The Millennial Generation: "Howe" and Why
Darrin DeChane
Abstract
One topic that has become fashionable as the nation ages is the Millennial Generation. Born from 1982 to 2000, this generation will soon be fully of-age and is set to govern the country in the coming years. However, millennials often do not go without criticism from older generations who believe this young generation is overflowing with narcissism, laziness, and technology obsessions. This paper explores the Millennial Generation and the multigenerational influences as well as the historical influences that formulated their characteristics. Using the two leading generational theories, Strauss-Howe Generational Theory and Mannheim’s Theory of Generations, this paper creates a unique perspective on the currently popular topic of the often negatively viewed millennials. The motivations and aspirations of this generation are often overlooked, but they are the key to understanding the Millennial Generation.
The Millennial Generation: “Howe” and Why
As a child, I was sheltered and was not allowed to watch the violent or crude Power Rangers, Cat Dog, or Angry Beavers. My parents divorced when I was two and my childhood was constantly in limbo between the two. I hate lectures, I sleep next to my phone and computer, and I do not trust politicians. The morning of 9/11 I was in school. I expect to graduate college $40,000 in student debt and afterward, move back home to live with my parents. To myself and the other eighty million Americans born between 1982 and 2000, these experiences are the norm. We are Generation Y, the “perma-children,” the 9/11 generation, and “screw you generation,” but we much prefer the Millennial Generation.
The term “generation” artificially groups people together with little more in common than the years they were born. So why are generations studied and considered important? According to sociologist Dr. Karl Mannheim, a generation’s “practical importance becomes clear as soon as one tries to obtain a more exact understanding of the accelerated pace of social change characteristic of our time” (1927, p. 286-287). Mannheim’s Theory of Generations theorizes that generations change swiftly in response to major events. This differs from Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, another prominent generational theory, which favors a cyclical pattern of archetypes. While Mannheim focuses on the influence of history and Strauss-Howe on past generations, both have a cause-effect basis. The two theories, when used simultaneously, can explain how a generation grew and became defined by previous generations and history. The Millennial Generation, like all living creatures, respond to stimuli provided by both past generations and current events, which have created the basis for not only generational theories but also unique characteristics common among this generation. By analyzing the Millennial Generation through these models, my analysis will show that the technology-obsessed, perma- children are the normal ebb and flow of change created by history and society.
Created by historians and sociologists Dr. Neil Howe and William Strauss, the cyclical Strauss- Howe Generational Theory characterizes historical generations through changes called “turnings.” Howe later explained why he named changes in generation as “turnings” in an interview by stating “every generation turns the corner and to some extent compensates for the excesses and mistakes of the midlife generation that is in charge when they come of age” (Galland, 2009, p. 38). According to Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, earlier generations have the greatest influence over new generations. The generational archetypes, or “turnings,” occur in the following order: hero, artist, prophet, and nomad. After the “nomad” generation, the turning then returns to “hero”, ultimately producing a cycle of archetypes.
I will start by explaining the “hero” generation because, according to Howe, the Millennial Generation is the current “hero” (Galland, 2009). Since this theory focuses on the influence of other generations, the “heroes” responds to the previous generation’s skeptical nature and a new crisis, “institutional life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to a perceived threat to the nation’s survival” and “cultural expressions redirects towards community purpose” (Howe & Strauss, 1996, p. 105). The “crisis” for the Millennial Generation is 9/11 and the subsequent economic recession. Although millennials are not entirely of age, their influence in the United States and on the world is dawning. For example, politicians, businesses, and educators are already having trouble understanding and effectively reaching out to millennials; later, this essay will delve further into the how and why this is happening.
The subsequent “artist” generation is described as a post-crisis era when this generation observes the “hero’s” loss of individualism and responds appropriately. Society “cuts down social and political complexity in favor of public consensus, aggressive institutions, and an ethic of personal sacrifice” (Howe & Strauss, 1991, p. 98). In other words, the individual is weak while institutions are strong. Historically, this archetype gave rise to the American suburbs and corporate jobs. The last “artist” generation was born 1925 to 1942 which, according to Howe and Strauss, do “not issue manifestos, make speeches, or carry posters” (1991). The individual was voiceless enough during this time that they became known as the Silent Generation. It should be noted that this also the now incomplete generation starting in 2001.
The following “prophet” archetype is characteristically the middle ground between the “artist” and “nomad” when the new generation’s individualism begins to grow stronger and institutions become weaker. In the words of Howe and Strauss , this turning is described as when “society is reaching the high tide of public progress, people suddenly tire of social discipline and want to recapture a sense of personal authenticity” and “young activist look at the previous generation as an era of cultural and spiritual poverty” (Howe & Strauss, 1991, p. 101). This generation does not want to live by the same, strict standards that the previous generation preferred. In American history, the “prophet” generations often search for “authentic self- expression” and have very strong morals (Galland, 2009). The latest “prophet” is the Baby Boom generation (born 1943- 1960) who were known for rock and roll and political unrest in Vietnam War protests, women’s rights movement, and the counterculture movement.
