How to Explain the Millennial Generation?

Understand the Context

A Unified Theory of Generational Change: Explaining the Millennials

The historical events that change a generation are the most interesting because both the event and reaction
have separate consequences. Such events and reactions are why both Strauss-Howe and Mannheim’s
generational theories must be used simultaneously. Furthermore, the influences on the Millennial
Generation were magnified because millennials were able to see what many generations did not see:
photographs and footage, in vast quantity. While the GI Generation read about Pearl Harbor in newspapers
and listened to commentators on the radio and the Baby Boomers watched day old footage of the Vietnam
War, the Millennial Generation watched the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center
on live television. Millennials also saw how other generations reacted to events and millennials learned
from them. Millennials did not learn what to do, but they learned what not to do.

Every so often, an invention appears that no other generation has had access to. These times are very
interesting because it is usually the youngest generation that fully accepts these inventions. For the
Millennial Generation, this is modern technology: personal computers, smartphones, and the
Internet. Technology provides a clear turning point when both Mannheim’s Theory of Generations and
Strauss-Howe Generational Theory are mixed together. First, personal computers and technology were
invented, an example of a historical event. Then, it was the millennials’ parents who wanted the best for
their children and gave them computers and the Internet. The Internet was so new, no one knew how to use
it and if there were any Internet rules or etiquette. Millennials were left to their own devices and Mary
Donohue believes it was events like 9/11 that taught millennials how to use the Internet. Instead of confiding
in their one best friend, millennials went to the Internet and confided in many groups of people that may or
may not geographically live near them (Donohue, 2012). Technology and the Internet have promoted three
qualities among the Millennial Generation: the rise of groups of friends, globalization on a personal level,
and online politics.

Technology has had the greatest impact on the Millennial Generation and following closely behind are the
events of September 11th, 2001. At the time of 9/11, millennials were young toddlers at the youngest and
were in college at the oldest. The majority were in school, surrounded by their peers as teachers decided
how to approach the tragic situation. In this moment, the Millennial Generation became fearful of the
unknown. Subsequently, many young men and women volunteered to defend their country. The Millennial
Generation feared innocent and not-so-innocent backpacks on the sidewalk. They feared their friends and
family would not return from Iraq. The events of 9/11 instilled a fear into this generation uncommon since
Pearl Harbor. When a man promised to return troops home from the War on Terror, millennials that were
of age voted in record numbers to elect “President Obama, a man who ran on hope and change, of promises
of a new day and a better, less fearful future, who vowed that it will get better and that war would be over”
(Racine 2013).

Katie Racine further explains this disillusionment in a persuasive essay titled “We Are the 9/11
Generation.”

We are the war-weary and indebted, the jaded and the idealistic, the ones tired of a broken system. We are
the ones who will carry the burden of debts of war on our back. We are the children who grew up in a
nation fearful of the world around us. We are the young adults on the brink of college, changing our life
projections to answer the call of our nation. We are the crying and confused teenagers who wandered the
halls of their high schools as we watched the world change around us (Racine, 2013).

September 11th clearly caused many fears, sentiments, and life changes that each have their own effects.
The Millennial Generation, the fearful generation, does not object to the government spying on its own
citizens or strict screenings at airports: they understand why these things are necessary.

The characteristics of any generation evolve from both historical events and the family sphere and therefore,
both theories must be combined to explain these characteristics as completely as possible. Although it is
impossible to imagine the generational impact of most notable events, it should be noted that they do exist
and occur every day. The multigenerational influence begins as soon as humans enter the world because a
child’s world is encompassed by their home life for roughly the first decade and therefore individuals
become a product of their parents: a different generation. One popular cliché that arises from bi-generational
households is that the Millennial Generation is much “more optimistic and confident than the generations
preceding them especially when compared to the cynical and individualistic Generation Xer’s” (Nimon,
2007, p. 34). With the contrast between the two generations, the “turning” is much more obvious.
This is sometimes looked at negatively because of the association between confidence and arrogance.
Nimon’s analysis is supported by Telefónica’s millennial study, which surveyed more than 12,000
millennials and found that that 83% believe they can make a local difference, 52% believe they can make
a global difference, and 60% believe “one person’s participation in the political system makes a difference”
(Telefónica, 2013). These characteristics are due to the increased optimism and confidence of this
generation.

