you are probably aware of the concept of Generation Y or Millennials how many of
Generation Y or Millennials how many of
Generation Y or Millennials how many of you have heard of it raise your hand
you have heard of it raise your hand
you have heard of it raise your hand almost everyone and keep your keep your
almost everyone and keep your keep your
almost everyone and keep your keep your hands up and now keep it up if you are a
hands up and now keep it up if you are a
hands up and now keep it up if you are a millennial yourself Thanks
millennial yourself Thanks
millennial yourself Thanks depending on the source Generation Y or
depending on the source Generation Y or
depending on the source Generation Y or Millennials are the young adults of
Millennials are the young adults of
Millennials are the young adults of today born into 1980s and 90s when I
today born into 1980s and 90s when I
today born into 1980s and 90s when I said Generation Y I bet many of you
said Generation Y I bet many of you
said Generation Y I bet many of you instantly formed the picture of a
instantly formed the picture of a
instantly formed the picture of a typical millennial in your head what
typical millennial in your head what
typical millennial in your head what does this person look like the
does this person look like the
does this person look like the descriptions I see most often are that
descriptions I see most often are that
descriptions I see most often are that Millennials value work-life balance and
Millennials value work-life balance and
Millennials value work-life balance and meaningful work Millennials are
meaningful work Millennials are
meaningful work Millennials are open-minded and confident or if you ask
open-minded and confident or if you ask
open-minded and confident or if you ask someone else entitled narcissists by the
someone else entitled narcissists by the
someone else entitled narcissists by the way according to countless books and
way according to countless books and
way according to countless books and consultants Millennials are or were
consultants Millennials are or were
consultants Millennials are or were supposed to change the game completely
supposed to change the game completely
supposed to change the game completely as they enter workforce because the
as they enter workforce because the
as they enter workforce because the birth of first Millennials is usually
birth of first Millennials is usually
birth of first Millennials is usually dated to the beginning of the 1980s they
dated to the beginning of the 1980s they
dated to the beginning of the 1980s they are now nearing 40 where’s the
are now nearing 40 where’s the
are now nearing 40 where’s the groundbreaking change here’s the real
groundbreaking change here’s the real
groundbreaking change here’s the real untold story of the Millennials the
untold story of the Millennials the
untold story of the Millennials the cohort Millennials or Generation Y
cohort Millennials or Generation Y
cohort Millennials or Generation Y doesn’t exist in this speech I’m gonna
doesn’t exist in this speech I’m gonna
doesn’t exist in this speech I’m gonna take you through two main arguments to
take you through two main arguments to
take you through two main arguments to support my case widely contradictory
support my case widely contradictory
support my case widely contradictory empirical evidence and shaky theoretical
empirical evidence and shaky theoretical
empirical evidence and shaky theoretical ground but because inspirational
ground but because inspirational
ground but because inspirational speeches have quotes let’s start with
speeches have quotes let’s start with
speeches have quotes let’s start with one and it’s a bit long I know plot but
one and it’s a bit long I know plot but
one and it’s a bit long I know plot but please bear with me there’s a point to
please bear with me there’s a point to
please bear with me there’s a point to it in recent years many observers have
it in recent years many observers have
it in recent years many observers have called attention to an apparent
called attention to an apparent
called attention to an apparent malays among North American workers
malays among North American workers
malays among North American workers briefly stated members of the labor
briefly stated members of the labor
briefly stated members of the labor force are thought to be less willing
force are thought to be less willing
force are thought to be less willing than previously to accept the Protestant
than previously to accept the Protestant
than previously to accept the Protestant ethic and the necessity of work in
ethic and the necessity of work in
ethic and the necessity of work in particular attention has focused on
particular attention has focused on
particular attention has focused on younger workers who afford to hold work
younger workers who afford to hold work
younger workers who afford to hold work value systems significantly different
value systems significantly different
value systems significantly different from their elders typical Millennials
from their elders typical Millennials
from their elders typical Millennials right except this was written by
right except this was written by
right except this was written by scholars Taylor and function in 1976
scholars Taylor and function in 1976
