Is Generation Y Really Too Entitled?

WriteFashionista
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 06:49 am: [report]

Great read, Ami. It’s really refreshing to hear someone standing up for Generation Y. I think my generation is also less afraid of standing up for what we believe in and aren’t afraid of being ourselves. And that is a wonderful thing!

writergirl
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 07:00 am: [report]

Yes, GenY is in entitled…and the “immature” excuse only goes so far.  My brother and I were raised exactly the same by the same parents but are two different generations….He had to be forced to get a job at sixteen where as I started working at ten delivering papers.  He partied on weekends—I babysat.  I was essentially self-sufficient at the age of 14.  I worked, earned, saved and graduated college in four years—with a transfer!—and earned my master’s degree in less time than it took him to get his damned bachelors.  Then I found employment and continuted to take responsibility for myself, never asking my parents for help, but admittedly taking it if they offered.  And then I paid them back without being required to.

He fleeced my mother for years.  Still is fleecing her.  He went back to school—AGAIN—and still doesn’t know what he “wants to do when he grows up”.  He’s 31.  When the hell is he going to take responsibility and grow up?  Get a job and pay his own freaking bills?  When?  Because news flash: THIRTY ONE is old enough and mature enough to be doing these things.  By the time my husband was thirty one he ran a multi-national business. I had a child and house to take care of and a marriage to contribute to. My brother can’t even tie his shoes sometimes.

My SIL is the same way.  25 years old, works PART TIME, lives at home and has no desire to work any harder.  And her parents continue to let it happen.  No rent.  No responsibility beyond the car payment and as long as she can make that, she’s content.

There’s no desire to drive forward.  My husband and I, GenXrs—there was a drive a desire to move forward, experience, succeed, that seems to be lacking in SOME (joyy!) GenY’s that we can not comprehend.  We are STILL driven and want to succeed further where our siblings are content to just float along.

My niece will be graduating college next year.  She doesn’t want to teach anything below 2nd grade because “they have to graduate first grade knowing how to read and that’s too much responsibility.”  Um?  Are you effing kidding me? THAT is the attitude today that is prevelent—that generation doesn’t want to take responsibility.

Now, there are some notable exceptions, I will admit that.  But the generation on a whole, is entitled and can’t seem to get their act together.  Do I feel sorry for them?  NO.  Because they freaking squandered every opportunity handed to them.

So what is the difference?  Why do siblings from the same parents raised in the exact same manner wind up so differently?  Because we knew innocence and they didn’t?  Please.  That is just another excuse the GenY’s cozy too while drinking their Chai Lattes lamenting about how lousy the “man” is in supressing them.

Riley
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 07:24 am: [report]

This entitlement attitude isn’t limited to one specific generation.  It is an increasing majority of the nation that believes something is owed to them, whether it is because of bad luck or stupidity; many people seem to think they deserve something for nothing.

Blame parents for allowing their children to grow up expecting everything, and blame the government for turning into the largest babysitter in the world.

Not allowing people and businesses to fail doesn’t encourage good business/life practices.

That is a rant for another day that I shoehorned into this one, sorry.

Kathls
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 07:35 am: [report]

@writergirl:  Ok, your Three examples of family members in no way represent an Entire generation.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, has those family members that you just don’t understand, they’re just poke along in life, never trying to get past the day to day.  (And by some opinion, the current 31 yr-old is part of gen X) .

But on to my general comment—

Thank you!  If I hear one more ‘kids these days’ stories about Gen X or Y I’m going to scream.  You all sound like a bunch of old farts sitting around discussing the ‘good old days’.

As someone who pulls up the end of gen X, I’ve sometimes been lumped into both groups and the generalizations are really getting old.  I’ve noticed a recent rash of ‘entitlement’ stories which really baffles me.  EVERY person in EVERY generation has to (or should) learn to grow up.  Since Gen Y is is currently going through those growing pains it’s all being dumped on them.  Yes the ongoing economy crisis, which none of us have been through in our lifetimes, has left us spinning, but I’ve yet to hear ONE person say that they are entitled to a job without earning it.

For the million of students out there who have loans saddled on their backs, ask them if they think they don’t have to work for what they get in life.  After EARNING my bachelors and Masters I am left with enough student loans to buy a nice luxury car and it will take 30 years to pay them off.  I was recently laid off which left me without healthcare, and now scrambling to make it through the month.  Leaving my education off my resume, I can’t even find work as a secretary, so don’t even get me started on an entitled attitude.  I don’t feel that because I have 2 college degrees and not much field experience, that I deserve a job.  I feel that it would be fantastic if I and millions of others could find a job to gain that experience, show my worth.

