportunities to explore and take minimal calculated risks. This has impacted Generation Y because it has forced them to rely heavily on the expectations laid out for them rather than establishing their own expectations as previous generations were able to do. Baby Boomers grew up with strict parents, but were provided with different type of freedom and were raised with less direct supervision. In contrast, Generation Y was raised with a more relaxed attitude towards discipline but with an excessive amount of supervision. When the thought of entitlement is brought towards Generation Y its quite alarming to them, in their eyes they have not done anything they have simply been a product of their environment. They have grown up with parents supervising and micromanaging their lives and from that have not fully learned anything different.
Technology has, with out a doubt, been a large contributor to Generation Y’s identity, it has formed a generation of people who are constantly reaching out, in communication with others and aware of world events in a moments notice but with that has also come entitlement to having said technology where other generations believe Gen Y is unable to distinguish the line between wanting technology and needing it. When laptops and phones and other technological devices surfaced they were seen as a luxury, there was a specific audience technology was aimed towards, those who need it for work. In years since these elevated devices have become necessary to be a contributing member of society, and while previous generations see laptops and smartphones as inessential the reality of the situation is that one cannot be as successful without using technology. To be a functional member of society one needs to have access to databases, ebooks, social media, entertainment, online classes and countless others. Generation Y recognizes that technology is expensive and a luxury but more than that, technology is vital for communication, education and entertainment in a society that demands it from us.
The stereotypical perception of Generation Y is that they are entitled to the life that their parents have worked hard for. While the Baby Boomer generation was forced to work hard to achieve an economically stable career, their Generation Y offspring were born into financial security and have come to see it as a social norm. This is the root cause of their perceived entitlement. Growing up in households where the dominate message regarding academic achievement was “do you best”, created a mind set where Gen Y was satisfied with results achieved through minimal efforts which have branded as “their best”. It is this thought process that leads previous generation to believe that Generation Y is entitled when really they have been conditioned to expect greatness as that is what they were raised with.
Technology.
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This is Generation Y's challenge presently and in the future; effectively harnessing technology to achieve desired outcomes. Generation Y, being 'digital natives' , does not need to worry about 'what to create' as much as 'how do we use this technologic creation to benefit humanity'. To take the example of climate change, we might have the technological capacity to restructure society's energy network, but it is ultimately humans that will decide whether or not to implement this change.
The problem with technology is that it can also be very 'invisible'. Humans do lead and learn by example - in ways that actions do speak louder than words. As Karen, a Baby Boomer, mentions, she would physically see advertisements and see others take action to solve an issue:
"A difference between your generation and mine, would be that we were concerned about pollution - there was no such thing as climate change at the time. However, previous generations had really made a mess of the rivers, lakes and streams as well as the air, and it was during my youth that everyone woke up to that and the campaign to clean things up began. I remember seeing advertisements of dirty foam and stuff in rivers and being urged to do my part not to pollute the earth. We made posters in school - all of that sort of thing. For the first time there were fines for littering - before that, people would just throw stuff out their car windows all of the time."
One of the problems of the internet is that, although it is very powerful at carrying and conveying a message, this message can be easily ignored by the user at the end of the computer. If Generation Y saw this advertisement on the internet to urge pollution clean-up, they could simply exit the page. Previous 'non-digital native' generations did not have this option and because they saw action being taken on a frequent basis, they were more inclined to take action. The challenge facing Generation Y is that they have immense communication power through technology, with the capability of easily informing people all over the world, that it may be that humans become too reliant on technology as the solution to problems. While it is powerful that Generation Y can promote social change through technology, they must also take action at home to achieve this goal. As author Peggy O'Mara ("An Epidemic of Violence") reminds us, "Social change only happens small, committed groups of people get together to effect change. This is the only way it ever happens. As environmentalists say, 'Think globally; act locally.'"
