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Gen Y Stereotypes
Written by Buddy Hobart on July 28th, 2009
When we set out to write Gen Y Now part of our process was to conduct leadership seminars around the country for business leaders and their managers. As our folks talked to business people to attend the seminar, we heard some very similar and common responses. Much of what we heard could fall into the ‘and this too shall pass’ category. For the most part, in 2007, business leaders were not aware of the need to consider the differences and opportunities Gen Y employees present. I don’t think that is the issue today.
It is hard to pick up a national or local publication and NOT see an article about Gen Y. Business magazines, employment papers, marketing gurus and just about everyone else is now at least TALKING about the differences. There seems to be a greater awareness to the issue today than when we first started to write the book. However, I have some serious concerns about how that awareness has been gained and how many publications are presenting Gen Y.
Over the past 3 months I have seen literally dozens of negative articles and cartoons exploiting the prejudices of Baby Boomers and Gen X toward Gen Y. This negative positioning is not helpful to business leaders as they try to create their strategies for growth and recovery. Gen Y will be a critical part of the recovery, and having a negative view of what they bring to the work world will not speed up the process of creating a useful solution.
As an example of how the negative stereo types are presented, a recent national weekly magazine ran a story of Gen Y and focused on their sense of entitlement and “self indulgence”. The article talked about a generation that has had $100,000 sweet 16 parties. There was also a photo of some “20-somethings” having fun at a nightclub. The photo was designed to drive home the point that this cohort is out of control.
In the following days after seeing the article I had an opportunity to talk to several business forums across the country and conducted an informal survey. I asked “has anyone here held or attended a $100,000 sweet 16 party”. Not only was the answer no across the board, the rooms (mostly made up of successful baby boomer business people), laughed at the idea. My point here is this….I am sure SOMEONE has held six figure parties for their children, but it is not the norm. (In fact, who is to say the 16 year old recipient of the party even wanted it!) I am concerned these rare examples are being presented as the norm and playing on our Baby Boomer prejudices.
On a final note, we need to also be careful of the images we are presented about Gen Y. The photo I referred to in the article did not show Gen Y in a good light. They were partying, holding drinks and “acting the fool”. A week after I saw the article a friend of mine held a 50th birthday party. For the most part the party was a “dry affair” and we were by no means intoxicated. The photos I received after the party made it look like we were out of control…having the nerve to laugh, joke and clown around with friends! The nerve of us old folks to have fun! Many of the photos could easily been taken out of context and presented in a negative light.
Business leaders need to guard against these stereo types and avoid having an entire generation of talent branded negatively.
Tweets that mention Gen Y Now | Consultant's and Coach's Corner » Gen Y Stereotypes -- Topsy.com on March 25, 2010 at 12:22 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Eline Kullock, GenYChat. GenYChat said: Stop stereotyping GenY "…negative positioning is not helpful to business leaders…" http://bit.ly/9fdLRv via @genynow [...]