scholars Taylor and function in 1976 similar descriptions of the kids these
similar descriptions of the kids these
similar descriptions of the kids these days are still abundant forty years
days are still abundant forty years
days are still abundant forty years later that’s what caught my attention in
later that’s what caught my attention in
later that’s what caught my attention in the first place I kept encountering this
the first place I kept encountering this
the first place I kept encountering this use of my generation in the media often
use of my generation in the media often
use of my generation in the media often contradicting each other definitely
contradicting each other definitely
contradicting each other definitely contradicting the millennial reality I
contradicting the millennial reality I
contradicting the millennial reality I was living in but still they seem to be
was living in but still they seem to be
was living in but still they seem to be widely accepted clearly something wasn’t
widely accepted clearly something wasn’t
widely accepted clearly something wasn’t right here so I started studying the
right here so I started studying the
right here so I started studying the subject for my thesis I read over 30
subject for my thesis I read over 30
subject for my thesis I read over 30 articles and books about Millennials and
articles and books about Millennials and
articles and books about Millennials and found 117 so-called typical
found 117 so-called typical
found 117 so-called typical characteristics all of these 117 some
characteristics all of these 117 some
characteristics all of these 117 some archetypes rise there’s the good
archetypes rise there’s the good
archetypes rise there’s the good millennial the tolerant cooperative
millennial the tolerant cooperative
millennial the tolerant cooperative smart confident and diligent stereotype
smart confident and diligent stereotype
smart confident and diligent stereotype on the other hand there’s the bad
on the other hand there’s the bad
on the other hand there’s the bad millennial who has no work ethic nor
millennial who has no work ethic nor
millennial who has no work ethic nor loyalty the narcissistic thinks is old
loyalty the narcissistic thinks is old
loyalty the narcissistic thinks is old everything right here right now
everything right here right now
everything right here right now stereotype then there’s more of a
stereotype then there’s more of a
stereotype then there’s more of a neutral millennial who values work-life
neutral millennial who values work-life
neutral millennial who values work-life balance and continuous development is
balance and continuous development is
balance and continuous development is international and digital innate so when
international and digital innate so when
international and digital innate so when someone speaks of Generation Y he has
someone speaks of Generation Y he has
someone speaks of Generation Y he has already free options of what she might
already free options of what she might
already free options of what she might be talking about and these are only
be talking about and these are only
be talking about and these are only three examples of a wide range of
three examples of a wide range of
three examples of a wide range of stereotypes all of which are supposed to
stereotypes all of which are supposed to
stereotypes all of which are supposed to be the picture of a generation in these
be the picture of a generation in these
be the picture of a generation in these archetypes we can already see a problem
archetypes we can already see a problem
archetypes we can already see a problem rising how can we talk of one generation
rising how can we talk of one generation
rising how can we talk of one generation why
why
why with this many often contradictory
with this many often contradictory
with this many often contradictory stereotypes further even if use of
stereotypes further even if use of
stereotypes further even if use of typical Millennials were as many as
typical Millennials were as many as
typical Millennials were as many as commentators I still felt they excluded
commentators I still felt they excluded
commentators I still felt they excluded a large part of the generation for
a large part of the generation for
a large part of the generation for instance I have peers who live in the
instance I have peers who live in the
instance I have peers who live in the countryside who lead a traditional
countryside who lead a traditional
countryside who lead a traditional down-to-earth life some of them started
down-to-earth life some of them started
down-to-earth life some of them started a family in their 20s
a family in their 20s
a family in their 20s how do they fit in this picture another
how do they fit in this picture another
how do they fit in this picture another example is the concern of high youth
example is the concern of high youth
example is the concern of high youth unemployment and temporary work when the
unemployment and temporary work when the
unemployment and temporary work when the finished broadcast illa interviews son
finished broadcast illa interviews son
finished broadcast illa interviews son at 28 years old
at 28 years old
at 28 years old she doesn’t sound very confident no is
she doesn’t sound very confident no is
she doesn’t sound very confident no is she lacking work ethic no is her main