The ensuing generation, the “nomad,” is the opposite of the “artist” generation when individualism is the strongest and large institutions are attacked. Howe, in his interview with Galland, says nomads “learn they can’t trust basic institutions to look out for their best interest” (Galland, 2009). Pragmatic realists often characterize this as an archetype in American history. The most recent “nomad” is Generation X (born 1961 to 1981) who are still defining their generation, but this generation has a need “to combat corruption, dictatorships, abuse, AIDS, a generation in search of human dignity and individual freedom, the need for stability, love, tolerance, and human rights for all” (Henseler, 2012, pp. 23). Strauss-Howe Generation Theory can be reduced to the idea that each new generation responds to the older generation. This theory has often been critiqued for not explaining the role of historical events. The difficulty with this theory is that there is often an event, varying in size, that creates a reaction, but it is often challenging to identify the primary event. The reaction is usually what influences the next generation. Although the Strauss-Howe Generational Theory does not take into account the major historical events, Mannheim’s Theory of Generations demonstrates “major historical events are what change a society” (Mannheim, 1927, p. 290).
In Dr. Karl Mannheim’s Theory of Generations, the absence of a cycle and instead creates a less structured theory that compliments the Strauss-Howe Generational Theory to create a full explanation of the Millennial Generation. Mannheim also acknowledges that generations influence their successor, but he believes social change is a much slower evolution when it is thus. Mannheim’s theory can be summarized by the idea that “people resemble their times more than they resemble their parents” (McCrindle, 2007). Mannheim theorizes major historical events change society quickly in a much more direct, linear way. Examples of major historical events include the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and more recently, 9/11 that all created a “turning” in the given generations. As Mannheim’s theory is less structured, it is therefore less complicated. The primary difference between the two popular generation theories is that one theorizes past generations have the greatest influence on their successor while the other relies primarily on major events. Though different in structure, the basis for each theory is the same: a generation does not grow independently from outside influence and both theories use cause and effect to illustrate the emergence of generational traits because both public and private spheres influence a generation.
The historical events that change a generation are the most interesting because both the event and reaction have separate consequences. Such events and reactions are why both Strauss- Howe and Mannheim’s generational theories must be used simultaneously. Furthermore, the influences on the Millennial Generation were magnified because millennials were able to see what many generations did not see: photographs and footage. While the GI Generation read about Pearl Harbor in newspapers and listened to commentators on the radio and the Baby Boomers watched day old footage of the Vietnam War, the Millennial Generation watched the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center live. Millennials also saw how other generations reacted to events and millennials learned from them. Millennials did not learn what to do, but they learned what not to do.
Every so often, an invention appears that no other generation has had access to. These times are very interesting because it is usually the youngest generation that fully accepts these inventions. For the Millennial Generation, this is modern technology: personal computers, smartphones, and the Internet. Technology provides a clear incident when both Mannheim’s Theory of Generations and Strauss-Howe Generational Theory are mixed together. First, personal computers and technology were invented, an example of a historical event. Then, it was the millennials’ parents who wanted the best for their children and gave them computers and the Internet. The Internet was so new, no one knew how to use it and if there were any Internet rules or etiquette. Millennials were left to their own devices and Mary Donohue believes it was events like 9/11 that taught millennials how to use the Internet. Instead of confiding in their one best friend, millennials went to the Internet and confided in many groups of people that may or may not geographically live near them (Donohue, 2012). Technology and the Internet have promoted three qualities among the Millennial Generation: the rise of groups of friends, globalization on a personal level, and online politics.
Technology has had the greatest impact on the Millennial Generation and following closely behind is 9/11. At the time of 9/11, millennials were young toddlers at the youngest and were in college at the oldest. The majority were in school, surrounded by their peers as teachers decided how to approach the tragic situation. In this moment, the Millennial Generation became fearful of the unknown. Subsequently, many young men and women volunteered to defend their country. The Millennial Generation feared innocent and not-so-innocent backpacks on the sidewalk. They feared their friends and family would not return from Iraq. 9/11 instilled a fear into this generation that was uncommon since Pearl Harbor. When a man promised to return troops home from the War on Terror, millennials that were of age voted in record numbers to elect “President Obama, a man who ran on hope and change, of promises of a new day and a better, less fearful future, who vowed that it will get better and that war would be over” (Racine 2013). Katie Racine further explains this disillusionment in a persuasive essay titled “We Are the 9/11 Generation.”