Being honest without ourselves, what 16 year old takes their first or second part time jobs at taco bell or tj maxx all that seriously? No one I know from either X or Y has this mythical attitude.  It’s a matter of the individual and how they were raised.  It’s always the ‘horror stories’ and bad examples that get the most notice.  I’m fairly certain (or at least I hope) that most people that read generalization dribble don’t take it to heart.

I would write more but I’ve gotta make it down to the unemployment office, figure out how to defer my loans, and beg my doctor’s office for free samples of my prescriptions.  Oh, and look for a job ...

Damn these kids these days!  They just have it all too easy!

AgentBeryllium
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 07:45 am: [report]

@Riley: Good Call! If you want an example look at every damn spoiled child in suburban southern California. Some kids had everything handed to them. (Yes, I will call them that. I’m 32 so I can. So there!) Some are natural hard workers and achievers. The problem I feel is that before we had the recession we had a ton of parents that said they were not going to treat their kids like their parents treated them. News Flash: The reason why your parents probably treated you that way is because you behaved like a Ferrel Animal!

I saw a girl who was 8. (Yes 8!) throw a toddler temper tantrum in Walmart because she couldn’t do what she wanted which was put the lip gloss in her purse.  What I wanted to do, but decided against it due to my friends advice (Don’t stick your nose in other peoples business because that’s how you end up with a shotgun in your face.) Was go to the girl and say you are way too old to be behave like a baby. Intead I decided against it.

I can guarantee that child will be apart of another generation of entitled underachiever.

bumbler
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 07:47 am: [report]

@Kathls Obviously not every member of a generation shares the same attributes unless its a generation of robots or something.  That doesn’t mean that there can’t be trends which are disturbing.  I live in South Florida with a large immigrant population, people who have had to struggle harder than the average American to succeed and many of them want to give their kids everything they did not have.  Unfortunately this has spawned a rash of prince and princess behavior in the area.  Many crave all designer clothing and accessories, don’t want to work in any field that is not worthy of them and are content to live with mommy and daddy for years into adulthood while they figure things out.  Many have credit card debt in high school that their parents have to pay off because they don’t have to work but they deserve that new purse/ new sunglasses/ night out at the expensive club. Don’t get me started on the birthday parties I’ve attended where I’ve seen people in their mid-twenties throw full on screaming and crying hissy fits because “its my birthday and I should have whatever I want and I can act however I want.”
Obviously not everyone of the generation is like this.  I’m 25, my husband is 25 my friends are in the same age range.  We are all hard workers, save money only buy what we can afford not what we think we deserve.  And yes I took my first job at 15 at Petsmart very seriously.  But I have seen enough of the behavior people complain about to know that it is becoming increasingly prevalent in our generation and there is no excuse for it.

Claireific
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 08:09 am: [report]

Yeah, unfortunately. I’m solidly Gen Y, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we were born and raised in the midst of an economic boon. Our parents had us when they had money, and they wanted to use it to give us a good life. (That’s super simplistic and only part of it, I freely admit.) But for example, I imagine the people born during the Great Depression have/had a very different psychological profile. I don’t know. Just a thought.

powplz
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 08:16 am: [report]

I love how older people love to talk about how entitled my generation is.  The same old “kids these days” crap reiterated with a spin that came off the kind of parenting those very same people chose when raising us GenY’ers.  Know why ‘we’ think a job will fall into our laps (to overgeneralize)?  Because the Boomers/early GenXers (depending on how old our parents are) told us that we simply couldn’t get a good job if we didn’t work hard in school and go to college and get a degree.

Well, we went and got the degree - now what?  I was (un?)fortunate enough to grow up without money.  We were working class, living in a hellhole house in farm country in a historically economically depressed region.  The basics were always covered, but there wasn’t much of a free ride.  My mom went back and got her BA (then CPA after that) and worked to help my brother and I out during school.  A lot of people scoff at my admission that my mom paid my rent through college, saying they “never had anything like that” even though their parents covered their tuition for them.  Guess what, $27k in student loans is HARDLY a free ride (but totally worth it since I’m in a job that is actually relevant to my English major education!).

I work in a college town now, and I’ve seen recent grads from our local university not last more than a day in my office.  Even as a 23 year old, it’s hard for me to draw any conclusion outside of they probably just don’t want to work, because that’s what jobs in my office entail.  I think parents meant well when they built us up, wanting better for their children than they had it, but that notion is backfiring - while 100% of the blame is unfairly falling on the shoulders of the GenYers who are facing a pitiful job market and the sorries economy this side of the Great Depression.

