Generation Y is Spoiled
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Somehow over the years there has been a gradual shift in our expectations. We have changed our way of thinking as a culture. Today's "Gen Y," or "Generation Y," has the biggest sense of self-entitlement. Exorbitant spring break trips, cars as birthday gifts and expensive designer clothes have become the norm. Is this healthy for our nation and our future?
Defining Generation Y
According to www.businessweek.com, Generation Y consists of people, "born during a baby bulge...between 1979 and 1994" (full article seen HERE). Experts disagree on the exact years of Generation Y, but most are typically around this range. This means that people born in Gen Y are between 14 and 29 years old today. This also means that the parents of Generation Y are older, established in their jobs and either thinking of or entering into retirement.
Spoiled Generation Y
Since Generation Y's parents typically have significant incomes, there is a noticeable amount of "expendable" income available to Gen Y. It might come as a surprise to some, but there is a TV show that actually showcases the spoiled lives of Generation Y children. The show is called My Super Sweet 16 and it airs on MTV (website HERE). On the show, it isn't abnormal for parents to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their child's birthday parties.
For other examples of shows that highlight the lives of spoiled Gen Y'ers, check out the links below:
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Gen BuY: How Tweens, Teens and Twenty-Somethings Are Revolutionizing Retail
This is a hot new book out about how Generation Y is a SPENDING generation
Price: $12.47
List Price: $24.95 |
One final example: "Designer" t-shirts are pretty popular amongst Generation Y people. A shirt with the design seen on the right, for example, sells for $100 at Billionaire Boys Club. Shipping not included!
Don't believe me? Check out their website for yourself!
The Not-So-Spoiled Generation Y
Not all people from Generation Y are spoiled. As is the case with anything, we cannot simply label Generation Y as spoiled across the board. Simply because Generation Y seems to "have it all" doesn't mean that all people 14-29 years old have tons of stuff. I can say, however, that Generation Y in the United States has more of a sense of self-entitlement than others in most of the other countries. I can also say that there are quite a few spoiled Gen Y'ers in my county, the 3rd richest county in one of the richest countries in the world.
Is this healthy for our nation and our future?
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Comments
Rainbow, as always, good comment. If spoiled is a trigger word for you, then think of it in different terms- maybe "over privileged". I agree that we can't have enough love. Don't you think there's such thing as getting too many material things, apart from them causing happiness? What about the thought that having too many things as simply overkill, not because it doesn't cause happiness but because it's wasteful, pointless or sometime cocky?
What if, the parents, rather than spending so much on the kids, share with their child the fulfillment that goes with giving to those that work hard, as in scholarship funding; or giving to those unlucky in health, as in helping families with ill children; or giving to the environment, as in supporting a park development; or giving to any of the so many wonderful charitable organizations that exist (the list is endless)? Wealth, if used compassionately, is a wonderful gift, allowing one to help others. It is not the kid's fault that they whine for everything, but the older generation who have the opportunity to teach generosity and goodwill.
LeslyeAnn, I like where you went with your comment. There's much to say about the previous generation passing on good morals. This is true with spending, material goods and many other topics.
The sense of entitlement can be a hard pill to swallow. There are lines crossed by the Y Gen - yes down right cocky it appears. This is a generalization of course, but from the standpoint of a Baby Boomer who saw her parents and grandparents struggle and work very hard for everything, it is disheartening to see the result of this hard labor. The Baby Boomers have over compensated for their own lack. If our parents succeeded in getting us a decent education, then we took that opportunity and became successful. And the wave we came from was one of lack. We created the ability to have abundance without major wars and depressions to contend with. The Gen Y's don't really know what it is like to struggle in this sense. Their parents have done a disservice in giving too much and not passing on the work ethic that gives so much pride.
Money and material wealth only makes us MORE of who we already ARE. If you are an inherently good person, you have more to share and do good with. If you are inherently selfish, you will have a tendency to use your wealth for only more personal gain.
Teenagers are 'generally' extremely self-involved. Teenagers in general are far wealthier than any other period in history.
