Today, I recorded a podcast with two incredible ladies Jess & Claude with Work Besties Who Podcast. Although this came up briefly, something we mentioned during this session really struck me when it comes to generational entitlement and some of the differences we are seeing in today’s youth. Vacillating between being an educator, a coach, a mentor, and a therapist, I often bear witness to my own struggles and triggers with what I witness in today’s youth.
So, what are some of the things I have noticed?
To start off on a positive note, one thing to point out about this emerging generation is that they demonstrate self-advocacy extremely well. Which opposes the self-sacrificing behaviors that were instilled into the prior generations. But how about areas of opportunity?
Well, there’s a lack of critical thinking that I believe results from a culture that has now provided a world enriched with instant gratification, speedy results, and increased accessibility. What does this look like contextually? In a simple everyday example, it looks like a college student emailing their teacher on what chapters they should be reading when it is listed on their syllabus. From the Lense of this student, it is easier to email the professor with this question instead of having the self-sufficiency to look for their answer themselves. If the instructor takes too long to answer, they can send another email or blame the instructor for not supplying them with the information and avoid accountability.
As frustrating as this can be for the prior generations this is the culture that they know, and people can often be victims of their circumstances. However, this blog entry is not to condemn or blame those that act in this fashion.
Accessibility Culture
This increase to accessibility can provide a decrease in endurance or resiliency. Why whether or storm when everything can be replaceable or when there are multiple avenues provided for accommodation instead of accountability? It’s unfortunate because this can mostly likely be a result of some of the harsher circumstances the older generations had faced and like they say, “the pendulum always swings back”.
And it does swing back, because there are hardships facing the younger generations that may not be plaguing some of the older folks. For instance, the economy. Younger individuals will have a harder time now more than ever to purchase a home with where the average salary stands compared to the rising home prices. This differs from the older generations that had the opportunity to purchase a home and are seeing the fruits of their labor as their homes have exponentially grown in value. So, as much as accessibility is familiar to this generation, financial accessibility may not be as easily reachable.
The Grass isn’t Always Greener
To wrap this up, when we pause and take stock of ourselves and our surroundings, if we have enough awareness, we can see that everyone struggles in one way or another. As triggering as some of these behaviors we encounter can be, we can take the time to examine what these triggers are and what they mean to us? Are they reflecting on the opportunities we were robbed of? Are they showing us areas we may want to change about ourselves or adapt to but are fearful of? Or perhaps they are illustrating to us areas in which we can give back to society and make the world a more rounded place.
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