The Millennial Report: Don’t Assume All Millennials Are Alike

More often than not, every article about millennials begins with the author grouping everyone in question into the same category: millennials are lazy, millennials are entitled, millennials are tech-savvy. Sure, we all know that these types of broad generalizations are often the easiest way to point out trends among an entire age group of young adults, but how would readers feel if other ethnic and gender-specific groups were treated in the same manner? Not good at all, I’m guessing.

That is the point of a recent article by Kevin Varadian, a self-described “Wannabe Millennial” who is fed up with the way men and women aged 20-34 are described and viewed in the mainstream media. While other groups such as Women, Latinos, Blacks and members of the LGBTQ community would take offense at the notion of being lumped into a group as ambiguous as “millennials,” more often than not no one bats an eye when referring to the millions of young professionals entering the workforce with such a generalized and, frankly, loaded, term.

Not only are these generalizations lazy, but in many ways they are unfair to millions of workers trying to make a name for themselves in the corporate world. While certain generalizations often have some truth behind them, there are countless individuals who buck the norm and don’t conform to any specific mentality or way of working that places them in a category all their own.

Contrary to popular belief, some of us have less technical knowledge or web expertise than someone twice our age, while others have no interest in social media or working in large groups. Our individuality and unique ways of thinking (even if those ways of thinking are considered “old school”) are part of what makes millennial-aged workers so innovative and distinct from our parents and grandparents.

As someone who regularly writes about the millennial community, I myself am often guilty of such broad generalizations against my peers. But reading Varadian’s article has forced me to take a look at how lumping everyone of a similar group into a narrow category is not only insensitive, but harmful to the overall mission of emphasizing generational equality in the workforce. This newfound insight has given me a lot to think about, and I hope that I can begin to contribute to the acceptance of millennial work habits and skills in a more meaningful way going forward.

Are these generalizations likely to change anytime soon? It isn’t likely, but bringing awareness to the problem is the first step in getting folks to think outside the box and give workers a chance to prove themselves before lumping them in with their contemporaries. Just like any other group of people in the world, there is no “one-size-fits-all” description of the millennial community – something that we ourselves as millennials need to embrace and encourage others to see.

The Millennial Report is a weekly column by associate editor Michael Cusanelli, who graduated from Stony Brook University’s School of Journalism in 2013. He is an avid gamer and movie buff who spends nearly as much time concocting the perfect mix tape as he does writing. You can find him on Twitter @MCusanelliSB.