she lacking work ethic no is her main
she lacking work ethic no is her main concern not having enough bean bags or
concern not having enough bean bags or
concern not having enough bean bags or ping pong tables at the office to her a
ping pong tables at the office to her a
ping pong tables at the office to her a steady job instead of bits and pieces
steady job instead of bits and pieces
steady job instead of bits and pieces from five different employers might be
from five different employers might be
from five different employers might be just enough for a change still you could
just enough for a change still you could
just enough for a change still you could call all these people Millennials so
call all these people Millennials so
call all these people Millennials so what’s the common denominator how are
what’s the common denominator how are
what’s the common denominator how are they all alike or second question what
they all alike or second question what
they all alike or second question what makes these Millennials so different
makes these Millennials so different
makes these Millennials so different from people who made similar life
from people who made similar life
from people who made similar life choices 20 years earlier what else than
choices 20 years earlier what else than
choices 20 years earlier what else than age makes them two different generations
age makes them two different generations
age makes them two different generations for researchers doing meta-analysis that
for researchers doing meta-analysis that
for researchers doing meta-analysis that is study of studies putting together
is study of studies putting together
is study of studies putting together former academic work this problem has
former academic work this problem has
former academic work this problem has proven impossible to solve they simply
proven impossible to solve they simply
proven impossible to solve they simply haven’t found solid empirical evidence
haven’t found solid empirical evidence
haven’t found solid empirical evidence to any of the so-called typical
to any of the so-called typical
to any of the so-called typical characteristics I repeat no solid
characteristics I repeat no solid
characteristics I repeat no solid evidence moreover according to these
evidence moreover according to these
evidence moreover according to these same studies it’s hard to justify the
same studies it’s hard to justify the
same studies it’s hard to justify the idea of generational differences when
idea of generational differences when
idea of generational differences when the differences within one generation
the differences within one generation
the differences within one generation are larger and stronger than between
are larger and stronger than between
are larger and stronger than between generations now we know that the
generations now we know that the
generations now we know that the evidence is lacking it’s hard to form a
evidence is lacking it’s hard to form a
evidence is lacking it’s hard to form a consensus of how Millennials are
consensus of how Millennials are
consensus of how Millennials are supposed to be and whatever version we
supposed to be and whatever version we
supposed to be and whatever version we choose we can’t prove it scientifically
choose we can’t prove it scientifically
choose we can’t prove it scientifically so why is the
so why is the
so why is the so contradictory why can’t I find
so contradictory why can’t I find
so contradictory why can’t I find systematic statistically significant
systematic statistically significant
systematic statistically significant generational differences to understand
generational differences to understand
generational differences to understand this and to understand by the mainstream
this and to understand by the mainstream
this and to understand by the mainstream has got the whole idea of generations so
has got the whole idea of generations so
has got the whole idea of generations so wrong we have to look into the
wrong we have to look into the
wrong we have to look into the underlying theory the hypothesis and
underlying theory the hypothesis and
underlying theory the hypothesis and assumptions of the studies and that
assumptions of the studies and that
assumptions of the studies and that theoretical framework the idea of a new
theoretical framework the idea of a new
theoretical framework the idea of a new generation starting every 20 years is as
generation starting every 20 years is as
generation starting every 20 years is as loose as a research sleeve anyone know
loose as a research sleeve anyone know
loose as a research sleeve anyone know this guy he’s definitely not a
this guy he’s definitely not a
this guy he’s definitely not a millennial you can tell from the pipe
millennial you can tell from the pipe
millennial you can tell from the pipe I’ll get to him in a minute
I’ll get to him in a minute
I’ll get to him in a minute the way I’ve spoken about generations in
the way I’ve spoken about generations in
the way I’ve spoken about generations in the speech and the way for example
the speech and the way for example
the speech and the way for example Generation Y is generally understood
Generation Y is generally understood
Generation Y is generally understood it’s a cohort a group that includes
it’s a cohort a group that includes