We are the war-weary and indebted, the jaded and the idealistic, the ones tired of a broken system. We are the ones who will carry the burden of debts of war on our back. We are the children who grew up in a nation fearful of the world around us. We are the young adults on the brink of college, changing our life projections to answer the call of our nation. We are the crying and confused teenagers who wandered the halls of their high schools as we watched the world change around us. (Racine, 2013) 9/11 clearly has caused all of these fears, sentiments, and life changes which also have their own effects. The Millennial Generation, the fearful generation, does not object to the government spying on its own citizens or strict screenings at airports; they understand why.
The given characteristics of any generation evolve from both historical events and the family sphere and therefore, both theories must be combined to explain these characteristics as completely as possible. As stated before, there is normally an event that creates a reaction in the older generations, but the primary events are often too miniscule, personal, or numerous to name. Although many events are not explicitly stated in this essay, it should be noted that they do exist. The multigenerational influence begins as soon as humans enter the world because a child’s world is encompassed by their home life for roughly the first decade and therefore become a product of their parents: a different generation. One popular cliché that arises from bi- generational households is that the Millennial Generation is much “more optimistic and confident than the generations preceding them especially when compared to the cynical and individualistic Generation Xer’s” (Nimon, 2007, p. 34). With the contrast between the two generations, the “turning” is much more obvious. However, this is sometimes looked at in a negative sense because people view confidence as arrogance, but this is not entirely true. Nimon’s analysis is supported by Telefónica’s millennial study, which surveyed more than 12,000 millennials and found millennials are so confident that 83% believe they can make a local difference, 52% believe they can make a global difference, and 60% believe “one person’s participation in the political system makes a difference” (Telefónica, 2013). These characteristics are due to the increased optimism and confidence of this generation. There is no damage in believing a single person can change the world and therefore, older generations should not be intimidated by these statistics.
The answer to how millennials become confident lies in the manner in which this generation grew up. Millennials were “considered special since birth, and generally more sheltered” and therefore, they were shielded from failures and general hardships of childhood (Donohue, 2012). Howe and Strauss explained the increased optimism and confidence largely seen in this generation by applying their theory that emphasizes generational influence. In their essay called Millennials Go to College, Howe and Strauss wrote:
Unlike Generation X’s traumatic, latchkey childhood, the Millennials grew up in an area that placed high value on children – reflected in
everything from the products on the shelves (Cabbage Patch Dolls, “Baby On Board” stickers) to the media (pro-kid movies like Baby Boom and
Three Men and A Baby, a sharp rise in kids magazines and TV shows). Even the TV show, “Barney and Friends” (featuring teamwork and
commonalities) stole the limelight from “Sesame Street” (which featured individualism and uniqueness). Part of this trend is the emergence of
“helicopter parents” – always hovering, ultra protective, [and] unwilling to let go (Howe & Strauss, 2003, p. 21)
The “turning” of this generation could be found in “hovering” parents, even in the earliest stages of childhood. In a May 2013, Time published a cover story titled “Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation,” authored by Joel Stein. In this article, Stein quotes, “’It was an honest mistake,’ says Roy Baumeister, a psychology professor at Florida State University ...’The early findings showed that, indeed, kids with high [confidence] did better in school and were less likely to be in various kinds of trouble.’” (Stein, 2013, p. 23). This “mistake” obviously did not completely backfire as described above, as confidence can inspire change throughout the world.
Now that millennials have started their own families, it is believed millennials will re- strengthen the American family that been shattered for decades. Nimon, the author of Generation Y and Higher Education: The Other Y2K believes millennials “are seeking and finding lasting relationships” while Howe, in his interview with Galland, explains he believes a reemergence of a multigenerational family is arising (Nimon, 2007, p. 27). Howe says, “Family is going to continue to strengthen ... People are going to find new purposes for all the extra rooms in their oversized houses” (Galland, 2009). Howe then goes on to explain that, with the current economic situation, the nuclear family living within one household could solve many economic problems. It is only logical that millennials will re-strengthen the family unit because they were the first generation to grow up where an entirely fractured family was common: mother, father, and grandparents in separate houses, miles apart. This “turning,” like most, was meant to correct the mistakes of past generations. Generation X was the first generation to make divorce common in the United States and, according to Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, Generation X had such a profound effect on this generation that Generation X not only shaped the family life of millennials at home, but it continues into millennial adulthood.
Outside of the millennial home and into the millennial education, this generation is going to school as recent generations have, but more. According to Dr. Mary Donohue, millennials are the most educated generation in American history. However, what is surprising is that millennials learn differently from past generations; they crave interactions and simulations rather than the traditional lecture style of education (Donohue, 2013). This “turning” has come from what the past generation has provided to us: technology. With technology, people read and write texts, emails, tweets, and blogs with the click of a button. Millennials are reading and not listening. In school, millennials are so used to reading all of their information; they have a much harder time with lectures.