Are you a GenYer looking to not fall into the entitlement stereotype?  Start at the bottom and work your way up.  You learn more, you end up with better opportunities as you impress your coworkers by absolutely crushing work you are probably way overqualified for, and it shows ingenuity.  It worked for me : )

Are you the parent of a GenYer who is desparately hoping that your child won’t turn out an entitled little bitch?  Raise them to work for what they get and not expect a damn thing for free.  Children have no say in how they’re raised yet they’re automatically faulted for any type of flaws they grow up to have.  Your child’s character and values are your responsibility as a parent (of course they have a mind of their own, but parental influence has an amazing impact, even if you think they’re not listening).  Don’t drop the ball.

Raugiel
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 08:40 am: [report]

I think we’ve also been giving young people expectations that our country doesn’t meet for at least one generation if not more. When I was in highschool (graduated 2000, not sure if I am gen x or gen y), we were given the impression that there would be a pool table in every office and that there were jobs for everyone who was willing to learn and work. By the time I graduated from college, that was all over. By the time I graduated from law school, even those professional jobs were becoming more scarce, and I count myself lucky to still be working and working in my field (I know people who aren’t, even though they are smart and work hard). I worry about friends of mine who took time off before finish school and will be graduating over the next couple of years with an expensive degree, “over-qualified” for many jobs, but not as desireable as the experienced people who have become unemployed in the last year.

Although I have always been a hard worker, the rewards from work are not what we had been promised. The pay isn’t as high, the hours are longer, and a lot of the perks that we were told were “normal” in the new economy quickly evaporated. The idea that you can get “the job you love” right out of the gate (this is what we were told in school that we could and should do) might have been feasable in a boom economy, but in a poor economy, or even a healthy (but not boom) one, you often have to take the 3-4 jobs you don’t like to get to the one you do. I don’t know what they tell kids in school today, but if it doesn’t match up with the actual work and economic reality, we’ll just see even more disconnect between new workers and employers.

shannac02
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 08:46 am: [report]

I think its a crock that parents justify spoiling their children by saying that they’re giving them “what we never had when we were growing up”. By many accounts, I was “spoiled” as a child, but I have worked since I was 14 to have my own money to buy clothes, eventually cars, and nice things. I don’t leech off my parents for ANYTHING. I have a cushy life and a well-paying job, because I’m motivated to work and have a nice lifestyle. Don’t lump me into the Gen-Y “losers” or “unmotivated” bunch, I like to think that not all of us are total boils on the butt of humanity

Riley
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 08:55 am: [report]

@Raguiel - Jobs as an attorney have been glamorized by television and movies.  So many students in law school are living in a dream world where they think they’ll graduate law school and make 100k out of the chute while only working 40 hours a week.  The top 5% makes that if they are lucky and very good at networking with large corporate firms.  Those “lucky” few get to work 60+ hours a week for around 8 years until they get the promotion to partner.

The other 95% are stuck doing whatever they can to get by, usually making around 30k once all the overhead is paid.  Filing in court is expensive if it comes from your own pocket.

Do research before dropping over 100k on an education.

pragmatryst
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 08:57 am: [report]

@writergirl: “Yes, GenY is in entitled…and the “immature” excuse only goes so far.”

I would say entitlement goes exactly as far as the parents allow it to.  Most kids are not going to embrace responsible social behavior unless some firm but caring mentor establishes clear boundaries and enforces a minimum level of discipline which includes specific consequences for unacceptable behavior.  Teachers, coaches, and other influential adults can contribute to this process but parents by far have the largest influence and if they don’t take the lead and set the tone, it unrealistic to expect your average fun-loving kid to rise to the occasion and parent themselves.  Some will.  In the case of your brother you say that you were “raised exactly the same” but he was partying on weekends and has been “fleecing” your mother for years.  It could just as easily be said that your parents allowed him to do what he wanted and that they have been willingly enabling him for years.  Unless you were raised under a double standard with different rules they probably would have done the same for you if you weren’t responsible on you own.  So, it may be true that Gen Y has a lot of entitled slackers, but apparently they had a little help getting where they are.

GreenAura
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 09:03 am: [report]

I’m a Gen Y-er and I in no way have EVER felt entitled to anything.  I’ve worked non-stop since I was 15 years old so that during high school I could pay for things like year books, class rings, class trips, and to save for college.  Once I started working, I was asked to contribute a third of each paycheck to the household for my portion of food and rent, a third went to savings a a third I got to keep for misc. My parents have NEVER ONCE contributed a dime towards my higher education, in fact, they stole $4k from me when I was 16 ($$ that I saved to go to a university, I ended up stuck in community college).  My family was definitely ‘lower class’.  I never even knew what it was like to live in a house until I hit 25 years old.

