We're constantly being told we're 'soft,' we're 'whiners,' and we're 'lazy.'
None of that is true. We are no more or less soft, lazy, or whiny, than any other generation there has ever been.
What we are is jaded and cynical.
I hate to admit it, but it's the truth. Maybe that's just because we see things a little clearer than older generations, who knows?
We see that things aren't fair - and we aren't afraid to f**king say it.
We're sceptical about whether we'll ever be able to retire - or even own our own homes.
And, honestly, can you blame us?
Older people decided to give us the miracles of stupidity that are Brexit and Trump. It's the younger people who will be around to suffer for these decisions. It's us who will have to clean up your mess.
We are not lazy. We are resourceful. We know our rights, and we know our worth.
That's not whiny. That's the ideal of every worker's revolution, every socialist uprising, every place where the poor and the underpaid have dared to say no.
Millennials aren't lazy! Click to Tweet
And where there are no jobs, or the jobs are unsuitable?
Some of us make our own. We work for ourselves.
Self-employment is not laziness - believe me. You have to work your ever-loving a*s off for pennies.
But at least they're your pennies.
Older generations have created a world in which university qualifications mean you might be able to get a job as a waiter or a barista... if you're lucky.
We live in a world where people with Masters degrees are still doing bar-work several years later. Where people with psych. degrees are working in clothes shops.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with these things - if people want to do them. What's wrong is when people have no choice despite doing everything they can to get ahead.
Older generations made the system work against us. The least they can do is stop belittling our efforts.
Like this post? Try these:
Haha, I love the title of this post! I'm not sure if I even am a millennial because I'm a teenager, and the whole concepts of generations really confuses me, but I understand your frustration that older people undermine the potential of younger people! They screwed up the world and now we have to live with the consequences.
ReplyDeleteApparently millennials are people born between the 1980s and the early 2000s - so I'm sure we can sneak you in the end there ;)
DeleteLORD is this ever true. I'm so tired of posts about the things millennials are failing to do in an economy that's super hostile to labor rights and fair pay and, as you say, a lot of us have no confidence that we'll have any retirement, even. I definitely have no faith in Social Security to last through retirement age.
ReplyDeleteHa, the state retirement age in the UK keeps rising every couple of years. The current age at which I can draw a state pension is 68... if I can afford it and they don't put it up before then (which, let's face it, they will.)
DeleteBasically, I'm going to have to work forever (and ever... and ever...) Yay. Not.
Anyway, thanks for the awesome comment :)
I mean I am a lazy millenial (housework? I'd really rather not...) but the fact that I'm still in education, working to get the grades to get to uni so I can get my psychology degree, all whilst battling my mental health and doing what's best for me to get along? That's not laziness. I haven't had a year off from studying since I started school and I KNOW I'm going to need a job to support me through uni but why apply for things now when I can't start for at least 2 months because of exams? Oh, right. Because nowhere will hire me. I've lost count of the places I've handed my CV into since 2014 but no one has got back to me. Tell me, older generations, how that's ME being lazy?
ReplyDeleteHa, 100% with you Charlotte! *hugs*
DeleteExperts disagree whether I am a millennial or not (1981!) #RV&HT
ReplyDeleteHa, it probably depends what point they're trying to make at the time! :)
DeleteThanks for the comment :)
I'm so tired of being told millennial are lazy and whiny! Yeah, maybe previous generations had it harder in some ways, but we have it harder in plenty of other ways. And I definitely agree that seeing things clearer and wanting respect isn't whining!
ReplyDeletePREACH! (Lol!) :)
DeleteYes, I don't think we are lazy at all. Maybe we do speak and argue about topics on social media a lot. So what? Social media gives us a voice, and that means we are using it. Don't underestimate the power of social media. And we are active and doing what we can - within the boundaries we are given!
ReplyDeleteThere's really nothing I can add to that! :)
DeleteI didn't even know I was a millennial until I read these comments! lol I'm not sure I can comment because I have never been told I am lazy or made to feel my generation was. My Nan was 101 when she died last year and she had seen such a life. Two world wars, had a child during the 2nd whilst her husband was off fighting, rations, 4 kids and so on and she lived life to the full. She loved the new technology age and was fascinated by facebook. She knew all about our lives... all 10 grandchildren... and she encouraged every single one of us to go in and do what it was we wanted. I have always felt driven and supported. Her attitude proved to me that it is a minority who have something bad to say about the next generations. Yes, things may seem tough but how tough did she have it eh? Issues are all relative. #RVHT
ReplyDeleteI think that people fought for the rights of workers to not have to struggle through the conditions and hardships of the past. The fact that we now have to is awful.
DeleteAnd I'm so glad that you've somehow avoided the millennial stigma! Your nan sounds like she was a supportive and strong lady, and I'm sorry for your loss.
I completely agree, I'm a millennial and I'm not lazy! I have two kids, I'm doing a full-time degree and I'I hate how we're perceived it's a big pain in the bum! #RVHT
ReplyDelete(Accidental Hipster Mum/ Jenny)
Ha, I cant add much to that! Good on you! :)
DeleteThank you so very much for writing this post! It gets me so frustrated when my parents, and their other baby boomer friends keep on complaining about how millennials are so lazy and will make the world a worse place. Like pulease, you're the people that made all of this mess happen, and now we have to clean up after it... :/
ReplyDeleteHell yes! Older generations have *already* made the world like this! Feel free to use my arguments ;) (just be polite b/c I don't want your parents to yell at me!)
Delete