After millennials finish high school and attend what has become mandatory university, they do what no recent generation has done before: return home to live with their parents. For this reason, millennials have been called “lazy” and “entitled.” Other people say millennials are postponing childhood and therefore have earned the nickname “perma-children”. Following university, millennials try to find a job and pay off their hefty debts whereas past generation could graduate high school and/or college and find a job that would support themselves as well as their budding family. However, from 1996 to 2006, the cost of college has doubled and students are struggling to find jobs after college (Thompson, 2013). University used to indicate a part-time job during the school year and a summer job, but today it means tens of thousands of dollars of loans. The Millennial Generation is impossibly expected to do what their parents did – have a house and family right out of college – but this is not possible due to the economy.
Once millennials have completed their education, they graduate into the work force, but some employers are not pleased with a shift in work ethic. Compared to past generations, millennials seem less dedicated. In his paper Understanding Generation Y, McCrindle describes this phenomenon: “The young people of this generation do not live to work – but rather work to live. A job merely provides the income to do that they want to do” (McCrindle, 2007, p. 4). From a young age, millennials saw their parents and people who worked extremely hard and received little in return. They were unhappy, tired, and over-worked. This drastic “turning” can be traced back generations to the GI Generation who fought in World War II. Since then, their children and grandchildren benefited from hard work: a family with a house, car, and television. Once the bad economy went sour, millennials saw that the hard work was no longer beneficial; rather it was marring their over-worked parents. Millennials observed this and unconsciously chose that their parent’s experience would not be theirs.
Unlike recent generations, millennials do not trust companies, celebrities, or politicians and these three entities also have a hard time connecting to millennials. The traditional commercials and advertisements are no longer effective because millennials “have become cynical about companies trying to manipulate them” (Nimon, 2007, p. 32). This is why the Millennial Generation has been nicknamed the “screw you generation.” Donohue describes the trend of untrustworthiness by looking at “what happened when [millennials] were coming of age... presidents, prime ministers, countless business executives and maybe a few sports heroes all lied and very few were punished” (Donohue, 2012).
The Millennial Generation lost much of the trust they had in businesses, celebrities, and politicians when they were disappointed and used by these entities. They also saw the consequences of past generations that places so much trust in one place. Therefore, there will never be another John F. Kennedy that the entire country loved and adored. Politicians are not trusted. The entire Watergate Scandal ruined the reputation of the president. Furthermore, Nixon was pardoned; there was no punishment. The infamous OJ Simpson was acquitted for murder and banks nearly failed in 2008 while CEOs still received multi-million dollar bonuses. Now, millennials strive to punish those who do wrong. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees was suspended for using steroids, Lance Armstrong ́s Tour de France titles were removed for also using steroids, and John Edwards was virtually removed from politics after his affair was uncovered. The cynical Millennial Generation refuses to place all of their trust in one entity because they do not want to get screwed as their naïve parents and grandparents did.
The fact that generations respond to the outside world allows people to learn something about the world around them as well as the generation. Both their predecessors and major events shape a generation, which caused this cohort to common archetype. Although the Millennial Generation’s predecessors often look down upon this generation for the “turnings,” millennials are changing the country and world for the better. The Internet offers the advantage – or disadvantage – of revealing the injustices of the world and millennials are very aware of them. This is why 81 percent of American millennials say they sometimes or always participate in the United States politics, according to the Telefónica study (Telefónica, 2013). There is no doubt that this generation is the most informed and politically active, often with the help of a computer screen. Millennials want to make up for the shortcomings of previous generations. They will achieve in some aspects while failing in others, allowing for the next generation to create their own “turnings.”
References
Coombes, B. (2009). Generation Y: Are they really digital natives or more like digital refugees? Synergy , 7 (1), 31-41.
Donahue, Mary. (2012, Janurary 13). TEDxRyersonU – Dr. Mary Donohue – Millennials, McLuhan and slow dancing [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=f0PUrZQjVRw
Galland, D. (2009, October 8). [Interview with N. Howe]. Casey Research, pp. 36-47.
Henseler, C. (2012). Generation X goes global: Mapping a youth culture in motion. New York, NY: Routledge.
Hess, Scott. (2011, June 10). TEDxSF – Scott Hess – Millennials: Who they are & why we hate them [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-enHH- r_FM Howe, N. & Strauss, W. (1997). The fourth turning: An American prophecy. New York, NY: Broadway Books.
Howe, N. & Strauss, W. (1991). Generations: The history of America’s future,1584 to 2069. New York, NY: William Morrow & Company.
Howe, N., & Strauss, W. (2003, June 14). Millennials go to college. Retrieved October 14, 2013, from Eubie: http://eubie.com/millennials.pdf
Mannheim, K. (1927). The problem of generations. In P. Kecskementi (Ed.), Karl Mannheim: Essays (pp. 276-322). New York, NY: Routledge.