The answer to how millennials become confident lies in the manner in which this generation grew up.
Millennials were “considered special since birth, and generally more sheltered” and therefore, they were
shielded from failures and the general hardships of childhood (Donohue, 2012). Howe and Strauss
explained the increased optimism and confidence largely seen in this generation by applying their theory
that emphasizes generational influence. In their essay called Millennials Go to College, Howe and Strauss
wrote:

Unlike Generation X’s traumatic, latchkey childhood, the Millennials grew up in an area that placed high
value on children – reflected in everything from the products on the shelves (Cabbage Patch Dolls, “Baby
On Board” stickers) to the media (pro-kid movies like Baby Boom and Three Men and A Baby, a sharp rise
in kids magazines and TV shows). Even the TV show, “Barney and Friends” (featuring teamwork and
commonalities) stole the limelight from “Sesame Street” (which featured individualism and uniqueness).
Part of this trend is the emergence of “helicopter parents” – always hovering, ultra protective, [and]
unwilling to let go (Howe & Strauss, 2003, p. 21).

The “turning” of this generation can be found in “hovering” parents, even in the earliest stages of childhood.
In May 2013, Time published a cover story titled “Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation,” authored by
Joel Stein. In this article, Stein described research findings suggesting that “kids with high [confidence] did
better in school and were less likely to be in various kinds of trouble,” suggesting that confidence was
instilled in the generation by attentive parents (Stein, 2013, p. 23).

How to Explain the Millennial Generation? Understand the Context

As a child, I was sheltered and not allowed to watch the

Power Rangers or other such violent and crude televisionseries. My parents divorced when I was two and
my childhood was constantly in limbo between two seperate households. I sleep next to my phone and
computer, and I do not trust politicians. The morning of September 11th, 2001, I was in school with my
classmates. I expect to graduate college $40,000 in student debt and afterward, to move back home to live
with my parents. To myself and the other eighty million Americans born between 1982 and 2000, these
experiences are the norm. We are the “perma-children,” the 9/11 generation – or the “screw you
generation” – but we much prefer being referred to as the Millennial Generation.
The term "generation" artificially groups people together with little more in common than the years they
were born. So why are generations studied and considered important? According to sociologist Dr. Karl
Mannheim, a generation’s “practical importance becomes clear as soon as one tries to obtain a more exact
understanding of the accelerated pace of social change [in a given period]” (1927, p. 286-287). Mannheim’s
Theory of Generations suggests that generations change swiftly in response to major events. This differs
from Strauss-Howe's Generational Theory, which favors a cyclical pattern of archetypes. While Mannheim
focuses on the influence of history and Strauss-Howe on the influence of past generations, both have a
cause-effect basis. The two theories, when used simultaneously, help explain how a 'generation' emerges
and becomes defined by the previous generations and historical context. In an analysis of the Millennial
Generation through these models, I conclude that the technology-obsessed “perma-children” known
as Millennials are the result of a normal ebb and flow of change created by history and society.

“The young people of this generation do not live to work – but rather work to live. A job merely
provides the income to do that they want to do” (McCrindle, 2007, p. 4)

Strauss-Howe Generational Theory

Strauss-Howe Generational Theory characterizes historical generations through cyclical changes called
“turnings.” Howe later explains this phraseology by stating that “every generation turns the corner and to
some extent compensates for the excesses and mistakes of the midlife generation that is in charge when
they come of age” (Galland, 2009, p. 38). According to Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, earlier
generations have the greatest influence over new generations. The generational archetypes, or “turnings,”
occur in a recognizable pattern that can be categorized as heros, artists, prophets, and nomads. After the
“nomad” generation, the turning then returns to “hero,” ultimately producing a cycle of archetypes.

The “hero” generation, according to Howe, describes the current Millennials (Galland, 2009). As described
by Howe, the “heroes” respond to the previous generation’s skeptical nature and to new crises: “institutional
life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to a perceived threat to the nation’s survival” and “cultural
expressions redirect towards community purpose” (Howe & Strauss, 1996, p. 105). The “crisis” for the
Millennial Generation was 9/11 and the subsequent economic recession. Although millennials are not
entirely of age, their influence in the United States and on the world is dawning. Politicians, businesses,
and educators are already having trouble understanding and effectively reaching out to millennials; later,
this essay delves further into the how and why this is happening.