All of that being said leads me to this:  I don’t think it has anything to do with generation.  It has to do with social class and parental upbringing.  If you are handed everything in life, why would feel like you need to earn anything? If your parents paid for everything, then you would never take a job seriously because mommy and daddy would cover anything you couldn’t.  Parents that are able to afford to spoil their children should still enforce that the child learn financial responsibility instead of handing them everything.  Being given nothing, I had to earn everything and therefore, I have given nothing short of 100% to every job I have had (all 4 of them).

retro chic
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 09:10 am: [report]

Right on, writergirl and bumbler, et al, in part. To the article/others: Let’s stip now and say SOME (joyy) not all, with extreme exceptions on both ends. And let’s chill the backhanded dismissals with That Old Chestnut “The Kids These Days” and ageist comments about “older” people weighing in – is dismissive and in itself generationally divisive. Everyone has a perspective to offer, esp those that have seen it from both ends and want to understand/help. It is very short-sighted for *any* gen to think their own gen as so isolated and unique when it serves no purpose other than to complain. Now, more than ever, *all* the gens must pull together, and I’m not alone on this. That said… to the topic…

I spread the blame *somewhat* on parents, also, education system and socially-isolating consumer electronics use, too. The heavy on the “feel-good-about-yourself” childrearing and more advantages at the expense of real-life training while trying to be the child’s best friend did a disservice to the children of GenY, due in part by guilt and compensation for the rise in divorce. School programs (that weren’t cut altogether) are based on test-taking, not organic creativity in problem-solving and producing. Within the exceptions are the extremes: Those whose innate personalities pushed thru to (re)birth themselves or were lucky enough to be tough-loved when needed, to the other extreme – I’ll see your “Entitled Underachiever” and raise you with a “Helpless Sociopath.” Those are the ones that gain the notoriety for their fellow GenY-ers, and that’s unfortunate. They should be held up as such and cut loose *for their own* good, no longer enabled. It’s amazing how well people perform when *allowed* to. As it is, society is having to parent and teach them for what lacked when it counted in the formative years.

This article lacks insight into GenX-ers who were *mostly* more grounded and confronted with real-life sooner and were in no way all glory days. Somehow, every generation prepares itself for the “task” at hand, and GenY-ers will be just fine. A hand up, Yes! A hand out, Absolutely Not. People of any gen can piss their youth away blaming others and parents, but, in the end it’s every adult individual’s responsibility, and hopefully, their own life-preserving desire to help themselves for their own true happiness. There are so many aspects to this that need to be explored separately… maybe in another comment – a comment that will also incl everything I observe and appreciate (and am somewhat jealous of) about some GenY-ers. The pos should be forthcoming, too. cheers

ps: I am literally listening to Arnold the Governator right now here (LA, CA) on TV talk about cutting more programs (for schools). He will not be happy until he has broken the backs of all teachers and esp the children. Cannot wait to see how they will all turn out. We are ranked 47th striving for 50. :(

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 09:17 am: [report]

Get of my lawn! *Waves walker angrily in air*

powplz
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 09:18 am: [report]

@retrochic - I think AZ ed. is 49/50 and our legislature is also unbelievably keen on balancing the budget on the backs of the children/underprivleged (ed cuts AND social service, dept of econ. security cuts).  I love it here, but the politics blow my effing mind most days.

retro chic
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 10:02 am: [report]

@joyy – being in a Red state, too, I guess it would. I am such a demon about raising and educating children right.

@CheeeeEEEEse – Lawn? I think the *park’s* sprinklers may be getting your laptop wet. I’ll send covers…

Erin G
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 10:20 am: [report]

I’m a Generation Y-er myself. From my own observation of the many many people I grew up around, went to school with, interacted with, I’d say its split 50-50 between acting entitled and not.

But hey, I didn’t grow up with money, I have been working since I was 13. I am anything BUT entitled. Let the brats act that way. It means that *I* am the one looking like a star in interviews. I’ve gotten every job I’ve interviewed for. Jobs that are traditionally filled by people at least 5 years older than myself.

My life is far better than my entitled peers.

*sam*
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 11:46 am: [report]

Like most ppl here, I think that it’s fair to say that not *everyone* born b/t (w/e yrs qualify you as GenY) is an “entitled underachiever.” While I have been told by numerous people (including my own mother) that I “have my dad wrapped around my finger” I will readily concede that, yes, my daddy does love me and maybe I am a little (ok, probably a lot) more spoiled than they were when they were my age. However, I have NEVER ONCE been told that I’m a brat, or that I fall into that “entitled underachiever” category. During high school, I held a full-time job (over 30miles from home no less) while I took all AP courses (and managed to transfer over a semester’s worth of credits to a university). While in college, I still managed to keep up a (different) full-time job, while tacking on being a research assistant—and making Dean’s List every semester. And at one point, after I quit working full-time b/c it was interfering with school, I worked 2 part-time jobs, went to school, AND continued the research gig. Oh, and I graduated with Honors.

