Generation Z Similarities

This book is a sequel to the Generations book by the same authors. It is very optimistic about the potential and qualities of the Millennial generation. For instance, they are born in an era when children were viewed more positively, they are more optimistic, cooperative, accepting of authority, rule followers, are the most watched over generation, smart, and believe they can change the future.

In the article “The Beat Up Generation,” Abby Ellin claims that the negative way other generations view the millennials may all be wrong; instead, the millennials are preparing for the world most generations are opposing. Ellin declares in her article that the millennials are shown to be the most disliked generation; their ideas collide with those in the Baby Boomers and the Gen-Xers causing confusion. Constantly, Articles are being thrown out about the millennials “incompetence” and their “self-absorbed” behavior which only causes more hatred according to Ellin. However, she continues to state that millennials are no more selfish than the previous generations; in fact, millennials are only trying to discover new ways for “communication and

Bauerlein says, “life has never been so yielding, goods so plentiful, schooling so accessible…” [Source A] which is not a negative effect of technology at all. This is simply an example of young America benefiting from its’ progress. As long as time has existed, progression has been the ultimate goal of a species. It is

After watching Scott Hess’s Ted talk, I am even more intrigued about how others view millennials. Over the course of his presentation, Hess really focused on the differences between millennials and generation x (the generation after the baby boomers, born between 1960-980) and the differences between the two. Some examples are, millennials are more engaged, inclusive, and their parents act more as friends whereas gen x’s are judgmental, form various cliques, and their parents were very strict. As a result of these differences, Hess concludes that the gen x generation is possibly jealous of the way millennials live because of the technology and opportunities available to them.

A generation can be defined as the period, cohort or age of a group of people. Age is seen as the age that the persons were when particular transitions or events in life take place. Period can be defined as the overall experience of a person’s lifetime. Lastly, cohort can be seen as the overall grouping of people who have shared events during their formative years that more than likely contribute to like-minded behavior throughout the duration of their lives. There are currently four generations in United States society: Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X and The Millennials. The silent generation was born between the years of 1930 and 1945. Significant events during this time period include but are not limited to World War II and the Great Depression. The baby boomer generation was born between the years of 1946 and 1964. Significant events for this generation include the substantial growth of the middle class as well as economic prosperity. Generation X is born in the time period of 1965-1979, this generation was brought together by the big energy issue as well as the Vietnam War. Lastly the final generation that is currently in the workforce are the Millennials. This generation was born between the years 1980 and 2001, this group is brought together by the 9/11 terrorist attacks as well as the internet

There are currently six living generations in the United States, each with different characteristics, beliefs, and values. The things that define each generation’s culture are derived from their history, upbringing, and the lifestyle of their time. Our generation was born between 1980 and 2000. We are called Millennials. More specifically, we grew up in the South, which typically lends itself to being more conservative and religious. These characteristics, along with our instant gratification attitude, define who we are, what we believe, and how we view other generations. For example, we might have differing views with the Silent Generation. Some Millennials may feel the Silent Generation’s social, religious, and economic conservatism is outdated.

Over 70 years has passed since the end of World War II, and since that time our society has seen 4 generations transition into the next on a bridge scarcely understood by those preceding or following them. These cohorts are known in their chronological order as The Baby Boomers (born 1946 – 1965), Generation X (born 1965 – 1981), The Millennials (1981 – 1994), and now The Centennials (born 1994 – early 2000s), or Generation Z, a group whose exact demographics are still largely undefined. The disparity between the Millennials and their postwar predecessors, The Baby Boomers, can be noted by studying characteristics of each generation, and how the socioeconomic factors surrounding war and technology have shaped them. While their basic needs and core similarities are innately human, objectively speaking, their views, biases and outlooks have most certainly been impacted by the events and advancements of their time.

While there is less information available about the behaviours of this generation yet, we do know a lot about the environment they are growing up in. This future generation will be the most diverse ever, and it could be predicted that diversity in the workplace will be the norm.

Being born in 1997, I am one of the first of this generation to reach adulthood. As the last of the millennials finish graduating college, Generation Z, also known as generation or iGen, are rapidly growing up. Not much is known about this generation, but we do know a few things and can predict the rest. As Millennials are making headline as America’s worst generation, iGen is working behind the scenes to change America for the better.

America nowadays is known as one of the most “techie” countries in the world. But, is that a positive note to have in the United States? According to Mark Bauerlein, an English professor and researcher, no. That is, not a great note because “knowledge and skills haven’t kept pace,” compared to what our ancestors (source 1). But that is their criteria. What if we would test them on our criteria? Would it be the same as if we tested on theirs?Technology does make life easier, but it is our choice to do what we want to do with the technology, we can obtain more knowledge or just simply screw around; honestly speaking: We are not the Dumbest Generation.

The most connected, classy and educated generation ever is known as Gen Z. Gen Z is part of a generation that is global, social, visual and technological. They are the teens, the tweens, the youth and the young adults of our society. A Generation is generally described through the years of birth. For example Generation Z is 1995 to 2009 and therefore if you are born within these times, you are considered a part of the Generation. Generation Z is about 2 billion of the world’s population and they don’t just characterize the future, they are creating it. Unfortunately Gen Z individuals have been brought into the world during the times of crisis, terrorism and the global downturn and climate change. However fortunately study has shown that Generation Z is assisting human resource managers in many areas such as employment, and the evolution of the work industry. Like the unfortunate era they’re living in, there is a positive turnaround where the students of today, employees and consumers of tomorrow, are experiencing the workforce for the first time and through this experience they have found and displayed new ways that human resourcing can be publically viewed. It has often been argued that Generation Z kids are irresponsible and lack discipline, however when it comes to employment, many managers have agreed that this Generation is the best.

Across the nation, people are talking about the Millennial generation and how different they are compared to others, but are they really that different? Millennials are lazy, entitled, and selfish, or as you may have heard may be essential to the modern workplace, either way, they are being talked about whether it is good or bad. To put it in other words, past generations are concerned for what the future will look like with this technology-dependent generation, but is that a bad thing if the technology is only going to advance from here on out? The older generation is being too harsh or are they just genuinely concerned about the future? Joel Stein (2013) has written an article about the Millennials, it is titled Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation he argues for them being a selfish generation but by saying that it is not a bad thing. The second article is by Liz Zarka (2017) Generation Me: The Millennial Generation’s obsession with being unique, she argues that they are the generation that needs to be concerned for. After reading both of these articles I agree with some of the points that both of these authors make, however, there are also some sections that I disagree with. My perception of the situation is that millennials may have all these negative characteristics but use them to an advantage that no other generation can has; along with the advancement of technology and the use of social media may have increased the narcissistic trait in them, but they use these traits to get what they want, however, being narcissistic isn’t always good there can certainly be some disadvantages.

Gen Z is later described as not similar to millennials but “‘more like their grandparents (or, in some cases great-grandparents)’, Mr.Howe said [who is a researcher and a social trends consultant]”(Williams). They grew up in the same kind of struggle, them with the Great Depression and Gen Z with the Great Recession.

Technology is not all to blame for the stereotypes about Generation Z. Despite the negative comments about Generation Z being lazy and unaware, they are not at all. In fact, because most of them are technologically inclined and virtually updated, they are not apathetic, they’re just being teenagers who were raised in a different environment. This is why there is such a thing as generations in this world. If there weren’t any changes in the world, we wouldn’t even be able to tell if a new generation has come. Every generation has its benefits for a better and more advanced living.

Each generation has certain characteristics and values with which the members of it can identify. Members of Generation X highly value their job and family time; so they try to find a balance between these two aspects of their lives. Generation X are hardworking people, but they are