Generation X Myths
Myth 1: Gen Xers are slackers and don't want to work hard at anything.
Reality: "Slacking is impossible," said G. G. a sophomore and criminal justice major at the school I attend. "You see poverty and homelessness and you don't want it so you work your ass off to be better than that. Generation X likes to hang out a lot, to get together with friends and do fun things, but that is during our leisure time." According to a 1997 article in the Arizona Republic, of the 5 million businesses started last year, nearly 16 percent were started by people under age 25; 30 percent by people under age 30. "Generation X has to work twice as hard as Baby Boomers," said C. L., a sophomore. We (generation X) are constantly being downsized by Boomers and have to work double to prove ourselves." Generation Xers are not afraid to challenge authority. Unlike Baby Boomers who stuck it out at work even if they were unhappy, Gen Xers are very willing to pick up and leave a job that does not satisfy them. "Baby Boomers are more interested in materialistic objects, physical objects," said a advertising executive. "Generation Xers are looking for peace of mind and leisure time."
Myth 2: Members of Generation X do not care about themselves or their future.
Reality: "That's B.S.," said B. J. "If we didn't care about ourselves or our future, we wouldn't try so hard to go to college and get good jobs." Generation X also cares about the future of the earth and environment. "Generation X is more environmentally, economically and socially conscious than previous generations," said I. W. a network administrator in San Jose. Another trend surrounding Generation X that dispels this myth is the fact that Generation X is more health-conscious than previous generations. According to a Wall Street Journal article on June 28, 1996 discussing the lifestyles of generations, 42 percent of 18-34 year-olds use vitamins or supplements or try to eat mostly organic foods, 59 percent almost always read labels to find out about content of food and 71 percent have checked their blood pressure and cholesterol in the past year. "I think Generation X cares about their future, exercise, the environment and a healthy body and mind are all ideas that we care about."
Myth 3: Gen Xers hang out in coffee shops all day smoking cigarettes with the post-college blues because they have nothing better to do.
Reality: "Most of the people in Gen X that I know have better things to do than hang out in coffee shops and smoke cigarettes all day," researcher D. said. "I will agree that people in Gen X get the post-college blues more often than before because there are less jobs being offered for the amount of individuals attending college, but they don't mope around in coffee shops because of it." According to the Wall Street Journal only 17 percent of 18-34 year-olds smoke more than a half a pack of cigarettes a day and 15 percent drink more than three cups of coffee a day.
Myth 4: Gen Xers live at home longer.
Reality: There is a difference of opinion whether or not Generation Xers live at home longer than previous generations. "Gen Xers stay at home longer because their parents believe in a strong sense of family." On the other side of the spectrum, some believe that Xers want to break away from their parents constraints. "Gen Xers are going away to different states for college," "They want to get out of their parents house to experience more stuff."
Myth 5: Gen Xers are frustrated, hopeless and cynical.
Reality: "We're frustrated and cynical because of Baby Boomer's censorship and unwillingness to understand what were are about," a participant said. "We are angry at the system that created our anger. Because we are intelligent enough to realize that it is unrealistic to directly confront these issues, we use our minds to get around them by lobbying, etc." Generation Xers are more realistic than pessimistic when it comes to issues such as hate, crime, violence, poverty, pollution and disease. It is this realism and ability to deal with issues rather than ignore them that creates some uneasiness in Baby Boomers and gives Generation X a bad name. Information from Outpost Contributor Jennifer Jochim
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