Multiple social studies in the last few years have shown that, as a whole, millennials crave and value experiences over material goods. There have been lots of theories as to why this is, and the readings this week all seemed to scratch the surface of answering that question, even if they weren't written specifically about millennials. I would suggest that there isn't one big, complex answer that completely explains the mindset of the entirety of Gen-X's offspring, bur rather lots of small, simple answers.
Regarding the topic that stretched across all of the readings for this week, millennials as a whole seem to despise traditional American work culture, which in this context, refers to the culturally iconic and stereotypical 9 to 5 white-collar office job of the late century American service economy. It's morning coffee and donuts, white shirts with black ties, gray cubicles, and complete lacking of meaningful purpose. For decades during the latter-half of the twentieth century, this type of service economy career was a staple of American culture and identity. It was success for the average man that was held as evidence for America's success against an otherwise violent and impoverished world. But we don't live in that world anymore, and the traditional icons of respectable careers that echo all the way back from the Cold War don't have nearly the effect on millennials that they had on the generations before them. During the Cold War, having stuff was an indication that you valued the consumerist way of life; that you valued capitalism itself. Having stuff meant that you were successful.
But the definition of "success" to millennials differs from the definitions of previous generations. In the age where everyone's lives are on public display via social media, projecting a life of happiness and excitement matters greatly. We want others to think that our lives are interesting, which in turn makes us want to make our lives interesting. If a person's life seems interesting and fulfilling, they must be successful, regardless of their choice of career or how much stuff they have.
Millennials want to be fulfilled. They want their lives to mean something. For previous generations, having meaning meant having a respectable career, a respectable home filled with stuff, and a respectable nuclear family. That definition fails to apply to a generation that is both extremely diverse and terrified at the idea of being unremarkable. But there isn't something readily available to fill the gap, which is why experiences are so important to millennials: there isn't meaning in acquiring money or even stuff, but by trying new things, going places, and meeting people, meaning can potentially be found.
Regarding the topic that stretched across all of the readings for this week, millennials as a whole seem to despise traditional American work culture, which in this context, refers to the culturally iconic and stereotypical 9 to 5 white-collar office job of the late century American service economy. It's morning coffee and donuts, white shirts with black ties, gray cubicles, and complete lacking of meaningful purpose. For decades during the latter-half of the twentieth century, this type of service economy career was a staple of American culture and identity. It was success for the average man that was held as evidence for America's success against an otherwise violent and impoverished world. But we don't live in that world anymore, and the traditional icons of respectable careers that echo all the way back from the Cold War don't have nearly the effect on millennials that they had on the generations before them. During the Cold War, having stuff was an indication that you valued the consumerist way of life; that you valued capitalism itself. Having stuff meant that you were successful.
But the definition of "success" to millennials differs from the definitions of previous generations. In the age where everyone's lives are on public display via social media, projecting a life of happiness and excitement matters greatly. We want others to think that our lives are interesting, which in turn makes us want to make our lives interesting. If a person's life seems interesting and fulfilling, they must be successful, regardless of their choice of career or how much stuff they have.
Millennials want to be fulfilled. They want their lives to mean something. For previous generations, having meaning meant having a respectable career, a respectable home filled with stuff, and a respectable nuclear family. That definition fails to apply to a generation that is both extremely diverse and terrified at the idea of being unremarkable. But there isn't something readily available to fill the gap, which is why experiences are so important to millennials: there isn't meaning in acquiring money or even stuff, but by trying new things, going places, and meeting people, meaning can potentially be found.
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