As the parent of two Gen Y'ers and access to their friends,(most of whom are really great kids), I feel that the cocky, cavelier, gimmee-gimmee attitude comes from their initial up-bringing and a disproportionate amount of emulating television, movie and music personalities.
The TV shows you listed are the perfect example of what these kids are feeding on. They begin to interpret this as 'normal' cool behavior. Do you know any Gen Y individuals that don't own a cell phone and probably an i-pod, computer, gaming platform, etc... Even the poorest kids in school have these things.
We all have lessons to learn from this phenomenon, as parents, grandparents and the Gen Y'ers themselves. There's no right or wrong here - just vast opportunity for growth.
Great Topic!
~Schelli
My parents always said they wanted me (Gen. X) and my brother (Gen. Y) to have more than they did. And I think we did. And still do. My brother and I, I've noticed, want for nothing. If we want something we pretty much go out and buy it. It's not a question. Not to say that we have every gadget out there or all the high-end brands, but we have what we want one way or another. I think it's not really a good thing that we do this, but I have yet to figure out how to control it a little more.
Wow- there are some really good thoughts expressed here...I love them!
JEWELS- great comment on one generation over-compensating for the other. I find myself doing this all the time, especially now that I'm going to be a dad. I think back of what my parents did and say, "oh I won't do that" or, "oh I'll definitely do this," so what I end up doing is going too far in the opposite direction. You know what my kids will do? They'll think the exact same things about me and go the opposite direction! This over-compensating is true for a number of different things, including the financial quality of life and abundance of material things.
SCHELLI- Good thoughts--I agree that there is room for growth. I think of the phrase "The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart." I suppose that money and financial abundance really bring out who we are- if we're generous by nature we'll give freely, but if we're always trying to be like musician X or hollywood star Y we'll end up spending the money on ourselves.
KAT07- I think you hit on the golden question. How do we control this? Or is it even possible?
Personally, I have to say money does not buy hapiness and my $18/hour (which is very good around here) job has made me realize that fact. I have never been a material person and to me, I would rather work fewer hours, have less money and really focus on family, friends, and the things in life that I "need" as opposed to what I want...problem is I thought I "needed" things that are really just the marketing machine driving our influence. I am just coming to understand that, and the call of nature and the "ways things used to be" is stronger than any commercial i see.
Well I'm glad you've been able to adjust in that manner. I agree, yenseca...material goods gets you only so far. It's like once you have something you feel "good" for a little while. Then something better comes out, and then something better. There will never be a "top of the chain" item that will never be outdated, so why try?
THIs is a thing i have been very interested in Im gen X will be 31 this year and the brats before me are that BRATS!! alot of them get into drug dealing too because mummy and dady did everything for them and they dont want to work hard to pay for things so they deal drugs to make money fast. They are also somewhat smarter than us, they go from job to job till they get the desired salary and bludge at work too. In our day if we had a job interview you had to dress up in a suit, now its so casual, cos employers are desperate for employees so dodgeeee!!
Thanks for stopping by and reading chris. "Brat" is probably a good term for some Gen Y'ers. I try to avoid the stereotype that all gen y'ers are brats, but some of them sure can act spoiled!
My mother is an instructor at the local college, so I know exactly what you mean. I'm mired in "Gen Y" myself, and it makes it really hard for me to associate with 90% of them because of this whole "entitlement" issue, haha. And man, is it bad. Great hub though, and great topic!
Thanks Earl. I am also a part of Gen Y according to most websites online (but not all). I don't know why some experts can't agree on the dates of Gen Y, but oh well. Glad you liked it! Let's be those generation y people that go against the flow and not have that stereotypical sense of entitlement!
Hi Wedding Consultant;
This was a great article, somewhat reminiscent of my own writings. Keep up the great work! I look forward to reading more of your stuff!
R. Martin Basso
Thanks for reading Martin. I'm flattered that you'd say it reminds you of your own writings as you seem to be a much more experienced and affluent writer! I hope I could entertain you with this hub.