Technology has permitted Generation Y to reach out globally, but, being 'digital natives', it is important they remember to act on the issue locally. The information revolution has given Generation Y (digital natives) considerable power, yet it has put considerable responsibility on Generation Y to harness this power in order to create a more positive future. As Jason, a millennial, sums it up:
"There is something particularly empowering about knowing that I can access years’ worth of knowledge on a five inch screen. I think it is easier to take control of my future in such an environment. Yet, there is also something intimidating about selecting and learning the skills that I will have to employ in the future."
In many ways Generation Y has a right to feel angst because they were born into a world with considerable power. But, by that logic, every Generation, when young (and their future is still undecided) has the right to feel angst because they were naturally born with more power than previous generations (thanks to the developments made by previous generations). With power comes responsibility.
The problem with technology is that it can also be very 'invisible'. Humans do lead and learn by example - in ways that actions do speak louder than words. As Karen, a Baby Boomer, mentions, she would physically see advertisements and see others take action to solve an issue:
"A difference between your generation and mine, would be that we were concerned about pollution - there was no such thing as climate change at the time. However, previous generations had really made a mess of the rivers, lakes and streams as well as the air, and it was during my youth that everyone woke up to that and the campaign to clean things up began. I remember seeing advertisements of dirty foam and stuff in rivers and being urged to do my part not to pollute the earth. We made posters in school - all of that sort of thing. For the first time there were fines for littering - before that, people would just throw stuff out their car windows all of the time."
One of the problems of the internet is that, although it is very powerful at carrying and conveying a message, this message can be easily ignored by the user at the end of the computer. If Generation Y saw this advertisement on the internet to urge pollution clean-up, they could simply exit the page. Previous 'non-digital native' generations did not have this option and because they saw action being taken on a frequent basis, they were more inclined to take action. The challenge facing Generation Y is that they have immense communication power through technology, with the capability of easily informing people all over the world, that it may be that humans become too reliant on technology as the solution to problems. While it is powerful that Generation Y can promote social change through technology, they must also take action at home to achieve this goal. As author Peggy O'Mara ("An Epidemic of Violence") reminds us, "Social change only happens small, committed groups of people get together to effect change. This is the only way it ever happens. As environmentalists say, 'Think globally; act locally.'"
Technology has permitted Generation Y to reach out globally, but, being 'digital natives', it is important they remember to act on the issue locally. The information revolution has given Generation Y (digital natives) considerable power, yet it has put considerable responsibility on Generation Y to harness this power in order to create a more positive future. As Jason, a millennial, sums it up:
"There is something particularly empowering about knowing that I can access years’ worth of knowledge on a five inch screen. I think it is easier to take control of my future in such an environment. Yet, there is also something intimidating about selecting and learning the skills that I will have to employ in the future."
In many ways Generation Y has a right to feel angst because they were born into a world with considerable power. But, by that logic, every Generation, when young (and their future is still undecided) has the right to feel angst because they were naturally born with more power than previous generations (thanks to the developments made by previous generations). With power comes responsibility.
A concern technology has brought up recently is that of surveillance. Who do we trust? It used to be that doors to houses were lockless and parents trusted the safety of their kids enough to allow them to roam the neighbourhood alone (until the streetlights came on).
Does Technology make our world more Transparent or Opaque? This a challenge that concerns Generation Y.
Social Change - Global Interconnectivity.