The subsequent “artist” generation is described as a post-crisis era when this generation observes the hero’s
loss of individualism and responds appropriately. Society “cuts down social and political complexity in
favor of public consensus, aggressive institutions, and an ethic of personal sacrifice” (Howe & Strauss,
1991, p. 98). In other words, the individual is weak while institutions are strong. Historically, this archetype
gave rise to the American suburbs and corporate jobs. The last “artist” generation emerged between 1925
and 1942 which, according to Howe and Strauss. The individual was voiceless enough during this time that
they became known as the Silent Generation. It should be noted that this archetype marks the now
incomplete generation, starting in 2001.

The “prophet” archetype represents the middle ground between the “artist” and the “nomad,” when the new
generation’s individualism begins to grow stronger and institutions again become weaker. In the words of
Howe and Strauss, this turning is described as the point in which “society reach[es] the high tide of public
progress, people suddenly tire of social discipline and want to recapture a sense of personal authenticity….
young activist[s] look at the previous generation as an era of cultural and spiritual poverty” (Howe &
Strauss, 1991, p. 101). This generation does not want to live by the same strict standards that the previous
generation preferred. In American history, the “prophet” generations often search for “authentic self-
expression” and have strong morals (Galland, 2009). The latest generation of “prophets” can be found in
the Baby Boom generation (born 1943-1960), who were known for rock and roll and political unrest in
Vietnam War protests, the women’s rights movement, and the counterculture movement.

The ensuing generation, the “nomad,” is the opposite of the “artist” generation when individualism is the
strongest and large institutions are attacked. Howe, in his interview with Galland, says nomads “learn they
can’t trust basic institutions to look out for their best interest” (Galland, 2009). Pragmatic realists often
characterize this as an archetype in American history. The most recent “nomads” are Generation X (born
1961 to 1981) who are still defining their legacy. This generation has a need “to combat corruption,
dictatorships, abuse, AIDS… [it is] a generation in search of human dignity and individual freedom, the
need for stability, love, tolerance, and human rights for all” (Henseler, 2012, pp. 23).

Strauss-Howe’s Generation Theory can be reduced to the idea that each new generation responds to the
previous generation. This theory has been criticized for not explaining the role of historical events. The
difficulty with this theory is that there are often events that create unpredictable reactions, even though it is
often challenging to identify the primary event. The reaction is usually what influences the next generation.
While Strauss-Howe’s cyclical theory does not take into account major historical events, Mannheim’s
Theory of Generations suggests “major historical events are what change a society” (Mannheim, 1927, p.
290).

Mannheim’s Theory of Generations

In Dr. Karl Mannheim’s Theory of Generations, the absence of a cycle creates a less structured theory that
compliments the Strauss-Howe Generational Theory to create a full explanation of the Millennial
Generation. Mannheim also acknowledges that generations influence and are influenced by those who
preceeded them, but he simultaneously believes that social change occurs at a much slower pace.
Mannheim’s theory can be summarized by the idea that “people resemble their times more than they
resemble their parents” (McCrindle, 2007). Mannheim theorizes that major historical events change society
quickly in a much more direct, linear way. Examples of major historical events include the bombing of
Pearl Harbor, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and more recently, 9/11: each event created a “turning”
in the given generations. The primary difference between the two popular generation theories is that one
theorizes past generations have the greatest influence on their successor while the other relies primarily on
major events. Though different in structure, the basis for each theory is the same: a generation does not
grow independently from outside influence and both theories use cause and effect to illustrate the
emergence of generational traits because both public and private spheres influence a generation.
How to Explain the Millennial Generation? Understand the Context

Now that millennials have started their own families, it is believed that many will re-strengthen
the American family that has been on the decline for decades. Nimon argues millennials “are
seeking and finding lasting relationships” while Howe explains that reemergence of
multigenerational families is arising (Nimon, 2007, p. 27). Howe says, “Family is going to
continue to strengthen … People are going to find new purposes for all the extra rooms in their
oversized houses” (Galland, 2009). Howe then goes on to explain that, with the current economic
situation, the nuclear family living within one household could solve many economic problems.