This is an interesting hub. Although I am 29 I always considered myself part of generation X because when I was in high school that is what they were always telling us, the cut off was technically anyone born before 1980 for generation X :). Anyway, I think the point is as you said that are many different types of people in each generation.
Yeah I think the experts are still arguing over the cut off dates...
When I was in high school in the mid-nineties they were always referring to us as generation X, and Y was not even being mentioned yet, so that was just what I went off of. Anyway, either way it does not matter to me because as you said no one is defined by a generation :).
Exactly! Even if we're in a particular generation, we can always go against the flow! Especially when the flow = being spoiled by parents and getting cars for birthdays!
Great topic, great hub! I think that the degree of "spoiledness" increases with each generation. We want to give to our kids what we didn't have. In some cases it's money, some love, some stability - mostly materials though. So, each generation increasingly has more stuff and becomes more spoiled. What will that mean for the next generation?
Ohhh now THAT'S a good point tbelgard. I think you've got a good argument there. Care to expound on what the next generation might be like?
I think I'll play devil's advocate, although I do not really disagree with your article :)First of all, maybe you're watching a bit too much television and MTV at that. The shows you posted glorify and perpetuate materialism, consumerism, and indulgence. However, can you really generalize the lives of the characters of these shows to the greater Generation Y? Are we to believe that The Real World really consists of a lesbian, a gay man, a straight guy, and two bi-sexuals living in a beach house in Malibu and working for a huge music label?The reality - a majority of Americans, including G-Y, do not possess much wealth, cannot afford elaborate birthday parties, and don't even attend college. Most never go on spring break vacations in Cancun or receive a new car as a high school senior.
Instead of singling out G-Y, maybe it’s time to start examining American culture as a whole. I would say that the television shows you listed suggest a growing trend for all the US to become greedier, more individualistic, and more materialistic. As Durkheim once observed, humans possess infinite wants and needs and American desire appears to continue to swell. What Americans cannot have they can at least experience vicariously through television, which also feeds their consumerist aspirations.
thegecko, what deep thoughts you have presented! Thanks for being gutsy enough to play devil's advocate.
True, it's not doing justice to categorize an entire generation into a box like I did, but I did it to make a point which seems similar to yours: the American culture is filled with greed and materialism!
p.s. We have bunny ears, so I've never watched any of those shows! We only get like six channels!
Ah, then you should watch them before you use them as examples ;)
After all, there are evil people out there that would like to convince the masses that a film such as "Happy Feet" tries to perpetuate racism against white people.
Hmm...well let's just say I know enough about those TV shows to know that I never want to watch them!
Maybe you could tell us more about them? wink wink...
I would, but I don't watch them either lol
haha so this is like the blind leading the blind!
Weddingconsultant, I wonder what generation Y's kids will be like- scary to think about, isn't it! Julie
Not at all, I'm just not making assumptions about the shows :)
It is very scary. I'm just thinking that if this trend continues, my kids are in for a big surprise.
I am a teacher, and it is true. Generation Y has a sence of self-entitlement. Many, not all, want an "A" but they dont understand what it is to "earn" and "A".
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, "hola." And thank you for everything you do as a teacher, you are much appreciated.
Interesting topic! I don't like to classify or stereotype people too much by age group but I would agree that as incomes have increased over the years (as well as borrowing) people have come to have higher expectations. Often confusing needs and wants or luxuries. Kids are definitely influenced by this and suffer for it. I often wonder how they will ever find happiness when they think that material possessions will bring it. As they increasingly find themselves cut off from this life of privilege I hope they can adapt. I'm sure it can be hard as a parent to see how destructive this over indulgence can be. Learning to give is so much more useful than learning to receive.
mulberry1 (Christine), thanks for your comments! I also do not like to place people into "boxes" or "categories" as it is too dangerous a ground to tread. The prominent theme of subsequent generations is the drop-off of income levels (for the most part) when they leave the "umbrella" of their parents.