So no, I don’t believe that I feel ‘entitled’ to a good job. But I feel that I at least deserve a chance to prove myself. If I have to start at the bottom, then by all means, bring it on! But looking at me during an interview with that “you prissy little pretentious snob” look on your face, is just uncalled for. Despite what you might think, I didn’t roll into your parking lot in a brand new Mercades or BMW and come in looking for the hand-out I’m entitled to.—I rolled up in ‘96 Saturn w/ chipped paint and steel rims (b/c I’m too poor to replace the hub caps) looking for an opportunity to prove myself! :p

Kathls
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 11:53 am: [report]

@*sam*:  I feel your pain, my 96 Mercury sable has no air and the power windows don’t work.  lol

—————

@CheeeeEEEEse:  I <3 u! lol.  Back in my day you had to use a typewriter to write your papers!  kids these days have it too easy with these computers and fancy-ass printers.

————-

The thing that bothers me most, besides the gross over-generalization, is that I have yet to see a statistic.  Not one.  I have probably read a couple dozen articles on this topic in the last 6 months, and I have not seen one number that says gen Y has a higher unemployment rate b/c they’re turning down jobs, they ask for X% higher salary than their older counterparts, etc.  In fact I just went looking for some and couldn’t find any, but I’d sure like to see them.  And I’m not talking anecdotal ‘evidence’.  I’d like to see an actual scientific study with statistically significant results.  Anecdotes prove and say nothing.  They don’t point out or prove ‘trends’—they are stories.  How do you think rumors and mis-categorizations happen?  Just like Pop Roxx & soda, and rice & birds ... one time I was at this wedding and this bird was eating Pop Roxx and drinking soda—Kaboom!!  It takes nothing more than a few talking heads and crappy media outlets to spread unsubstantiated generalizations and untruths. 

Least we forget that it wasn’t too long ago that Gen Xers were the alleged generation of apathetic slackers.  So besides the fact that it pisses me off that I’m being lumped in with a group of alleged cry babies, I just don’t the story telling.  Where are the numbers to back up these claims?

writergirl
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 12:17 pm: [report]

@Kathls—You’re right, the three examples are only that three people that don’t represent the majority of GenY.  If you’d like, I can offer up about ten more off the top of my head.  Which basically sums up just about every GenY’r I know.

The reason WHY GenY is categorized as it is is because as I think Retro Chic said, there is an overwhelming perponderance for a majority of that generation to behave in the exact same manner.  That is why it is called a “generalization” it doesn’t reflect the attitudes of everybody, but a good portion of the people.

You want statistics?  Here’s one from a quick Google.  As a business owner I can attest to those numbers cited.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobposter/small-business/article.aspx?articleid=PRGENYWORKPLACE&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=2d4f9fc333b84e1785c625790510106f-301072154-JB-5&ns_siteid=ns_us_g_Gen_Y_Percentages

And yes—GenX’rs were categorized as slackers early on—however, GenX’rs created the tech boom and calling them “slackers” was completely inappropriate.  We worked 80 weeks, we built businesses and we moved forward.  We started out slow, but before we were out of our twenties, we were commanding a considerable niche in business.

powplz
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 12:31 pm: [report]

@writergirl - GenY is DBO 1980-2000 ... meaning most of the generation hasn’t even had a chance to prove themselves as adults yet and there are plenty of us in our twenties doing just fine professionally as financially independent adults, while a fair amount of our counterparts are still in school and thus haven’t joined the workforce yet to either prove themselves or not. 

Also, the stats you link to are employer perceptions that don’t discuss whether the employer-based perception of entitlement is actually keeping GenYers from becoming employed.

writergirl
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 01:02 pm: [report]

@Joyy, actually, Gen Y is considered those born from 1981 to 1992 to 1993. 

By my math, that makes them in the older ones in their mid to late twenties and the youngest 16.  But even then….the sixteen year olds (and this is the parent’s doing) aren’t taking responsibility for themselves.  How many parents intercede on behalf of the child at school if the kid gets a bad grade, even if they DESSERVE the bad grade.  DO you know how many parents are actually writing the kid’s college application essays?  There is no accountability or responsibility taught to these kids.

Back to the Gen Y’s.  How old were the Google guys?  The Microsoft guys?  The Apple guys?  The Dell dude?  The Oracle dude?