"Our most basic interactions are now facilitated by sophisticated devices and information networks. It is easy for older generations to dismiss some of the behaviors of contemporary teenagers as asocial and impolite, but I think what we are in fact seeing is an innovation on traditional forms of human dialogue. Consider texting and social messaging. Older generations may lament the grammar shortcuts taken by our peers, but in many respects our generation has developed a writing style that more closely mirrors spontaneous human conversation than traditional written sentences. I think older generations recognize that technology can lead to ingenuity and collaboration, but worry that it might also disconnect us from the tangible world." - Jason (Millennial)
"I don't think that any generation before us communicates as much as we do. Whether that be mundane things such as Facebook or email, Skype, the old days of MSN, etc... I think we're really good at using technology to our advantage. Perhaps there is less of a "let's go out there and do it" mentality but it's replaced with a "what's the easiest way to do this, but to still do this right" mentality. In this way I think what may seem lazy to some is actually just a more efficient way of doing things. For example, many people in my grade refused to learn how to cursive write, not because they hated it just to hate it, but because it's a pretty useless skill in the age of computer typing. I do think that some in the previous generation will always disapprove of the next generation because it can be natural as you grow older to start to fear change, and the next generation always wants to change/rebel in some way or another." - Jeff (Millennial) |
Generation Y has been given a bad reputation when it comes to staying connected with others. Some point to technology as being the reason that Generation Y can be deemed as lazy, selfish and way too comfortable throwing their entire lives online. Generation Y has invented words such as 'Selfie'. Those who disapprove of Generation Y, argue that besides being 'grammatically incorrect', the word 'Selfie' also shows how Generation Y is the 'selfish generation.'
This, as a result, will give Generation Y some angst because others are criticizing their way of life. As Jeff and Jason argue (to the right), technology has made Generation Y even more connected and has, in fact, better captured human emotion. As Jason argues, instead of simply writing out formal letters, technology has made the human connection (even if it is from opposite sides of the globe) more instant and more 'human'. Social change challenges the traditional beliefs because it changes the way in which a task is performed. The advances in technology and global interconnectivity is that either way, one demographic is going to have angst. On one end, social change challenges the traditional beliefs that older generations worked their lives to develop and, therefore, will irritate older generations, but will please younger generations (such as Gen Y). On the other hand, "softening the blow" of social change may please older generations, as their life work and way of life is being protected, but will spark angst in younger generations as they feel their freedom is being limited and that they are not getting the chance to develop their way of life. |
Economic Stability.
Generation Y faces an intense version of this country’s income growth challenge in comparisons to past generations. The current tuition, house prices, student debt have all been rising at higher rates than income. Due to a lack of well-paying jobs, a growing number of graduates are having difficulty paying off their student loans. For many Canadian graduates under the age of 30 it's a struggle to find a job, but the even greater crisis is the struggle to find work and start building experience in the career they've trained for. This has been interpreted by some as entitlement and laziness on the part of millennials who feel like they should be handed more than they've worked for. However, its a bit unreasonable seeing as it cant be expected for graduates to know what being in the workforce is like when they’re new to it. In fact, most youth underemployed are those who have hopeful dreams in becoming the next rock star or professional hockey player, and facing the reality of the working world. It is those young adults who had practical goals of being lawyers, teachers and medical care workers, and who went through extensive training and education to do so, having to settle into low-skilled jobs that can barely cover their bills and multiple degrees worth of student loan payments.
Though some would argue it may appear income is increasing, it actually hasn't if you measure in terms of purchasing power. In 2010, the median income for people aged 20 to 24 was $13,800. While in 1976, the median income detailed by Statistics Canada, that the same income was worth $23,400 (Statistics Canada uses 2010 constant dollars for this comparison so it factors in inflation). Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist at CIBC World Markets, said income levels for young adults are affected by the fact that more are attending university and college as opposed to working and earning money. This is a demonstration of positive development because it suggests young people are investing in an education that will help them become better earners as they age. However, there is a mismatch between the skills and education young people are acquiring in their post secondary educations and what’s needed in the work force. Therefore, post secondary education no longer entails a job upon graduation but instead ensure an education. |
Post Secondary Education Impact on Students A university or college degree is now the career equivalent of what a high school degree used to be. As a result, this increases the pressure on kids to go to college and makes the process much more competitive. University and college once assured jobs upon graduation, but that has change due to the current economy. Consequently, this competitive process and pressure placed on students causes rates of depression to increase among millennials in college and university. A 2012 study by the American College Counselling Association reported a 16 percent increase in mental-health visits since 2000 and a significant increase in crisis response over the past five years. According to recent studies, 44 percent of college students experienced symptoms of depression, and suicide is one of the leading causes of death among college students. These statistics present shocking realities demonstrating the impact post-secondary education has on student psychological states.
