A Loquitur video created by Mackenzie Harris
This is also the generation that is stereotyped for being obsessed with selfies, not caring about anything other than themselves and has been nicknamed the “me me me” generation. That is absolutely not true. Millennials are not defined by what others may think or say, but rather by the actions we take.
Those born between the years 1980 to 2000 are what we call the millennial generation.
According to Pew Research, millennials are confident, connected and open to change.
We are the generation, according to research, that has the potential to change the world and we could not agree more. This isn’t to say that we think we are in any way the best generation, but we do feel as though we are the most accepting generation yet and have the potential to change the way society today is being run.
“Millennials are history’s first ‘always connected’ generation,” according to a study created in 2010 by Pew Research.
In 1990 and 1991 there were 4.73 million children born each year in the United States, making 24-year-olds and 25-year-olds the largest cohort of population, according to Goldman Sachs.
This means that these 24 and 25-year-olds, along with millennials close in age, have a strong influence in today’s society. This influence will continue to gain dominance as we take our place as leaders. As members of this millennial group, we Loquitur editors believe that we are an active and necessary part to create systemic changes throughout society. Whether that means accepting same-sex marriage, caring about the environment, or by accepting more people from all race, ethnicity, religion and backgrounds, millennials can and will increasingly lead the change.
“To a large extent, the things that millennials value in life mirror the things older generations value. Family matters most, and fame and fortune are much less important,” according to Pew Research. “When asked to rate how important a series of life goals are to them personally, being a good parent ranked at the top for all four generations. Millennial women are even more likely than millennial men to say being a good parent is one of the most important things to them (56 percent vs. 48 percent). No similar gender gap exists among older generations.”
Another very important cause to millennials and increasingly important to all other generations is protecting the planet. In the research collected by Pew, “most millennials recycle and try to buy green products, but the same can be said of adults of all ages.”
Finally, millennials believe that volunteering is extremely important. “Nearly six-in-ten (57 percent) millennials say that they had volunteered in the past 12 months,” according to Pew Research.
In many ways, we are no different than other generations, but in some important ways, we are unique and are leading change. Our hope is that in years to come, we come together to create systemic change, not only to create better futures for ourselves but for our brothers, sisters, children and for all future generations around the world.