It is only logical that millennials will re-strengthen the family unit because they were the first
generation to grow up with entirely fractured families: mothers, fathers, and grandparents in
separate houses, miles apart. This “turning” toward stronger families can be viewed as an attempt
to correct the mistakes of past generations. Generation X was the first generation to make divorce
common in the United States and, according to Strauss-Howe, this had such a profound effect on
millennials continues into their adulthood.

Outside of the millennial home and into the millennial education, this generation is going to school
as recent generations have, but in greater numbers. According to Dr. Mary Donohue, millennials
are the most educated generation in American history. However, what is surprising is that
millennials learn differently from past generations: they crave interactions and simulations rather
than the traditional lecture style of education (Donohue, 2013). This “turning” has come from what
the past generation provided to us: technology. With technology, people read and write texts,
emails, tweets, and blogs with the click of a button. Millennials are reading and not listening.

After millennials finish high school and attend what has become mandatory university, they do
what no recent generation has done before: they return home to live with their parents. For this
reason, millennials have been called “lazy” and “entitled.” Other people say millennials are
postponing childhood and therefore have earned the nickname “perma-children.” Following
university, millennials have struggled to find jobs and pay off their hefty debts whereas past
generations could graduate high school or college and find a job that would support a healthy
middle-class lifestyle. However, from 1996 to 2006, the cost of college doubled while the economy
faltered (Thompson, 2013). In the past the cost of education was affordable that through a part-
time job during the school year and a summer job, most graduates left school with no debt. But
today attending college means, for the average student, taking on tens of thousands of dollars in
student loans. The Millennial Generation is expected to do what their parents did – have a house
and family right out of college – even though the economic realities have changed drastically.

Having completed their education and graduated into the work force, many employers are not
pleased with a changing work ethic among millennials. Compared to past generations, millennials
seem less dedicated. In his paper Understanding Generation Y, McCrindle describes this
phenomenon: "The young people of this generation do not live to work – but rather work to live.
A job merely provides the income to do that they want to do” (McCrindle, 2007, p. 4).

From a young age, millennials watched their parents work extremely hard and receive little in
return: they were unhappy, tired, and over-worked. This drastic “turning” can be traced back
generations to the GI Generation who fought in World War II. Since then, their children and
grandchildren benefited from hard work: a family with a house, car, and television. Once the
economy began to change, millennials saw that hard work was no longer produced meaningful
results. Millennials observed this trend and unconsciously decided that their parent’s experience
would not be theirs.

Unlike recent generations, millennials do not trust companies, celebrities, or politicians and these
three entities also have a hard time connecting to millennials. The traditional commercials and
advertisements are no longer effective because millennials “have become cynical about companies
trying to manipulate them” (Nimon, 2007, p. 32). This is why the Millennial Generation has been
nicknamed the “screw you generation.” Donohue describes the trend of untrustworthiness by
looking at “what happened when [millennials] were coming of age… presidents, prime ministers,
countless business executives and maybe a few sports heroes all lied and very few were punished”
(Donohue, 2012).
The Millennial Generation lost much of the trust they had in businesses, celebrities, and politicians
when each disappointed them in turn. They also saw the consequences of past generations that
placed too much trust in such entities. It is therefore unlikely that there will be another John F.
Kennedy that the entire country loves and adores. Politicians are not trusted. The Watergate
Scandal ruined the reputation of the President. Furthermore, Nixon was pardoned and received no
punishment. OJ Simpson was acquitted of murder and while the banks failed in 2008, the CEOs
still received multi-million dollar bonuses. Now, millennials strive to punish those who do wrong.
Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees was suspended for using steroids; Lance Armstrong´s
Tour de France titles were removed for the same; and John Edwards was virtually removed from
politics after his affair was uncovered. The cynical Millennial Generation refuses to place all of
their trust in one entity because they do not want to get screwed as their naïve parents and
grandparents did.

Both the generation that came first, and the major events of the day shape a generation. Although
the millennial generation is often looked at with perplexity by its antecedents, we argue that we
are changing the country – and the world – for the better. The internet offers millennials the
opportunity to reveal the injustices of the world and to be constantly aware of them. The
millennials are informed and politically active, often with the help of a computer screen.
Millennials want to make up for the shortcomings of the previous generations, and like the
generations prior, they will achieve in some aspects while failing in others before giving way to
the next generation.

References
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