Therefore, the challenge for millennials is conflict negotiation, and they often are unable to think for themselves. The over involvement of helicopter parents, a parent who pays extremely close attention to a child's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions, has also had an impact on millennials psychological state as they prevents children from learning how to grapple with disappointments on their own. Helicopter parents immune their children from failure, accountability, confidence and encourages them to be codependent. If parents are navigating every minor situation for their kids, kids never learn to deal with conflict on their own. The era of instant gratification has led to a decrease in what therapists call “frustration tolerance”. Frustration tolerance is how we handle upsetting situations, allow for ambiguity, and learn to navigate the normal life circumstances of breakups, bad grades, and lay-offs. A lack frustration tolerance causes moderate sadness may lead to suicidality in the self-soothingly challenged. Thus, helicopter parents have negative implications on children because they cause future students to be too dependent which then causes students to be unprepared. |
The Job Market.
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It is needless to say that Generation Y is having a tougher time than previous generations at finding a job. The unemployment rate for young adults today is close to double the national unemployment rate. This has led to Generation Y being underemployed, seeking part-time jobs and internships in order to break into the job market. The challenge Generation Y now has to face is not only puncturing the job market, but finding a job that is stable enough and that promises career growth.
"After graduation from high school in 1955, jobs were plentiful. The day after graduation, I marched down to the unemployment office and was sent for an interview at Credit Foncier. I was hired on the spot to work in the office. I moved up the ranks rapidly. We were trained on the spot." - Barbara (Mature)
"I went to Carling Breweries because I won a typing test. I worked up the ranks until I became the President. I did eventually get my CGA (Chartered General Accountant) at night, but I didn't need it to be hired as you would today. If you were bright enough you were trained on the job ." - Rick (Mature)
Matures and Baby Boomers definitely had an easier time finding jobs than Generation Y. It is important to remember, though, that the times were different. Matures entered the job market after World War II. At this time, Asia and Europe were devastated. Immigration in Canada was only with the English, Scottish, Irish, Italians and Polish. The reduced global competition made it easier to find a job that would set one for life. With globalization, Generation Y has to compete for jobs globally. It is not so much that it is harder to find jobs, but that it is harder to find the traditional jobs that previous generations had. As a result, Generation Y will change several jobs over their lives in order to adapt to the global environment.
Generation Y has to deal with the effects of globalization and global competition. As global competition increased, so did the derived demand for specialized labour. Today, it is no longer that Generation Y is trained on the spot and certain degrees are needed today for the same jobs that didn't require degrees for Baby Boomers and Matures.
Here is how a Generation Y feels entering the market place:
As you are still in your studies, do you have any plans as to specific jobs you want? Or do you believe that by getting your degrees (BA, MBA, etc.) you will have better chances of getting jobs?
I'm doing a Master's next year, so I suppose I'm still technically in studies. No specific plans, but something in economic analysis/research is my goal, either with the government or a consulting firm. And in this industry a Master's is basically the minimum you need. In general I believe more education is a pretty crucial pre-requisite to getting a job. With such a massive percentage of people getting BAs compared to previous generations there is increasing pressure to get higher degrees in order to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack." - Jeff (Millennial)
Global competition has created a shortage of jobs for millennials - or at least a shortage of jobs that meet the demands of certain millennials. This has led to underemployment in youth. To compete in the global job market today, Millennials feel they must differentiate from the others. This has led to Millennials staying in school longer, thus accumulating more debt, and seeking job experience through low-paid jobs (to which they are overqualified) and internships (which does nothing to reduce the debt). Jeff's quote above also shows that he has no specific plans going forward, yet is spending a lot of money to get a degree in the hope that it will land him a job in the economic field. Perhaps, going back to the idea of entitlement, Generation Y is seeking degrees without any specific job plans in the future. In previous generations, it would be that those who went to university went there to get a diploma that would lead to a specific job. An example being students who go to medical school to get the degree to become a doctor or nurse. The problem is that people today are pursuing post-secondary education with the expectation that a degree will get them a job. It is global competition that has forced the shift on how Generation Y must approach the job market.