You guys have the YouTube guy, the Facebook guy and the My Space guys—but that fits perfectly with YOUR generation.  Your generation is said to use electronic media as the main form of communication over personal interaction—and that’s fine.  So no, you’re entire generation isn’t a bunch of wastrels—and I’m not saying that—but again, if there wasn’ such a preponderance of behavior from the majority of your generation, then there wouldn’t be these articles being written that all say the same exact thing.  Which we’ve discussed before a few months ago.

That being said, no, that stat I posted doesn’t list if GenY’s are loosing out on jobs, but it does show—clearly—what the Gen Y’s think they are entitled too.  The Gen Y’s are lowman on the totum pole—they have to pay their dues and move up the latter like everybody else did.  The point is, they don’t WANT to.  They think they are entitled to something more than lowman on the totem pole.

Generalization, yes.  But there is no way to specify numbers.  I agree, there are some stand-out people in your generation but again, if the behavior wasn’t exhibited in such a large amount of people, then the generalizations wouldn’t occur. 

Same holds true for any generation.

mayorbubbles
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 01:33 pm: [report]

I’m a gen. Y and I don’t feel entitled at all. I know I have to work hard for everything I do. All of my fancy gadgets I buy myself. I know my sister is always asking my mom for money and I feel really bad most of the time. I never really asked my mom for money unless I absolutely had to. I opted out of most school trips because we really couldn’t afford it. We are a middle class family and it sucks when I finally choose a school because my mom makes too much, but she also has a large amount of debt. I’ll get squat for financial aid and I really don’t want to pay back a lot of money.

@Riley I agree. You really need to be 100% sure before choosing a major.

powplz
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 01:46 pm: [report]

@writergirl - Hmm, I always heard it as ‘80-2000.  Anyways, I think it’s also a case of squeaky wheel gets the grease - genY is seen s entitled bitches because a) they’re the ones complaining and b) other people are complaining about the complaining.  Those of us who are working from the bottom up are too busy building our lives/careers to whine about how we deserve more. 

Anyways, I think another positive is being ignored - go back to the page you link to and read the paragraph/bulleted list above “Survey Methodologies” about something GOOD that has come from genY expecting more: “Fifteen percent of employers said they changed or implemented new policies or programs to accommodate Gen Y workers – changes, Haefner points out, that would have benefited workers of all ages.”  Maybe when genYers ask for more and actually get it (the ones who take jobs and actually work hard), the workplace improves for everyone.

And I’m very much FOR starting out low.  It *totally* worked for me.  And as much as I do hate actual entitlement, I have to wonder if there’s just a fine, blurry line between entitlement and ambition.  jus’ something to think about.

Kathls
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 01:50 pm: [report]

@writergirl:  Whoa, whoa, whoa!  I call foul on: “if the behavior wasn’t exhibited in such a large amount of people, then the generalizations wouldn’t occur. “

Your kidding me, right?  Have you ever heard of racism and sexism?  Just because some talking heads and/or dummies have said something does not mean it has any basis in reality.  Do we really need to get into the races, sexes, blondes, the handicap?  There are stereotypes EVERYWHERE that have no basis in the real world.

And I read through the stats you found and quite frankly they don’t say a lot.  I saw the word ‘expect’ quite a number of times with no reference point:  do they except more XYZ then their current older counterparts, do they expect more XYZ then the same age group for that position did 10 years ago, do they expect more XYZ than their counterparts with more education, etc., etc.

Although I had to say I thought this one was hilarious:  “37 percent say Gen Y workers expect to have access to state-of-the-art technology”.  Yeah I do expect to have access to equipment that will allow me to do my job well.  At my last position I had to bring my laptop from home just to do my work because my company refused to get me a computer that would handle the work I was assigned and expected to do.  No I don’t expect my own super computer and fax machine at my desk, but seriously.

Stereotypes don’t start and reproduce because they’re based in fact, they continue on because people are too lazy and ignorant to think for themselves and question where that information is coming from. 

And as far as the comment “DO you know how many parents are actually writing the kid’s college application essays?”  No I don’t, and I bet neither do you.  Despite the ‘horror stories out there that make it to the top of the news piles, do you really think there are that many parents out there writing their child’s college admissions essays?

If there was no accountability or responsibility for gen y, why would they be dragging their asses through college amassing large amounts of debt when they could just as easily get a job bagging groceries at Pic Pac straight out of high school.  Do you think that of the 3 applicants for every 1 job out there, they are all over the age of 30?  Before we all continue on with the vitriol, why don’t we put some thought behind what we hear and figure out if what we are being fed about people is what’s really going on.

