'Talkin' bout My Generation'

Jimmy Biblarz, a student in the humanities magnet at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, writes:

Released by The Who in 1965, the song "My Generation" has become a 1960s anthem listened to around the world. It is widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time, and has managed to maintain relevance 43 years after its release.

The song still rings true to a lot of American kids; we still don't want to get old and end up like our parents. Read some of the lyrics:

"People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

With them, the band expresses a sentiment most young adults share. My generation has been labeled a lot of things by "people trying to put us down." We've been called Generation Y, Generation ME, Millennials, the Internet Generation, and even Generation Einstein. We are mostly the children of Baby Boomers and early Gen X adults and were born between 1980 and 1994. We have also been labeled the laziest generation ever. Baby Boomers and Gen X have stereotyped us as a cohort of kids that because of instant messaging, Myspace and Facebook, seek instant gratification. We are impatient and unwilling to work hard, according to many, hence the name Generation ME.

It is also said we are so dependent on our parents, we live with them sometimes into our late 20s and even early 30s. This has then created a group of Baby Boomer "helicopter parents," who even after children move out, stay actively involved in their children's lives. Demographers and sociologists say that these "helicopter parents" have a negative effect on the maturity levels and development of children in my generation. Business owners and college professors have labeled us demanding, impatient, and poor communicators.

We have no work ethic, and are also unable to articulate ourselves creatively. It is estimated that individuals in my generation will switch jobs more than any generation before us, and that we are incredibly aware of the brand of things we are buying. We are also the most technical generation ever to live. A recent poll showed that 97% of college students have a computer, 94% have a cell phone, 76% use instant messaging, 75% have a Facebook account, and 60% have an iPod.

My generation rarely gets any positive labels, so I imagine I share similar feelings with Pete Townshend and the rest of The Who when they produced "My Generation." My cohort is assumed to be lazy, incapable of solving the immense problems the Baby Boomers left behind for us, dependent on our parents, and impatient.

I disagree completely. My generation has learned incredibly sophisticated technology in an incredibly short time; a feat many of our parents and grandparents are unable to accomplish. Studies have also shown that we are more naturally intelligent than previous generations.

I am president of my school's Young Democrats Club, and every Thursday we have very intellectual discussions (Oliver Brown, another writer on The Times Homerooom blog, is also in the club.) Everyone participates, and after every meeting our club sponsor tells me how excellent she thinks we are doing. Its not just in Young Democrats either. Kids are smart. We are more politically and socially aware than Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers give us credit for. I have no doubt we will be able to solve all the problems the world faces (It would have been easier if the Baby Boomers hadn't created these problems, but that's another story.) To quote, "My Generation," "Why don't you all f-fade away? And don't try to dig what we all s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation." And to all you adults trying to put us down, listen to "My Generation," and try and look at my generation differently.

Drawing by and courtesy of John Entwistle

Comments

[trrish]

Hi Jimmy,

I love this post of yours. My own little tiny caution would be, please don't stereotype the older generations either. ALL baby boomers do not think your generation is lazy! I think we place too much importance on generation, anyway. I always felt out of step with "my generation" and hate reading sweeping generalizations about us or about you.

trrish

[Dawn]

Hi Jimmy and all.

I am 47 (part of that baby boom generation). I can certainly understand your feelings; all those stereotypes you mentioned are publicly discussed as truth. I just wanted you to know that they do not speak for all of us.

I work with youth of all economic classes and find much promise and energy in my groups. Lately I have been teaching seminars about working with youth. My message is that this new generation is full of promise, highly intelligent, adaptable and resilient. Baby boomers and Xers will need to change their ways in order to keep up with you and remain relevant.

You and your peers are my best hope for a better future and I hope to convince others of the same!
Dawn

[Marc]

Hey how can generation y still be living with their parents into their early 30's if the oldest of the bunch (born from 1980-1994) is only 28??? Just thought I should point that out to you.