As Barbara mentioned above, she went down to the Unemployment Office in 1955 and found a job immediately - ready to start working. Perhaps the difference here is that Millennials, instead of simply finding a job that fits their qualifications, are looking for jobs that meet their personal needs as well as have extra benefits to society. As Arthur Kay, a recent graduate turned entrepreneur, points out:
"Generation Y views a job not just as a means to pay the rent, rather a route to exploring their passions, hobbies and philosophies,..."
From an Anthropologic perspective, the function of a job is different for Millennials than it was for Matures and Baby Boomers. While previous generations sought to find jobs as a way of starting up their lives and paying rents, Millennials seek jobs in order to satisfy their personal desires (i.e. passions, philanthropic functions, etc.).
Money isn't the only factor involved in finding a job for Millennials, they want to feel good while doing it, and, therefore, it takes them longer to find a job - as opposed to previous generations , who tended to settle for whatever job was available, so long as it was profitable. This explains a growing trend among entrepreneurs in Generation Y.
In terms of jobs in the future, do you think Gen Y seeks for jobs exclusively for their monetary benefits or are third party costs involved (such as working for a company that promotes social good)?
Well I can answer this question based on some firsthand experience. One of my best friends at university turned down a bunch of higher paying engineering jobs in the oil industry in order to go work for BC's hydropower company instead. So I would say more factors than money definitely play a part. Several of my friends in economics (a subject where you can make a lot of money if you go into financial economics/the stock market) have instead chosen jobs in lower paying fields such as environmental economics and welfare economics. I think that speaks well of our generation." - Jeff (Millennial)
"After graduation from high school in 1955, jobs were plentiful. The day after graduation, I marched down to the unemployment office and was sent for an interview at Credit Foncier. I was hired on the spot to work in the office. I moved up the ranks rapidly. We were trained on the spot." - Barbara (Mature)
"I went to Carling Breweries because I won a typing test. I worked up the ranks until I became the President. I did eventually get my CGA (Chartered General Accountant) at night, but I didn't need it to be hired as you would today. If you were bright enough you were trained on the job ." - Rick (Mature)
Matures and Baby Boomers definitely had an easier time finding jobs than Generation Y. It is important to remember, though, that the times were different. Matures entered the job market after World War II. At this time, Asia and Europe were devastated. Immigration in Canada was only with the English, Scottish, Irish, Italians and Polish. The reduced global competition made it easier to find a job that would set one for life. With globalization, Generation Y has to compete for jobs globally. It is not so much that it is harder to find jobs, but that it is harder to find the traditional jobs that previous generations had. As a result, Generation Y will change several jobs over their lives in order to adapt to the global environment.
Generation Y has to deal with the effects of globalization and global competition. As global competition increased, so did the derived demand for specialized labour. Today, it is no longer that Generation Y is trained on the spot and certain degrees are needed today for the same jobs that didn't require degrees for Baby Boomers and Matures.
Here is how a Generation Y feels entering the market place:
As you are still in your studies, do you have any plans as to specific jobs you want? Or do you believe that by getting your degrees (BA, MBA, etc.) you will have better chances of getting jobs?
I'm doing a Master's next year, so I suppose I'm still technically in studies. No specific plans, but something in economic analysis/research is my goal, either with the government or a consulting firm. And in this industry a Master's is basically the minimum you need. In general I believe more education is a pretty crucial pre-requisite to getting a job. With such a massive percentage of people getting BAs compared to previous generations there is increasing pressure to get higher degrees in order to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack." - Jeff (Millennial)
Global competition has created a shortage of jobs for millennials - or at least a shortage of jobs that meet the demands of certain millennials. This has led to underemployment in youth. To compete in the global job market today, Millennials feel they must differentiate from the others. This has led to Millennials staying in school longer, thus accumulating more debt, and seeking job experience through low-paid jobs (to which they are overqualified) and internships (which does nothing to reduce the debt). Jeff's quote above also shows that he has no specific plans going forward, yet is spending a lot of money to get a degree in the hope that it will land him a job in the economic field. Perhaps, going back to the idea of entitlement, Generation Y is seeking degrees without any specific job plans in the future. In previous generations, it would be that those who went to university went there to get a diploma that would lead to a specific job. An example being students who go to medical school to get the degree to become a doctor or nurse. The problem is that people today are pursuing post-secondary education with the expectation that a degree will get them a job. It is global competition that has forced the shift on how Generation Y must approach the job market.