Ms.Bubbles
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 02:26 pm: [report]

I am under 25 years old, which I am guessing means that I am part of generation Y. I agree 1000% that most of the “kids” in my generation are spoiled rotten entitled brats. I grew up in an extremely poor one-parent home and have worked since I was 13 years old while holding at least one job. I bought all my own clothes, my own car, even my own class ring and graduation announcements. I say this because recently the car I bough myself broke down and I have been in the quest to find a new one. The conversations I have had with co-workers are a perfect example of how Gen-Yers think

“Well its just a car.”—- No its not, it is my means of transportation to and from work and school
“Well I’m sure someone can cosign/get you a loan/ lend you a down payment”—- No they can’t Mommy cant afford to do these things. Nor should you ask her or Daddy to once you have moved away from home/ started to maintain financial independence.

Not only that but I find everyone under 25 that I work with look at it as is they can come in when they want. are often late, and sometimes call in for no reason at all. I think that todays generation is extremely entitles

writergirl
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 02:55 pm: [report]

@joyy—generations seem to be lumped in around 15 year marks.  There is some debate when Gen Y ends—but most agree around ‘92 or ‘93, which gives the generation approximately 13 years and Gen X is considered 1965 to 1980, giving them a 15 year span.

No, there is no blurry line between ambition and entitlement.  Ambition is starting low and working your way up recognizing that you HAVE to work your way up—that you will be rewarded for hard work.

Entitlement is coming in and after six months with no real output saying, “Hey!  I’ve worked six months.  Where’s my raise?”

Yes, Gen Y has sparked some changes in business by asking for things that others wouldn’t have thought of.  And that’s great. I have no argument with that.

But the other numbers tell a good portion of the story as well.

@Kathls—Generalizations are not ignoramuses passing on useless information that has no basies.  The is usually a basis for the statements. And if you want to go through your list, we, can.  But yes.  Sexism, racism, ageism—any type of “ism” has generalizations stated about that particular category—all of which are based on some level of truth.  Studies, statistics—whatever.

And just to throw out some numbers, Nearly 40 percent of first-year college students (of those surveyed) have had a parent or guardian intervene to solve a problem at college, according to new research being released today. About 13 percent of first-year students said such interventions were frequent.  Survey amount, roughly 9000 kids.

And in another study, said 1% of college bound seniors surveyed stated their parents did all the work for them.  There is no number of the amount of kids surveyed.  But that is from the college board.  So, not as high as I thought.

//If there was no accountability or responsibility for gen y, why would they be dragging their asses through college amassing large amounts of debt when they could just as easily get a job bagging groceries at Pic Pac straight out of high school.//

Because they are told, “Go to college, get a job??”  I dragged my ass through college, amassed large amounts of debt and worked two goddamn jobs to pay for it.  And I didn’t bitch that I had the college loans—I knew what I was getting into when I took them on.  As did most of the people I know.  College loans aren’t something Gen Y’s have a corner market on.

//There are stereotypes EVERYWHERE that have no basis in the real world.//  Stereotypes are based on observations.  And while there are large numbers of a particular segment of the population that go against the stereo type, there are also large numbers of the population that fit it.

Here are some facts. 30% of MLB is comprised of black players.  65% of the NFL is comprised of black players.  And 85% of the NBA is comprised of black players.  Here’s the stereotype:  Black men are better athletes than white men. 

But the numbers back that up.

So to say that ALL stereotypes aren’t true isn’t accurate.  Stereotypes develop based on observations and as the observations are shared “GEN Y is the entitled generation” they become truth somewhere along the line.  GEN X’rs were antiestablishment (Which I find funny because I know no one who was antiestablishment) but the word is associated with GEn X for a reason…maybe because that behavior was repeatedly observed?

Netty
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 04:14 pm: [report]

I think it’s just ignorant to label a whole generation “this” or “that”. I am 18, been working since I was 15 and been searching for a job in CA relentlessly to no prevail.

I’ve had to work for pretty much everything. I grew up poor and definitely had little family to help. I don’t think I am entitled to sh.it. I just want the opportunity to get a job and work hard and save money for school.

I think lots of kids turn out to be spoiled due to parents always wanting to be able to provide to them what they didn’t have growing up.

I grew up working at Subway for years to help my aunt pay for rent and groceries. I never really had a chance to save my money. But than again my life is very different from most teens my age. My parents died when I was young.

