Changes to the Millennial Stereotype

Abstract

The lack of understanding has caused a big dilemma to arise between the millennial generation and older generations. The significant difference in the way generations in the past grew up to the way the millennial grew up with, has significantly damaged the communication and understanding between them. Technology, specifically social media, has portrayed millennials as narcissistic. The solution lies upon millennials since they are the ones who are seeking jobs and integrating into the world. Millennials ought to start to volunteer more and stop using social media to promote themselves. Volunteering would also help them to formulate a stable identity, which future civilians need in order to have a productive society. Eventually, millennials would change the way other generations view them. Instead of viewing them as lazy, self-centered, and unsympathetic, other generations will start to see them as sympathetic, selfless, and active individuals.

Changes to the Millennial Stereotype 

The Millennial Generation consists of people born between 1981 and 1996.  Technology, more precisely social media, has depicted millennials as narcissistic. Some may recognize that this is not completely accurate. While growing up, earlier generations did not have access to social media such as the millennials did. In several older generations, the absence of social media has generated an immense misconception.

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Introduction.

Most millennials had to satisfy with part-time employment, living with their parents, and getting loans (Peterson, 2019). The significant difference between the troubles of older generations and millennials amounts to a wider gap of misunderstanding. It is challenging for prior generations to comprehend millennials in which this solution falls to millennials. The dilemma occurs when these stereotypes and verbal abuse disturbed millennials’ prosperity and demeanor. Millennials ought to volunteer throughout the globe in order to demolish their narcissistic stereotype and gain a stable identity.

Evidence Supporting Argument

Millennials would promulgate their sympathetic side to the world by associating in the physical world and integrating into the problems of other human beings. Also, Millennials will be able to discontinue the stereotypical concept of being indolent. Another feature they are known for is selfishness, which can be demonstrated to be incorrect through voluntary work.  All these characteristics fall under traits of narcissism. A narcissistic disorder includes an excessive feeling of self-importance, fantasizing achievement, haughty conduct, and a tendency to ignore the feelings of others.  An additional feature is a constant demand for rewards.

A reason as to why millennials ought to volunteer is to demolish their ideas taught to them in childhood. In the article, “Millennials Are Narcissistic? The Evidence Is Not So Simple,” Christian Jarrett says, “Parents, and society as a whole, today arguably placing greater value on young people’s individual achievement over their civic duty” (2017). Throughout adolescence, the way millennials were brought up has made them more egotistical. Rather than empathizing the importance of having a civil obligation in the world, society has taught millennials that feeling successful is the only relate to their achievements. The millennial generation, “has been shaped by, among other things, helicopter parents, frequent positive feedback and reassurance, significant leaps in technology, and political and economic turmoil (Thompson, 2012).” Through volunteering, sadness, hunger, and desperation, would be seen by the millennials. This will affect their lives and alter their character considerably. This will cause millennials to experience a Buddha-like encounter of enlightenment for the most part.

Another reason as to why millennial ought to volunteer is to gain charismatic traits, which would be useful in the real world. In  article titled, “The Persistent Myth of the Narcissistic Millennial,” Brook Lea Foster states that these so-called narcissistic traits are “simply hallmarks of early adulthood—it’s often the first-time people are putting themselves out there, applying for first jobs and meeting potential life partners. Overconfidence is how people muscle through the big changes” (2014). The characteristics that older generations view narcissistic on millennials are just the normal characteristics of any young adult. These features that occur in young adults must be within a person so that they can fit effectively into the world. Although there is a need for such characteristics to be in place, millennials also need to be likable. Especially when four different generations are working together for the first time in history (Tokar, 2013). Millennials should learn to be more compassionate, more active, and more selfless in order to be charismatic. Through volunteering, they can learn these behaviors.

