Generation Me - Chapter 8

Jean Twenge has written a very interesting book studying today's youngest generation to have come of age. In these postings, I will begin to provide key quotes and references that have stood out to me. From that, I have posted a few questions for reflection. For more information on this book, I encourage you to explore her website: generationme.org

Also see my article: Me, MySpace and iPod: Tales of a Culture Stuck in the Mirror Phase of Development and Its Moral Implications

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1:

YOU DON'T NEED THEIR APPROVAL: The Decline of Social Rules

CHAPTER 2:

AN ARMY OF ONE: Me

CHAPTER 3:

You Can Be Anything You Want to Be

CHAPTER 4:

The Age of Anxiety (and Depression, and Loneliness): Generation Stressed

CHAPTER 5:

Yeah, Right: The Belief That There's No Point in Trying

CHAPTER 6:

Sex: Generation Prude Meets Generation Crude

CHAPTER 7:

The Equality Revolution: Minorities, Women, and Gays and Lesbians

CHAPTER 8:

Applying Our Knowledge: The Future of Business and the Future of the Young

NOTABLE QUOTES
"So here's how it looks: Generation Me has the highest self-esteem of any generation, but also the most depression. We are more free and equal, but also more cynical. We expect to follow our dreams, but are anxious about making that happen... The first wave of GenMe faces a very different world from what we were led to expect as children. The messages of our youth were ungflaggingly optimistic: You can be anything. Just be yourself. Always follow your dreams..." (p.212).

"And what will GenMe's children be like? This is not as futuristic a question as it sounds - first-wave GenMe'ers are already in the prime child-rearing years of 25 to 35. It is difficult to tell right now if GenMe is adopting the same child-rearing approach as their parents, but it appears that they are. As a result, the next generation may be even more self-focused" (p.215).

"What do these generational changes mean for managers who work with younger people? The first step is to try to understand Generation me - realize that younger employees may have a very different outlook on life... Some will arrive with a feeling of entitlement, believing they deserve everything right away... Be prepared to explain to young people that success and privileges will not happen overnight; add that you know this is frustrating, but it's the way business works. Your patience and understanding will pay off... So what, specifically can you expect from your young employees? They will work hard, but even harder if they are praised and appreciated... This generation is not motivated by feelings of duty - working hard is not virtuous in itself, but it is worth it if they are singled out and recognized" (p.216f.).

"Your young employees wull learn best by doing. Raised with the Internet and in collaborative learning classrooms, they are not used to sitting through long, boring lectures. Training seminars will put them to sleep if they are not interactive. A generation raised not just on television but on cable, they will perk up during a presentation with video clips and moving graphics. They'll perk up even more if you can get them involved through a demonstration or role-playing. One-on-one training should be Socratic and task-oriented - don't just show them something, but have them do it themselves" (p.217f.)

"...young employees may need some guidance on how to deal with older people. They may come off as disrespectful when they are merely being friendly and informal. Some young employees might need to be taught to 'clean up' when talking to older folks, using 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.' and speaking more formally" (p.218).

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.