Ever been stereotyped for being part of a generation?
Most millennials would say that they have been berated at least once with the phrase “ugh, millennials!”, probably accompanied by an eye roll. Millennials typically get stereotyped as lazy, entitled freeloaders. But what exactly qualifies as a millennial?
“All my teachers joke around and call us millennials, so all this time I’ve been thinking I’m a millennial but I’m not,” said Meghan Collins-Lamar, a sophomore at Kean University who was born in 1998.
Millenials are defined as people born between the year 1981 and 1996, according to Business Insider. Anyone born after 1996 is considered to be a part of Generation Z.
“Millenials get such a bad rep,” said Andrea Palma, a senior at Kean University who was born in 1995. “But more than half the people in college aren’t even millennials anymore.”
The average college senior was born in 1997, which technically makes most students in college a part of Generation Z, not millennials.
Photo Courtesy of Kean University.
According to Business Insider, “Millennials have been framed as selfish, psychologically scarred, in constant need of validation, and killing several industries, from casual dining to perhaps worst of all bar soap”.
In addition, older millennials did not have the access or level of technology that Gen Z kids have today. Generation Z has never lived in a world without quick, on the go technology.
Barbara Koza, 76, says she has no problem with young millennials or those a part of Generation Z. In fact, her grandchildren help her if she ever has issues with her iPhone.
“I can just call one of them up and they will be over here in less than 20 minutes. They can fix it in less than 10. It’s great. I don’t even have to leave my house!” Koza explained.
Not only are there differences in technology, but the way both generations view money as well.
On the other hand, since Gen Z kids grew up during a financial crisis, they are more financially frugal.
There are also those on the cusp on being a millennial and a part of Generation Z.
As someone who was born in 1996, Emily Gibison, a senior at Kean University, said she feels she possesses aspects of both Generation Z and the millennial generation.
“I’m very aware of how much things cost,” said Gibison. “Yeah, I have that millennial hope that things will work out and I will get where I need to be, but I try to be conscious of what I am spending, which I think kind of pulls me into that Generation Z area. Also, I’m super great with technology, which is definitely a Gen Z thing”.