A Misunderstood Generation
Updated: Feb 3, 2021
When we think about the trends that millennials are taking toward simplicity, I think it's indicative of a cultural shift toward less of the 'more is more' for materialism sake and more of an emphasis on efficiency, value, and sustainability.
Bobby Berk
Being a young adult living in 2019, I can attest to the fact that Millennials and Generation Z (which I am technically apart of) are generations that are generally misunderstood by the Baby Boomers and Generation X generations.
Our generation brings a type of innovation never seen by other generations, and they cannot seem to understand it.
Our technological advancements consume our everyday lives so much to the point where our parents and grandparents think we are literally addicted to our technology, which is not far from the truth.
We can’t live two seconds without our phones trying to convince people who never even had a phone that we are not addicted.
Millennials also have ideals that older generations tended to put to the side and not address, like LGBTQ rights.
Because the LGBTQ community has been visible and present in our lives daily, our generations do not feel the need to hide behind our sexual preference unlike our parents.
It is normal for us to see, talk, and share spaces with members of the LGBTQ community. However, it was taboo for Baby Boomers and Generation X’ers.
Even our music is misunderstood by older generations.
While Generation X began the hip hop movement, the music has evolved tremendously in our generations due to synthesizers and beats.
Older generations typically do not like or understand what artists of our generations are singing and rapping about.
However, I will say that much of the music that we listen to is sampled from music of our parents and grandparents’ generations.
I do believe that we are a misunderstood generation, but I also believe that the Millennials and Gen Z’s need to put forth the effort to change that.
We need to put forth the effort to explain to older generations how our technology, music, and ideals define us as a generation and are important to our character.
So, I implore all Millennials to have a conversation with older generations that will help propel us from the most misunderstood generation to the most innovative, progressive, technologically advanced, glass ceiling breaking generation in history!
Wishing You Equality, Innovativeness, and Advancement ALL 2019!
~Nya Williams