This event (hopefully) allows for a reality check in the children- money/things/material goods don't provide true happiness. Then (hopefully) some soul searching occurs and the question "So what does provide true joy?" is addresed.
d
Through out my teenage years (so far) I've grown to become sick of all the stereotypes and ridiculous role-models. In general I have a healthy social life, but it is the media culture that has been getting on my nerves. I've seen so many people get bullied/ socially rejected because of their difference or alternate opinions. In my opinion, my school is full of what you may call 'the spoiled generation', which includes; obsessive use of cellphones, instant messaging and/or blog sites such as bebo or myspace. It's rather hard for me to find at least one descent person that isn't infatuated with pop culture.
A relative issue i'm worried about is today's media, which in my view has become souless and bland, with little to no sense of originality at all. Music has become a cheap marketing strategy for money, movies have turned into sleazy cash-ins and fashion has transformed into a boring (yet expensive) sense of art in practice.
My hypothesis is that, for teenagers it's so much more easier to follow a linear path that's been basked in all it's glory than to carve their own individual personality. I may be unclear in what I'm trying to say but hear me out... Stupid, idiotic shows such as 'The Hills' or 'Laguna Beach' advertize and display a lifestyle which has an almost perfect equilibrium; drama, fun, Rich, Sad, Tradgic. And so after watching so much of these reality shows portraying such qualities, it makes it more likely they would want to live that glorious lifestyle, which is now more than easy with today's enriched economy and in-moral parents. And yes, I do realize there are countries that do not have a stable economy.
So my conclusion is, I have no idea what the whole point of all that opinion was for, which you people most probably know already of... but my point is that I hate pop culture, and if you are reading this and you are a father/mother... Question yourself if your kid(s) is(are) are being brainwashed by modern media...
Peace out,
Michael
New Zealand.
Good thoughts Michael, I couldn't agree more with your comments on media. Overall it is souless and bland.
Then again, that's just another stereotype...and you said yourself that you don't like stereotypes (neither do I).
As an spoiled girl from Gen Y, I would say that's not such a good idea for the future. Once you got almost all you want it's pretty easy to think you're the center of attentions and that the world may goes round you. When you hear "No" the frustration is kind of horrable.
So when it comes to professional lives, hearing the word "no" is too common, but a non-used-to-hear-that person may be sad, upset, angry with "apparently" no reasons.
Not that good for such a world we're living in.
Anna, you're so right. Thanks for contributing. I have family members who suffer from the "I deserve it just because of who I am" disease. It's similar to, but not the same as, the "I'm entitled to that simply because I breath air" disease.
Both are contagious and run rampant amongst Generation Y'ers. Be careful out there and don't catch anything like that yourself.
Generation Y in the News
- CA and Covad Communications Group to Share Insight into Next-Generation Service Assurance at TM Forum Management World ...redOrbit5 hours ago
ISLANDIA, N.Y., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CA, Inc.
- P&G's Swash products go onlineThe Cincinnati Enquirer2 hours ago
Procter & Gamble's Tide detergent brand on Monday started to sell its Swash line of cleaning products exclusively through online retailers. The Swash products are targeted at Generation Y consumers who tend to rewear clothes instead of washing them after each use.
- Generation Gallia CANstruction canned food drive under wayThe Daily Sentinel2 days ago
GALLIPOLIS — A group of young business leaders in Gallia County is stepping forward to contribute to a good cause during this Christmas season. The Generation Gallia Young Professionals Network (Y...
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|
Gen BuY: How Tweens, Teens and Twenty-Somethings Are Revolutionizing Retail
This is a hot new book out about how Generation Y is a SPENDING generation
Price: $12.47
List Price: $24.95 |
RainbowRecognizer says:
2 years ago
Good question - I'm sure it points to a lot of things. It's fine to want things, buy things, and have things... but many of us get to a point and realize it's not the "things" that really bring us happiness. I'm not one much for the term spoiled, but I suppose it may apply to situations where a child gets all of the material things he/she wants, and not enough of the love and attention he/she really deserves. I firmly believe one can't be spoiled with too much Love, and Love can't be bought! :o)