Ageism: Millennials are the WORST!

Ageism: Millennials are the WORST!

Ageism is very widely spread flow of humans’ stereotypes and believes connected with the age peculiarities and tendencies. It is rather collective than personal. The overall tone and content of this flow is extremely negative as it demonstrates certain drawbacks and discrepancies of an age class even if it is not so in reality. The notion ‘ageism’ was created by a psychiatrist Robert Butler in 1969. He claimed the term to stand for stigmas, myths, dislikes and numerous biases in relation to the aging groups together with ‘discriminatory practices in housing, employment, and services of all kinds’ (Butler, 1980). Nowadays, the most vivid and the most popular demonstration of Ageism (other than towards the elderly) is the issue with Millennials and their hot debates with Baby Boomers generation. Both age classes have a number of stereotypes and stigmas they use and stick to. Unfortunately, such prejudices sometimes prevent a healthy dialogue between the two generations on their way to peaceful communication and cooperation.....Possibly creating a threat to the stability of our future! 

There have been unending fiery debates going on between two main generations: Millennials and Baby Boomers. They are permanently blaming one another for all the problems and complex issues existing in the modern world. This opposition seems to have no limits. However, Ageism is what lies in the heart of this contradictory situation. The point is, the generation gap prevents people from understanding each other; numerous stigmas and stereotypes each of the generations believes in and operates by stay in the way for a productive and peaceful cooperation. Baby Boomers tend to put on the Millennials representatives blame for a variety or problems existing, including economy crisis, decline in morality, relying on smartphones and not hard work, etc. It is well worth mentioning that Millennials are believed to be lazy, too inexperienced, naïve, volatile, self-assured and undisciplined young men and women. Millennials are said to spend all their time on their phones and social media instead of being aware of the world around them. An egotistic generation.They are frequently considered to be inferior to Baby Boomers on their workplace because of the stigmas existing. Baby Boomers are mainly conservatives and do not want new generation to interfere with them and to change everything (Raymer et al., 2017). Critical lack of understanding and unwillingness to dig deeper and change the awareness does not let boomers relax and accept the reality as it is.

Many have already started blaming the Milllennials for today's recession. Is it the Millennials' fault or is it something they were inevitably born into... Thus the controversy between Millennials and Baby Boomers. Bruce Gibney says "The boomers inherited a rich, dynamic country and have gradually bankrupted it" (Illing, 2018). If the Baby Boomers are at fault for spending the majority of money and assets on themselves then why are Millennials to blame for this financial disaster? It seems that Millennials are not only a good scapegoat but are also notorious for trying to overthrow the Baby Boomers' ways. Perhaps it the risky and self-assured nature of Millennials is what Baby Boomers hate most of all, as these traits threaten dominant status. The first prefer freedom and space for fantasies and creation. They believe self-motivation and risky innovations to rule the world. The latter are in favor of stability and secure future life; everything new and unknown is beyond their understanding and acceptance. Nevertheless, time is passing, an old generation is bound to go and a new one is to appear and take everything under control. Some say, new is always better than old as it gives an opportunity to develop. Only moving on and making innovations, can we progress and become more intelligent and smart than we are today. In their turn, Millennials are bitterly annoyed and disappointed with such a treatment and total ignorance of their talents and efforts they make because ‘assigning stereotypes to different age groups isn’t just annoying. It’s often misleading’ (Butler, 1980).  

Ageism, with its stereotypes and stigmas concerning Millennials, is bound to cause a number of disparities young people are going to suffer from in their future lives. For example, while being considered to be lazy and too volatile, they may face difficulties in finding a job. Consequently, the unemployment level will become higher. Numerous negative reactions and remarks will make the generation less self-assured and self-motivated, which can lead to and individual of this generation to have depression, various harmful addictions and abuse. Lack of professionals and increase in unemployment will cause decline in all the spheres of economy and put the the generations in a very difficult situation. That is why it is so important to encourage people and not to humiliate and criticize them on a regular basis. High self-assessment and desire to create and move on is much better than the boring routine and total absence of adventurous character. Understandably, the best option would be for both the generations to try hard in order to put up with each other and to turn their opposition into an effective collaboration process, which will make difference to the planet.

This is relevant since research shows that Millennials will have to face some of the worst income inequality since previous generations. In the modern economy that we live in where the top 1% has half of the world's wealth at their disposal, Millennials will suffer (Varathan, 2017). Reports say that Millennials (focusing on US, Germany, France, & Spain) have more student debt, less money inherited and more severe mortgages and living costs than seen before. However, there is always that select few who get lucky and increase the gap between rich and poor (Varathan, 2017). 
Perhaps stigmas are one of the causes of this inequality. Millennials' (necessary?) burden of high student loans serves to increase income gaps. College tuition has gotten more expensive. from 1963 to 2013, the price of tuition has more than doubled (Varathan, 2017). However, while a college education may have been seen as a luxury for Boomers, for subsequent generations, college attendance and graduation have become more of a norm and a necessity. Millennials are more likely to have a college degree than their parents, which means they are taking in more debt. In 2013, 37% of US citizens in their twenties had student debt, almost 20% of their debt holdings. In 2015, the average students owed $35,000 in loans, twice the amount two decades ago since inflation (Varathan, 2017). Despite the costs, Millennials are told that if they want to make secure income and a stable career, they need a college degree. 

References

Butler, R. N. 1980. “Ageism: A Foreword.” Journal of Social Issues 36(2): 8–11.

Farthing, K. (2013). Embracing Generational Differences in the Workplace. Hospital Pharmacy, 48(7), 537–538. http://doi.org/10.1310/hpj4807-537

Illing, S. (apr 28, 2018). How the baby boomers — not millennials — screwed America. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2017/12/20/16772670/baby-boomers-millennials-congress-debt.

Raymer, M., Reed, M., Spiegel, M., & Purvanova, R. K. (2017). An examination of generational stereotypes as a path towards reverse ageism. The Psychologist-Manager Journal, 20(3), 148-175.

Varathan, P. (November 19, 2017). Millennials Are Set To Be The Most Unequal Generation Yet