it’s a cohort a group that includes everyone born in certain years in a
everyone born in certain years in a
everyone born in certain years in a nutshell the theory is that every period
nutshell the theory is that every period
nutshell the theory is that every period in time has its own unique combination
in time has its own unique combination
in time has its own unique combination of technology economy politics key
of technology economy politics key
of technology economy politics key events and so on these combined form the
events and so on these combined form the
events and so on these combined form the spirit of the times or zeitgeist and
spirit of the times or zeitgeist and
spirit of the times or zeitgeist and according to this theory growing up in a
according to this theory growing up in a
according to this theory growing up in a specific time leaves a strong mark in
specific time leaves a strong mark in
specific time leaves a strong mark in you to rephrase being born in the 80s
you to rephrase being born in the 80s
you to rephrase being born in the 80s predisposes you to certain environment
predisposes you to certain environment
predisposes you to certain environment and key events when you are young which
and key events when you are young which
and key events when you are young which are also the most important formative
are also the most important formative
are also the most important formative years of your life because the typical
years of your life because the typical
years of your life because the typical environment of the 90s was different
environment of the 90s was different
environment of the 90s was different from that of the 70s those born in a
from that of the 70s those born in a
from that of the 70s those born in a certain decade have something
certain decade have something
certain decade have something fundamental in common that separates
fundamental in common that separates
fundamental in common that separates them from those born before and after
them from those born before and after
them from those born before and after them for the rest of their lives and
them for the rest of their lives and
them for the rest of their lives and that’s something to translate to
that’s something to translate to
that’s something to translate to defining traits and values
defining traits and values
defining traits and values I guess the fastest in the audience
I guess the fastest in the audience
I guess the fastest in the audience already see where I’m going the man on
already see where I’m going the man on
already see where I’m going the man on the screen has to be the researcher who
the screen has to be the researcher who
the screen has to be the researcher who who first found these cohorts and
who first found these cohorts and
who first found these cohorts and they’re defining traits right well he
they’re defining traits right well he
they’re defining traits right well he isn’t neither was there any other
isn’t neither was there any other
isn’t neither was there any other pipe-smoking sociologists no lab coded
pipe-smoking sociologists no lab coded
pipe-smoking sociologists no lab coded scientist who did it
scientist who did it
scientist who did it the reason empirical research finds it
the reason empirical research finds it
the reason empirical research finds it so hard to prove generations is that
so hard to prove generations is that
so hard to prove generations is that generations went based on empirical
generations went based on empirical
generations went based on empirical reasons
reasons
reasons search in the first place the origin of
search in the first place the origin of
search in the first place the origin of the idea of generational cohorts can be
the idea of generational cohorts can be
the idea of generational cohorts can be traced back to two traits first were the
traced back to two traits first were the
traced back to two traits first were the real-life Mad Men in advertising who
real-life Mad Men in advertising who
real-life Mad Men in advertising who just found it convenient to segment
just found it convenient to segment
just found it convenient to segment consumers in the different age groups
consumers in the different age groups
consumers in the different age groups second is thought experiment work of
second is thought experiment work of
second is thought experiment work of non-scientific authors who have used the
non-scientific authors who have used the
non-scientific authors who have used the idea of surpassing generations as a tool
idea of surpassing generations as a tool
idea of surpassing generations as a tool to understanding historical change
to understanding historical change
to understanding historical change combine these two advertising and
combine these two advertising and
combine these two advertising and non-scientific offers and she get the
non-scientific offers and she get the
non-scientific offers and she get the Millennials and baby boomers we know
Millennials and baby boomers we know
Millennials and baby boomers we know today reversely nobody made a huge
today reversely nobody made a huge
today reversely nobody made a huge population study of values and found
population study of values and found
population study of values and found that there’s a clear barrier between
that there’s a clear barrier between