McCrindle, M. (2007). Understanding generation Y. North Parramatta: Australian
Morrison, M. (2013, March 25). McDonald’s has a problem. Retrieved from http://adage.com/article/news/mcdonald-s-1-rank-millennials/240497/
Nimon, S. (2007). Generation Y and higher education: The other Y2K. Journal of Institutional Research, 13 (1), 21-41.
Racine, K. (2013, September 11). We are the 9/11 generation. Retrieved from http://www.literallydarling.com/we-are-the-911-generation/.
Stein, J. (2013). Millennials: The me me me generation. Time, 181(19), 26-32.
Telefónica. (2013). Telefónica global millennial survey: Focus on US. Retrieved from http://survey.telefonica.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/Telefonica_GMS
_US_FACTSHEET.pdf
Thompson, D. (2013). Millennials are the unluckiest generation. National Journal, 6-21. US Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2012). The millennial generation. Retrieved from
http://emerging.uschamber.com/MillennialsReport
Walton, A. (2012, March 19). Millennials non-negotiables: Money, fame and image. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/03/19/millennial- generations- non-
negotiables-money-fame-and-image/
One topic that has become fashionable as the nation ages is the Millennial Generation. Born from 1982 to 2000, this generation will soon be fully of-age and is set to govern the country in the coming years. However, millennials often do not go without criticism from older generations who believe this young generation is overflowing with narcissism, laziness, and technology obsessions. This paper explores the Millennial Generation and the multigenerational influences as well as the historical influences that formulated their characteristics. Using the two leading generational theories, Strauss-Howe Generational Theory and Mannheim’s Theory of Generations, this paper creates a unique perspective on the currently popular topic of the often negatively viewed millennials. The motivations and aspirations of this generation are often overlooked, but they are the key to understanding the Millennial Generation.
The Millennial Generation: “Howe” and Why
As a child, I was sheltered and was not allowed to watch the violent or crude Power Rangers, Cat Dog, or Angry Beavers. My parents divorced when I was two and my childhood was constantly in limbo between the two. I hate lectures, I sleep next to my phone and computer, and I do not trust politicians. The morning of 9/11 I was in school. I expect to graduate college $40,000 in student debt and afterward, move back home to live with my parents. To myself and the other eighty million Americans born between 1982 and 2000, these experiences are the norm. We are Generation Y, the “perma-children,” the 9/11 generation, and “screw you generation,” but we much prefer the Millennial Generation.
The term “generation” artificially groups people together with little more in common than the years they were born. So why are generations studied and considered important? According to sociologist Dr. Karl Mannheim, a generation’s “practical importance becomes clear as soon as one tries to obtain a more exact understanding of the accelerated pace of social change characteristic of our time” (1927, p. 286-287). Mannheim’s Theory of Generations theorizes that generations change swiftly in response to major events. This differs from Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, another prominent generational theory, which favors a cyclical pattern of archetypes. While Mannheim focuses on the influence of history and Strauss-Howe on past generations, both have a cause-effect basis. The two theories, when used simultaneously, can explain how a generation grew and became defined by previous generations and history. The Millennial Generation, like all living creatures, respond to stimuli provided by both past generations and current events, which have created the basis for not only generational theories but also unique characteristics common among this generation. By analyzing the Millennial Generation through these models, my analysis will show that the technology-obsessed, perma- children are the normal ebb and flow of change created by history and society.
Created by historians and sociologists Dr. Neil Howe and William Strauss, the cyclical Strauss- Howe Generational Theory characterizes historical generations through changes called “turnings.” Howe later explained why he named changes in generation as “turnings” in an interview by stating “every generation turns the corner and to some extent compensates for the excesses and mistakes of the midlife generation that is in charge when they come of age” (Galland, 2009, p. 38). According to Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, earlier generations have the greatest influence over new generations. The generational archetypes, or “turnings,” occur in the following order: hero, artist, prophet, and nomad. After the “nomad” generation, the turning then returns to “hero”, ultimately producing a cycle of archetypes.
I will start by explaining the “hero” generation because, according to Howe, the Millennial Generation is the current “hero” (Galland, 2009). Since this theory focuses on the influence of other generations, the “heroes” responds to the previous generation’s skeptical nature and a new crisis, “institutional life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to a perceived threat to the nation’s survival” and “cultural expressions redirects towards community purpose” (Howe & Strauss, 1996, p. 105). The “crisis” for the Millennial Generation is 9/11 and the subsequent economic recession. Although millennials are not entirely of age, their influence in the United States and on the world is dawning. For example, politicians, businesses, and educators are already having trouble understanding and effectively reaching out to millennials; later, this essay will delve further into the how and why this is happening.
