Baby boom Quote by Jennifer Romolini
““I'm loath to bring up the E word here, and I'm even more embarrassed to talk about "millennials" in this way because it is a terrible cliché you've heard a hundred million times, and it is not a cliché I actually believe to be true. However, in writing a book for people in their twenties in 2017, I'd be remiss to not discuss this biggest criticism against them. If you are a twenty-something working in the world of Gen Xers and baby boomers, many older people think you are entitled. This is probably not news to you. Your bosses meet over glasses of wine and get parent drunk about how lazy you are and how you don't respect authority and don't take initiative and also what a pain in the ass and entitled they feel you are. Boo-hoo. It doesn't matter that the assessment is a wild, sweeping stereotype, nor that it's not actually true or fair--after managing millennials successfully for years, I know it's not. There's not an entire generation of lazy jerks walking around, waiting to steal jobs and assignments they don't deserve. Also, people of all ages can and do act entitled, and this is just a tidy, cantankerous way to label a whole census block of folks and make them seem less threatening because some people (cough cough: olds) feel afraid that they might be aging out of their careers and not feel as relevant as before.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Millennial Myth, 2017
The quote challenges the stereotype that millennials are entitled, arguing that such sweeping generalizations are unfair and often used by older generations to deflect their own insecurities.
In simple terms: Millennial entitlement is a stereotype, not a fact.
Key Takeaway
Question stereotypes and assess individuals on merit.
Themes
generational bias
stereotyping
workplace dynamics
ageism
culture clash
Mood
reflective
critical
inquisitive
Type
advice
analysis
commentary
When to use this quote
- HR hiring
- team meetings
- career mentorship
- intergenerational projects
- leadership training
Key Concepts
social psychology
generational theory
bias perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize and counteract generational bias?
- What steps can organizations take to value all ages equally?
A Different Perspective
Stereotypes can overlook individual differences and may reinforce division.