that there’s a clear barrier between those born in the 70s and those born in
those born in the 70s and those born in
those born in the 70s and those born in the 80s know that the group born between
the 80s know that the group born between
the 80s know that the group born between 1980 and 2000 was especially coherent
1980 and 2000 was especially coherent
1980 and 2000 was especially coherent somebody just made this up and it’s
somebody just made this up and it’s
somebody just made this up and it’s important enough but these made up
important enough but these made up
important enough but these made up cohorts aren’t questioned and at the end
cohorts aren’t questioned and at the end
cohorts aren’t questioned and at the end of the continuum we have business school
of the continuum we have business school
of the continuum we have business school academics desperately trying to find
academics desperately trying to find
academics desperately trying to find proof of something that wasn’t meant to
proof of something that wasn’t meant to
proof of something that wasn’t meant to be scientifically proven in the first
be scientifically proven in the first
be scientifically proven in the first place
place
place and now back to the man of the screen in
and now back to the man of the screen in
and now back to the man of the screen in case you were already wondering he
case you were already wondering he
case you were already wondering he wasn’t included just to improve the
wasn’t included just to improve the
wasn’t included just to improve the aesthetics of this presentation the man
aesthetics of this presentation the man
aesthetics of this presentation the man in the picture is Karl Mannheim the
in the picture is Karl Mannheim the
in the picture is Karl Mannheim the father of generational theory who every
father of generational theory who every
father of generational theory who every generational theorist is obliged to
generational theorist is obliged to
generational theorist is obliged to name-drop to legitimize their foundation
name-drop to legitimize their foundation
name-drop to legitimize their foundation I’ll do the same it was him who in 1928
I’ll do the same it was him who in 1928
I’ll do the same it was him who in 1928 formulated the theory of formative years
formulated the theory of formative years
formulated the theory of formative years defining the future of same age groups
defining the future of same age groups
defining the future of same age groups but you know what the funny thing is if
but you know what the funny thing is if
but you know what the funny thing is if you actually read Manheim’s work not
you actually read Manheim’s work not
you actually read Manheim’s work not just cite someone who cites Mannheim he
just cite someone who cites Mannheim he
just cite someone who cites Mannheim he explicitly advises against seeing
explicitly advises against seeing
explicitly advises against seeing generations as whole age groups cohorts
generations as whole age groups cohorts
generations as whole age groups cohorts to him the word generation represented a
to him the word generation represented a
to him the word generation represented a much smaller group a fraction of the
much smaller group a fraction of the
much smaller group a fraction of the cohort that makes itself visible through
cohort that makes itself visible through
cohort that makes itself visible through mobilizing around some new political
mobilizing around some new political
mobilizing around some new political agenda
let’s stop to think for a minute what do
let’s stop to think for a minute what do the generational stereotypes in fact
the generational stereotypes in fact
the generational stereotypes in fact depict they describe social phenomenon
depict they describe social phenomenon
depict they describe social phenomenon forces of change in society values of
forces of change in society values of
forces of change in society values of subgroups usually some sort of elites
subgroups usually some sort of elites
subgroups usually some sort of elites that stand out from the rest the hippie
that stand out from the rest the hippie
that stand out from the rest the hippie movement in the late 1960s was important
movement in the late 1960s was important
movement in the late 1960s was important but not all youth back then took LSD and
but not all youth back then took LSD and
but not all youth back then took LSD and went to Woodstock
went to Woodstock
went to Woodstock thank God someone might add the hippie
thank God someone might add the hippie
thank God someone might add the hippie lifestyle was a generational movement
lifestyle was a generational movement
lifestyle was a generational movement that included only a fraction of the
that included only a fraction of the
that included only a fraction of the generation the same applies to
generation the same applies to
generation the same applies to Generation Y sure many want an
Generation Y sure many want an
Generation Y sure many want an international career and a lot of
international career and a lot of
international career and a lot of freedom at the workplace but at the same
freedom at the workplace but at the same
freedom at the workplace but at the same time we have countless Millennials who
time we have countless Millennials who
time we have countless Millennials who just wish for a steady job to pay their