The subsequent “artist” generation is described as a post-crisis era when this generation observes the “hero’s” loss of individualism and responds appropriately. Society “cuts down social and political complexity in favor of public consensus, aggressive institutions, and an ethic of personal sacrifice” (Howe & Strauss, 1991, p. 98). In other words, the individual is weak while institutions are strong. Historically, this archetype gave rise to the American suburbs and corporate jobs. The last “artist” generation was born 1925 to 1942 which, according to Howe and Strauss, do “not issue manifestos, make speeches, or carry posters” (1991). The individual was voiceless enough during this time that they became known as the Silent Generation. It should be noted that this also the now incomplete generation starting in 2001.
The following “prophet” archetype is characteristically the middle ground between the “artist” and “nomad” when the new generation’s individualism begins to grow stronger and institutions become weaker. In the words of Howe and Strauss , this turning is described as when “society is reaching the high tide of public progress, people suddenly tire of social discipline and want to recapture a sense of personal authenticity” and “young activist look at the previous generation as an era of cultural and spiritual poverty” (Howe & Strauss, 1991, p. 101). This generation does not want to live by the same, strict standards that the previous generation preferred. In American history, the “prophet” generations often search for “authentic self- expression” and have very strong morals (Galland, 2009). The latest “prophet” is the Baby Boom generation (born 1943- 1960) who were known for rock and roll and political unrest in Vietnam War protests, women’s rights movement, and the counterculture movement.
The ensuing generation, the “nomad,” is the opposite of the “artist” generation when individualism is the strongest and large institutions are attacked. Howe, in his interview with Galland, says nomads “learn they can’t trust basic institutions to look out for their best interest” (Galland, 2009). Pragmatic realists often characterize this as an archetype in American history. The most recent “nomad” is Generation X (born 1961 to 1981) who are still defining their generation, but this generation has a need “to combat corruption, dictatorships, abuse, AIDS, a generation in search of human dignity and individual freedom, the need for stability, love, tolerance, and human rights for all” (Henseler, 2012, pp. 23). Strauss-Howe Generation Theory can be reduced to the idea that each new generation responds to the older generation. This theory has often been critiqued for not explaining the role of historical events. The difficulty with this theory is that there is often an event, varying in size, that creates a reaction, but it is often challenging to identify the primary event. The reaction is usually what influences the next generation. Although the Strauss-Howe Generational Theory does not take into account the major historical events, Mannheim’s Theory of Generations demonstrates “major historical events are what change a society” (Mannheim, 1927, p. 290).
In Dr. Karl Mannheim’s Theory of Generations, the absence of a cycle and instead creates a less structured theory that compliments the Strauss-Howe Generational Theory to create a full explanation of the Millennial Generation. Mannheim also acknowledges that generations influence their successor, but he believes social change is a much slower evolution when it is thus. Mannheim’s theory can be summarized by the idea that “people resemble their times more than they resemble their parents” (McCrindle, 2007). Mannheim theorizes major historical events change society quickly in a much more direct, linear way. Examples of major historical events include the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and more recently, 9/11 that all created a “turning” in the given generations. As Mannheim’s theory is less structured, it is therefore less complicated. The primary difference between the two popular generation theories is that one theorizes past generations have the greatest influence on their successor while the other relies primarily on major events. Though different in structure, the basis for each theory is the same: a generation does not grow independently from outside influence and both theories use cause and effect to illustrate the emergence of generational traits because both public and private spheres influence a generation.
The historical events that change a generation are the most interesting because both the event and reaction have separate consequences. Such events and reactions are why both Strauss- Howe and Mannheim’s generational theories must be used simultaneously. Furthermore, the influences on the Millennial Generation were magnified because millennials were able to see what many generations did not see: photographs and footage. While the GI Generation read about Pearl Harbor in newspapers and listened to commentators on the radio and the Baby Boomers watched day old footage of the Vietnam War, the Millennial Generation watched the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center live. Millennials also saw how other generations reacted to events and millennials learned from them. Millennials did not learn what to do, but they learned what not to do.
Every so often, an invention appears that no other generation has had access to. These times are very interesting because it is usually the youngest generation that fully accepts these inventions. For the Millennial Generation, this is modern technology: personal computers, smartphones, and the Internet. Technology provides a clear incident when both Mannheim’s Theory of Generations and Strauss-Howe Generational Theory are mixed together. First, personal computers and technology were invented, an example of a historical event. Then, it was the millennials’ parents who wanted the best for their children and gave them computers and the Internet. The Internet was so new, no one knew how to use it and if there were any Internet rules or etiquette. Millennials were left to their own devices and Mary Donohue believes it was events like 9/11 that taught millennials how to use the Internet. Instead of confiding in their one best friend, millennials went to the Internet and confided in many groups of people that may or may not geographically live near them (Donohue, 2012). Technology and the Internet have promoted three qualities among the Millennial Generation: the rise of groups of friends, globalization on a personal level, and online politics.
