I Hate the Gen Y Label

Working as a marketer in the real world, I am all too aware of the Generation labels and stereotypes associated with each Generation.

Image sourced from mcm.uws.edu.au

Born into the early 1980s, I am unfortunately part of the Gen Y stereotype. Generation Y is all too often labelled as the lazy generation who choose to stay at home as long as possible and are all too reliant on their parents. This really gets my goat!

I'll be the first to admit that I was born into fortunate circumstances and am very thankful to my parents for all their hard work they put in over the years to raise and educate myself and siblings. However, I refuse to believe the fluff that the media dishes out. Today's fluff comes from Mamamia with this story: http://www.mamamia.com.au/social/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy/ I must say I was an avid reader of Mamamia...until now.

I was always interested in and pushed for my own independence, which is probably why I flew the coop at the ripe age of 20 to live in London. I wanted to explore the world and earn my own money. Even as a kid, I wanted the chance to walk home by myself and catch the train in high school, rather than being reliant on my parents for a lift to and from school. I am very realistic of my expectations and aim for the moon, without overshooting it.

Do you hate the stereotypes associated with your demographic or is it just me?

Which Generation are you from?

 Image from www.someecards.com

At the end of last week my husband asked me what the current generation being born was called and I unfortunately couldn’t tell him. I was appalled at my lack of knowledge as a Marketer and decided to look it up. 10 points if you knew the answer was the Alpha Generation.

I myself am from the Y Gen and hate the connotations associated with it. I do not consider myself lazy or someone who spends frivolously and I am happy to state I moved out of home at the ripe age of 20, so I don’t know why they say that the Y Gen is all about sponging off their parents.

Here’s a little more information about the Generations currently out there:

Baby Boomers

- Born between 1946 & 1964 (after WWII)
- Golden Boomers are Baby Boomers who have already retired
- Have a strong work ethic
- Confident, reliant, independent
- Goal-oriented and competitive

Generation X

- Born between 1965 and 1980
- Resourceful and self-sufficient
- Values freedom and responsibility
- Ambitious but enjoy a good work/life balance
- Want to accomplish things on their own terms
Generation Y
- Born 1981 to late 90s
- Also known as Generation We
- Tech Savvy and plugged in 24/7
- Prioritise family over work
- Attention seeking (this is the one I disagree with :p)
- Achievement and team oriented
Generation Z
- Born around the late 20^th century / beginning of 21^st century
- Have spent their lives knowing the internet
- Known as digital natives, for their digital connectivity
- Also known as Gen M(multi-tasking) & Gen C(connectivity)
- Cynical, disengaged but compassion

Alpha Generation

- Born from 2010
- First full generation to be born in the new millennium
- Expected to be job-fickle
- May succumb to the risks associated with technology e.g. obesity
- Little known about this generation, as it’s still very new in the minds of others

So where do you fit in above? Do you agree with what they’re saying about your generation or remain indifferent?

Resources:

http://legalcareers.about.com/od/practicetips/a/Babyboomers.htm
http://legalcareers.about.com/od/practicetips/a/GenerationX.htm
http://legalcareers.about.com/od/practicetips/a/GenerationY.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Z
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/lifestyle/life/meet-the-alpha-generation-20100320-qmnr.html