just wish for a steady job to pay their
just wish for a steady job to pay their mortgage and raise their kids just like
mortgage and raise their kids just like
mortgage and raise their kids just like the boring generation of their parents
millennial stereotypes don’t reflect
millennial stereotypes don’t reflect diverse reality and the underlying
diverse reality and the underlying
diverse reality and the underlying theory is based on faulty assumptions is
theory is based on faulty assumptions is
theory is based on faulty assumptions is it then all bad to stereotype not
it then all bad to stereotype not
it then all bad to stereotype not necessarily stereotypes help us
necessarily stereotypes help us
necessarily stereotypes help us understand the complex world around us
understand the complex world around us
understand the complex world around us that’s why our brain is so good at
that’s why our brain is so good at
that’s why our brain is so good at making them but it should be a one-way
making them but it should be a one-way
making them but it should be a one-way track we can form useful archetypes of
track we can form useful archetypes of
track we can form useful archetypes of linked values to better understand the
linked values to better understand the
linked values to better understand the variation of lifestyles around us but we
variation of lifestyles around us but we
variation of lifestyles around us but we shouldn’t apply these summed up
shouldn’t apply these summed up
shouldn’t apply these summed up stereotypes back to individuals let
stereotypes back to individuals let
stereotypes back to individuals let alone whole age groups this is a
alone whole age groups this is a
alone whole age groups this is a critical distinction we have to
critical distinction we have to
critical distinction we have to consciously make because if we run on
consciously make because if we run on
consciously make because if we run on autopilot our brain will surely save
autopilot our brain will surely save
autopilot our brain will surely save some energy and take the short cut from
some energy and take the short cut from
some energy and take the short cut from the wig and nephew and his girlfriend to
the wig and nephew and his girlfriend to
the wig and nephew and his girlfriend to vegetarianism being super popular among
vegetarianism being super popular among
vegetarianism being super popular among all young people in this talk I
all young people in this talk I
all young people in this talk I presented you the case of why not to
presented you the case of why not to
presented you the case of why not to believe in generational stereotypes the
believe in generational stereotypes the
believe in generational stereotypes the way they are presented as pictures of
way they are presented as pictures of
way they are presented as pictures of whole age groups the empirical evidence
whole age groups the empirical evidence
whole age groups the empirical evidence doesn’t exist and the theoretical ground
doesn’t exist and the theoretical ground
doesn’t exist and the theoretical ground flimsy at best we can identify
flimsy at best we can identify
flimsy at best we can identify generational movements but even then we
generational movements but even then we
generational movements but even then we have to be careful not to overestimate
have to be careful not to overestimate
have to be careful not to overestimate their effect I’ve used evidence from
their effect I’ve used evidence from
their effect I’ve used evidence from social sciences to debunk the millennial
social sciences to debunk the millennial
social sciences to debunk the millennial myth but what I hope you take with you
myth but what I hope you take with you
myth but what I hope you take with you from this page is critical thinking next
from this page is critical thinking next
from this page is critical thinking next time when someone repeats a stereotype
time when someone repeats a stereotype
time when someone repeats a stereotype everyone knows to be true ask yourself
everyone knows to be true ask yourself
everyone knows to be true ask yourself is there something to counter it to wrap
is there something to counter it to wrap
is there something to counter it to wrap things up you probably wouldn’t say most
things up you probably wouldn’t say most
things up you probably wouldn’t say most plumbers are alike but in fact to the
plumbers are alike but in fact to the
plumbers are alike but in fact to the socio-economic conditions young and old
socio-economic conditions young and old
socio-economic conditions young and old plumbers together are probably a more
plumbers together are probably a more
plumbers together are probably a more homogenous group than some 2 billion
homogenous group than some 2 billion
homogenous group than some 2 billion Millennials on the planet so why is it
Millennials on the planet so why is it
Millennials on the planet so why is it acceptable to say kids these days when
acceptable to say kids these days when
acceptable to say kids these days when plumbers of all age isn’t I hope you
plumbers of all age isn’t I hope you
plumbers of all age isn’t I hope you think of that thank you
think of that thank you
think of that thank you [Applause]
”
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