Technology has had the greatest impact on the Millennial Generation and following closely behind is 9/11. At the time of 9/11, millennials were young toddlers at the youngest and were in college at the oldest. The majority were in school, surrounded by their peers as teachers decided how to approach the tragic situation. In this moment, the Millennial Generation became fearful of the unknown. Subsequently, many young men and women volunteered to defend their country. The Millennial Generation feared innocent and not-so-innocent backpacks on the sidewalk. They feared their friends and family would not return from Iraq. 9/11 instilled a fear into this generation that was uncommon since Pearl Harbor. When a man promised to return troops home from the War on Terror, millennials that were of age voted in record numbers to elect “President Obama, a man who ran on hope and change, of promises of a new day and a better, less fearful future, who vowed that it will get better and that war would be over” (Racine 2013). Katie Racine further explains this disillusionment in a persuasive essay titled “We Are the 9/11 Generation.”
We are the war-weary and indebted, the jaded and the idealistic, the ones tired of a broken system. We are the ones who will carry the burden of debts of war on our back. We are the children who grew up in a nation fearful of the world around us. We are the young adults on the brink of college, changing our life projections to answer the call of our nation. We are the crying and confused teenagers who wandered the halls of their high schools as we watched the world change around us. (Racine, 2013) 9/11 clearly has caused all of these fears, sentiments, and life changes which also have their own effects. The Millennial Generation, the fearful generation, does not object to the government spying on its own citizens or strict screenings at airports; they understand why.
The given characteristics of any generation evolve from both historical events and the family sphere and therefore, both theories must be combined to explain these characteristics as completely as possible. As stated before, there is normally an event that creates a reaction in the older generations, but the primary events are often too miniscule, personal, or numerous to name. Although many events are not explicitly stated in this essay, it should be noted that they do exist. The multigenerational influence begins as soon as humans enter the world because a child’s world is encompassed by their home life for roughly the first decade and therefore become a product of their parents: a different generation. One popular cliché that arises from bi- generational households is that the Millennial Generation is much “more optimistic and confident than the generations preceding them especially when compared to the cynical and individualistic Generation Xer’s” (Nimon, 2007, p. 34). With the contrast between the two generations, the “turning” is much more obvious. However, this is sometimes looked at in a negative sense because people view confidence as arrogance, but this is not entirely true. Nimon’s analysis is supported by Telefónica’s millennial study, which surveyed more than 12,000 millennials and found millennials are so confident that 83% believe they can make a local difference, 52% believe they can make a global difference, and 60% believe “one person’s participation in the political system makes a difference” (Telefónica, 2013). These characteristics are due to the increased optimism and confidence of this generation. There is no damage in believing a single person can change the world and therefore, older generations should not be intimidated by these statistics.
The answer to how millennials become confident lies in the manner in which this generation grew up. Millennials were “considered special since birth, and generally more sheltered” and therefore, they were shielded from failures and general hardships of childhood (Donohue, 2012). Howe and Strauss explained the increased optimism and confidence largely seen in this generation by applying their theory that emphasizes generational influence. In their essay called Millennials Go to College, Howe and Strauss wrote:
Unlike Generation X’s traumatic, latchkey childhood, the Millennials grew up in an area that placed high value on children – reflected in
everything from the products on the shelves (Cabbage Patch Dolls, “Baby On Board” stickers) to the media (pro-kid movies like Baby Boom and
Three Men and A Baby, a sharp rise in kids magazines and TV shows). Even the TV show, “Barney and Friends” (featuring teamwork and
commonalities) stole the limelight from “Sesame Street” (which featured individualism and uniqueness). Part of this trend is the emergence of
“helicopter parents” – always hovering, ultra protective, [and] unwilling to let go (Howe & Strauss, 2003, p. 21)
The “turning” of this generation could be found in “hovering” parents, even in the earliest stages of childhood. In a May 2013, Time published a cover story titled “Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation,” authored by Joel Stein. In this article, Stein quotes, “’It was an honest mistake,’ says Roy Baumeister, a psychology professor at Florida State University ...’The early findings showed that, indeed, kids with high [confidence] did better in school and were less likely to be in various kinds of trouble.’” (Stein, 2013, p. 23). This “mistake” obviously did not completely backfire as described above, as confidence can inspire change throughout the world.