As Barbara mentioned above, she went down to the Unemployment Office in 1955 and found a job immediately - ready to start working. Perhaps the difference here is that Millennials, instead of simply finding a job that fits their qualifications, are looking for jobs that meet their personal needs as well as have extra benefits to society. As Arthur Kay, a recent graduate turned entrepreneur, points out:
"Generation Y views a job not just as a means to pay the rent, rather a route to exploring their passions, hobbies and philosophies,..."
From an Anthropologic perspective, the function of a job is different for Millennials than it was for Matures and Baby Boomers. While previous generations sought to find jobs as a way of starting up their lives and paying rents, Millennials seek jobs in order to satisfy their personal desires (i.e. passions, philanthropic functions, etc.).
Money isn't the only factor involved in finding a job for Millennials, they want to feel good while doing it, and, therefore, it takes them longer to find a job - as opposed to previous generations , who tended to settle for whatever job was available, so long as it was profitable. This explains a growing trend among entrepreneurs in Generation Y.
In terms of jobs in the future, do you think Gen Y seeks for jobs exclusively for their monetary benefits or are third party costs involved (such as working for a company that promotes social good)?
Well I can answer this question based on some firsthand experience. One of my best friends at university turned down a bunch of higher paying engineering jobs in the oil industry in order to go work for BC's hydropower company instead. So I would say more factors than money definitely play a part. Several of my friends in economics (a subject where you can make a lot of money if you go into financial economics/the stock market) have instead chosen jobs in lower paying fields such as environmental economics and welfare economics. I think that speaks well of our generation." - Jeff (Millennial)
Does Generation Y have the right to feel angst?
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Yes. But all Generations have a right to when they are young. All Generations are seeking identity, and, therefore, have a poor reputation with the previous generation. Their present circumstances are different from those of previous generations because the progress that previous generations have made have changed the context and the lifestyle that the next generation is born into. The future prospects will always spark angst amongst that generation because it will always be harder to make it in the future than it was for previous generations. The advances that previous generations made - the bar that they set - inevitably makes it more challenging for the next generation because the environment they are now put in is drastically different than their parent's environment.
Every generation's problems is the result of the previous generation's actions. This is how it has always been. The reason, though, it creates angst is because we live in a world of survival, where only those who adapt can survive. We see angst in Generation Y today, because they are young, and, therefore, are in the process of adapting and finding their own identities. The personal identity must adapt to meet the demands of the new environment and this, therefore, requires the person to be different than previous generations. This will happen to every generation when they are young, and they will always feel angst because of it. It is the same with Generation Y.
Every generation, when young, has a reputation, present issues and future challenges and expectations. The only difference between these generations is what their reputation, present circumstances and future challenges is based on the environment and context.
Every generation's problems is the result of the previous generation's actions. This is how it has always been. The reason, though, it creates angst is because we live in a world of survival, where only those who adapt can survive. We see angst in Generation Y today, because they are young, and, therefore, are in the process of adapting and finding their own identities. The personal identity must adapt to meet the demands of the new environment and this, therefore, requires the person to be different than previous generations. This will happen to every generation when they are young, and they will always feel angst because of it. It is the same with Generation Y.
Every generation, when young, has a reputation, present issues and future challenges and expectations. The only difference between these generations is what their reputation, present circumstances and future challenges is based on the environment and context.