The last reason as to why millennials ought to volunteer is to stray from technology, which would help them formulate a better identity. Millennials would be able to build a firmer identity by refraining from using technology, particularly social media. In Horan’s academic journal, Daniel P., “Digital Natives and the Digital Self: The Wisdom of Thomas Merton for Millennial Spirituality and Self-Understanding,” Horan says millennials have a hard time formulating a stable identity due to technology (2011). Horan notes how it is a common element of adolescents and young adults to try to discover one’s personality. Technology makes formulating a stable identity more complicated for millennials (Horan, 2011). Millennials tend to have a fluid identity that can change all day long. From what identity they display online to the one they display in the physical globe; this fluidity of character can hinder their perception of themselves or their beliefs. Keeping this information in mind leads to a logical predicament of what social problems may face in the near future. Millennials would be in charge of running society at one stage in the future. If society has people in charge who change their taste and traits day after day, there would be serious problems. Society requires people to base their thoughts and behavior on a stable and robust identity. Of course, it’s a fantastic thing to have to be open-minded to distinct thoughts, but the extent of fluidity that millennials display is quite unhealthy. Horan (2011) also says, “Much more of their day-to-day experience takes place “in the head” and by way of digital media than it does in the typified human experience of embodied relational engagement or physical and tactile activity.” An observation made by writer and associate professor Rebekah Willett is also included in this scholarly journal. Rebekah Willett notes that things requiring long commitment and patience are more difficult to accomplish for millennials as they are accustomed to fast-paced technology (Horan, 2011). The tendency to get accustomed to fast-paced things can have a major impact on the future of society. Millennials would get a sense of how much patience and effort is required to attain a particular objective through volunteering. Technology, like social media, creates a third dimension that can affect the millennial perspective of themselves, identity, and their impression. Future leaders might also be barred from having a stable identity.

Counter-arguments

Those who argue against this proposition may claim that millennials should not waste time gaining older generations’ approval. Instead, the “you do you” way of living should be emphasized. Because older generations do not fully endorse the lifestyle of the millennial, it does not mean that millennials should give weight to their views. Many so-called “haters” have a tendency for any minor reason to loathe individuals. An individual should simply ignore the “hater” in order to live a healthy and efficient life. Other opponents may call the solution unrealistic due to their circumstances. The answer is simply to be a more conscious and cautious person in regard to social media. To notice how often social media posts, revolve around themselves and make an effort to reduce their focus on themselves. By living in such a way, it enables individuals to pay more attention to individuals with real and 3-D dimensions, such as their children and spouse.

Conclusion

Older generations have this stereotypical view of millennials, which causes the gap between them to be developed. The burden is on millennials to solve the problem, resulting in millennials relying less on social media to promote themselves and instead volunteering in resource-less regions.By witnessing how other human beings struggle to obtain resources, the millennial will become more grateful and will see how lucky they are. This will also help formulate a stable and healthy identity for millennials. Eventually, the idea that millennials are narcissistic will eventually be a thing in the past.

References

• Foster, B. L. (2014, November 19). The persistent myth of the narcissistic millennial. The Atlantic. Retrieved from: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/the-persistent-myth-of-the-narcissistic-millennial/382565/
• Hammond, C. (2019, June 27). The confusion of the millennial narcissist. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from https://pro.psychcentral.com/exhausted-woman/2017/05/the-confusion-of-the-millennial-narcissist/
• Horan, D. P. (2011). Digital natives and the digital self: The wisdom of Thomas Merton for millennial spirituality and self-understanding. Merton Annual, 24, 83–111.
• Jarrett, C. (2017, November 17). Millennials are narcissistic? The evidence is not so simple. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20171115-millenials-are-the-most-narcissistic-generation-not-so-fast
• Nisbett, G., & Strzelecka, M. (2017). Appealing to goodwill or yolo-promoting conservation  volunteering to millennials. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary & Nonprofit
• Organizations, 28(1), 288–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9815-z
• Petersen, A. H. (2019, June 29). How millennials became the burnout generation. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work
• Thompson, C., & Gregory, J. B. (2012). Managing Millennials: A Framework for Improving Attraction, Motivation, and Retention. Psychologist-Manager Journal (Taylor & Francis Ltd), 15(4), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/10887156.2012.730444
• Tokar, P. (2013). GEN busting. Economic Development Journal, 12(1), 41–46. Retrieved from http://www4.osuokc.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=86149271&site=ehost-live

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