Now that millennials have started their own families, it is believed millennials will re- strengthen the American family that been shattered for decades. Nimon, the author of Generation Y and Higher Education: The Other Y2K believes millennials “are seeking and finding lasting relationships” while Howe, in his interview with Galland, explains he believes a reemergence of a multigenerational family is arising (Nimon, 2007, p. 27). Howe says, “Family is going to continue to strengthen ... People are going to find new purposes for all the extra rooms in their oversized houses” (Galland, 2009). Howe then goes on to explain that, with the current economic situation, the nuclear family living within one household could solve many economic problems. It is only logical that millennials will re-strengthen the family unit because they were the first generation to grow up where an entirely fractured family was common: mother, father, and grandparents in separate houses, miles apart. This “turning,” like most, was meant to correct the mistakes of past generations. Generation X was the first generation to make divorce common in the United States and, according to Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, Generation X had such a profound effect on this generation that Generation X not only shaped the family life of millennials at home, but it continues into millennial adulthood.
Outside of the millennial home and into the millennial education, this generation is going to school as recent generations have, but more. According to Dr. Mary Donohue, millennials are the most educated generation in American history. However, what is surprising is that millennials learn differently from past generations; they crave interactions and simulations rather than the traditional lecture style of education (Donohue, 2013). This “turning” has come from what the past generation has provided to us: technology. With technology, people read and write texts, emails, tweets, and blogs with the click of a button. Millennials are reading and not listening. In school, millennials are so used to reading all of their information; they have a much harder time with lectures.
After millennials finish high school and attend what has become mandatory university, they do what no recent generation has done before: return home to live with their parents. For this reason, millennials have been called “lazy” and “entitled.” Other people say millennials are postponing childhood and therefore have earned the nickname “perma-children”. Following university, millennials try to find a job and pay off their hefty debts whereas past generation could graduate high school and/or college and find a job that would support themselves as well as their budding family. However, from 1996 to 2006, the cost of college has doubled and students are struggling to find jobs after college (Thompson, 2013). University used to indicate a part-time job during the school year and a summer job, but today it means tens of thousands of dollars of loans. The Millennial Generation is impossibly expected to do what their parents did – have a house and family right out of college – but this is not possible due to the economy.
Once millennials have completed their education, they graduate into the work force, but some employers are not pleased with a shift in work ethic. Compared to past generations, millennials seem less dedicated. In his paper Understanding Generation Y, McCrindle describes this phenomenon: “The young people of this generation do not live to work – but rather work to live. A job merely provides the income to do that they want to do” (McCrindle, 2007, p. 4). From a young age, millennials saw their parents and people who worked extremely hard and received little in return. They were unhappy, tired, and over-worked. This drastic “turning” can be traced back generations to the GI Generation who fought in World War II. Since then, their children and grandchildren benefited from hard work: a family with a house, car, and television. Once the bad economy went sour, millennials saw that the hard work was no longer beneficial; rather it was marring their over-worked parents. Millennials observed this and unconsciously chose that their parent’s experience would not be theirs.
Unlike recent generations, millennials do not trust companies, celebrities, or politicians and these three entities also have a hard time connecting to millennials. The traditional commercials and advertisements are no longer effective because millennials “have become cynical about companies trying to manipulate them” (Nimon, 2007, p. 32). This is why the Millennial Generation has been nicknamed the “screw you generation.” Donohue describes the trend of untrustworthiness by looking at “what happened when [millennials] were coming of age... presidents, prime ministers, countless business executives and maybe a few sports heroes all lied and very few were punished” (Donohue, 2012).
The Millennial Generation lost much of the trust they had in businesses, celebrities, and politicians when they were disappointed and used by these entities. They also saw the consequences of past generations that places so much trust in one place. Therefore, there will never be another John F. Kennedy that the entire country loved and adored. Politicians are not trusted. The entire Watergate Scandal ruined the reputation of the president. Furthermore, Nixon was pardoned; there was no punishment. The infamous OJ Simpson was acquitted for murder and banks nearly failed in 2008 while CEOs still received multi-million dollar bonuses. Now, millennials strive to punish those who do wrong. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees was suspended for using steroids, Lance Armstrong ́s Tour de France titles were removed for also using steroids, and John Edwards was virtually removed from politics after his affair was uncovered. The cynical Millennial Generation refuses to place all of their trust in one entity because they do not want to get screwed as their naïve parents and grandparents did.
The fact that generations respond to the outside world allows people to learn something about the world around them as well as the generation. Both their predecessors and major events shape a generation, which caused this cohort to common archetype. Although the Millennial Generation’s predecessors often look down upon this generation for the “turnings,” millennials are changing the country and world for the better. The Internet offers the advantage – or disadvantage – of revealing the injustices of the world and millennials are very aware of them. This is why 81 percent of American millennials say they sometimes or always participate in the United States politics, according to the Telefónica study (Telefónica, 2013). There is no doubt that this generation is the most informed and politically active, often with the help of a computer screen. Millennials want to make up for the shortcomings of previous generations. They will achieve in some aspects while failing in others, allowing for the next generation to create their own “turnings.”
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