I have friends who have saved over 2000 dollars for college just from working non stop. I largely disagree with anyone who tells me they or myself are entitled little brats.

wonder_bread
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 04:33 pm: [report]

its funny to me how it seems Gen-X is bad talking Gen-Y but doens’t seem to consider that it is your generation raising the next… if the youth of today was raised with the same values and discipline you were i doubt to a degree Gen-Y would be as misguided. Gen-Y is being taught total do accpet and comform in such a way Gen-X and gens before were not.Every new genertation has their growing pains but realise we learn from the ones before us and if u don’t take the time to teach us ur values the same way with the same passion as the one’s did for you…entitled and bratty and misguided is what your gonna get..especially since the media is raising most of the youth.

ThUnDaCaT...2009
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 04:40 pm: [report]

I just wonder after generation z…then what? does it start all over or do we move on to numbers? its crazy because each and every generation has their own faults and problems that they have to face. Each generation bad talked the next one and the cycle will continue regardless of economic changes or downfalls.

likeOMGkbye
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 04:46 pm: [report]

Could we blame parents instead of the Gen Y’ers themselves? If the parent raises the kid to get everything they want with no help, ITS THEIR FAULT. So lets blame the baby boomers for all the problems that arent really problems.

We can all sit here and talk about how much we have done and have a pissing contest over whose life was harder growing up, but really, who cares. I’m 22, and just got my first “real” job, aka not an internship or part time. I finished my bachelors and MBA in 5 years. I had 2 internships, paid. I’m working a job that is way below my experience/education level in a call center. Wah wah, let me cry about it because I’ve worked so much harder than everyone else possibly could have in my generation and use that as a basis to make up facts about everybody else.

Gen X’ers who claim that they are so much better because while they were slackers at first, now they have created everything good in the world, aka Google, is ridiculous. Well I also know many a Gen X’er who are worthless potheads/alcoholics who skate by at their low level job. I also know many Gen Y’ers who bust their ass every day and have gotten jobs and done some good with their lives. Every generation has their share of prodigies, slackers, morons, hard-workers, etc. and I don’t appreciate being called a diva moron because I was born in 1986. I just got out of grad school, give me some time to make my mark, thank you.

Kati-Anne
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 04:53 pm: [report]

As easy as it is to point at the most recent generation to come of age and blame them for society’s most recent distasteful trend, I think if you take a step back, you may notice that this entitlement epidemic is inter-generational.

cjmar
wrote on July 16 2009 @ 10:14 pm: [report]

I don’t think it’s Gen Y in general… I have a coworker who’s my age (24) and grew up with wealthy parents and always having his way.  The snottiness at work is appalling.

bogart4017
wrote on July 17 2009 @ 11:09 am: [report]

I don’t think we should paint any entire generation with such broad strokes seeing as how my generation (baby-boomers) has been getting a bad rap for years. The blame 80’s corporate greed, ecological and financial problems on us as if it all started with boomers.

BlueVibe
wrote on July 17 2009 @ 12:11 pm: [report]

(From a Gen X-er)

Out of fairness to Gen Y: As far as I can tell, every single generation has complained that the generation after theirs is spoiled an entitled.  I know for a fact that my grandparents thought the same thing of their own children.

I also read the New York Times and have come to the conclusion that the “entitled brats” of Gen Y are a scant few extreme cases, and are a miniscule fraction of the population that has virtually nothing to do with the real world.  Squeaky wheels, basically; the media focuses on the most obnoxious handful of kids and doesn’t notice the multitudes to which their generalizations do not apply.

That said—I never took jobs for granted, no matter how gross, tedious, or boring.  Cashier at an amusement-park gift shop, dishwasher, kennel scrubber [aka: All Dog Poo All The Time], office grunt, etc., I was glad to have a job.

LG
wrote on July 21 2009 @ 03:53 pm: [report]

I was born in 1981 so I think I am part of Generation Y.  I am ecstatic to have a job.  I know how scary it is to be unemployed and frantically searching for someone, anyone, who will employ you. 

That being said, I thought my dream job would fall into my lap when I graduated.  I went straight through college and law school without taking a break to get a “real” job.  I worked during the summers as a waitress and in retail and other jobs along those lines.  I also worked part time throughout law school (except for my first year when law schools generally ask you not to get a job).  I didn’t think that I was entitled to a great job - I thought I had worked hard to be able to get a great job and would therefore inevitably get one. 

Of course my dream job was not waiting for me (still can’t afford designer clothes and I work long hours).  However, I was able to get a good job with people who are easy to work with.  That doesn’t mean I wasn’t a little upset that I had basically been told a fairy tail that, after you finish your education, you are handed a phenomenal job.  I think that a lot of people in Generation Y do have a skewed idea of what they should be getting for their achievements.  However, I think that is a combination of a failing economy, which has lowered many people’s expectations, and false advertising.  It’s unfair to label an entire generation as whiney brats because reality is a far cry from what they have been prepared for some people are having difficulty adjusting.