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MICHAEL MCQUEEN – OAKHILL COLLEGE CASTLE HILL 2ND JUNE 2011

“The New Rules Of Engagement- Gen Y”

Michael McQueen states that “Parent, teachers and employers the world over are finding themselves trying to connect with a group of young people they simply don’t understand. They speak of this generation’s brash self – confidence, impatient arrogance, and unfocussed flippancy, and are left asking one question: “What do we do with them?”

“Generation” – A term that describes a group of people that are born about the same time. According to the Oxford Dictionary a “Generation Gap” is the variance between those of different generations. “Generational Theory” – This is the area of sociology that deals specifically with mapping, classifying and understanding the characteristics of different generations and how the gap between them is expressed. Usually a generation represents a period of twenty years. The “Builders” generation is the combination of the “GI” generation and the “Silent” generation because they have common influences and characteristics. For easy of analysis they are grouped together by sociologists.

Following is a description of the different generations

**__ The Builders __** – Born during the first four decades of the 20th century, the builders were a pioneering generation who, as their name suggests, built much of what we take for granted in modern society. They were the first children to grow up under the protection of child labour legislation and were the first adolescents to be labeled “teenagers” This generation boldly challenged boundaries of human endeavour and achievement. They experienced – the roaring twenties, the Great Depression and the first and second world wars. It could be said that the “Builders” grew up in an era far removed from the modern age that it may as well have been another planet. Because of their experiences builders were dutiful, frugal, stoic and proper. **__ The Baby Boomers __** - These were a product of the soldiers returning home from World War 2. A demographic explosion unlike the world had ever seen before. Many services found it difficult to keep up with the demand of this almost overnight explosion of births. Baby boomers were born into a jubilant and prosperous society that had just endured and overcome the challenges of The Great Depression and two World Wars. The attitudes passed onto this generation were teamwork, commitment, persistence and victory. Due to these influences Baby Boomers have characteristics of optimism, career – focused and prosperous, stylish, assertive and afraid of ageing. **__ Generation x __** – Often referred to as the “lost generation” or the “hopeless generation because of misfortune of entering the world just as the vibrant 60s gave way to the more sedate and less prosperous 70s. Generation x was born into a new era and raised in a different way due to the overbearing control that their parents experienced in their own childhood. Xers were given a level of freedom that some say perhaps bordered on neglect. Children of this era were expected to grow up quickly and therefore developed a street – wise nature that is still very much a part of their psyche. David Elkind, a child psychologist once stated // “Teenagers are expected to confront life and its challenges with a maturity once expected only of the middle – aged… High schools, which were once the setting for a unique teenage culture and language, have become miniatures of the adult community. Theft, violence, sex and substance abuse are now as common in high school as they are on the streets” // Whilst the degree of this description depended on the region, school and socio – economic factors. Generation x experienced a childhood void of the innocence that previous generations had enjoyed. In just twenty year the highest rating TV show among teenagers went from being “The Brady Bunch” to “Degrassi Junior High” Generation X encounted many other changes that shaped their views on family, relationships and identity. Between 1940 – 1980 the divorce rate increased by over 300% to the point that almost half of marriages ended in divorce. Family relationships became more complicated with blended familes and mothers going off to work creating a very different dynamic in the home. The term “Latchkey Kids” was invented in this generation to describe the children who came home from school to empty houses and had to fend for themselves until mum and dad came home. Gen X also had the extra threat of nuclear war and the AIDS virus. Due to their influences Gen X were often dismissed by the older generations as rebellious youngsters who were disenchanted with the world. Many of these prevailing characteristics have stayed with them into adulthood. Characteristics of Generation X are skeptical, cynical, flexible, independent, non – collectivist (fought more personalized and individual battles), committed to friends over family (no longer rely on family for emotional support, this is found in relationships instead), pragmatic.
 * Description || Birth Years || Current Age ||
 * Builders || Early 1900 s– Mid 1940s || Over 66 ||
 * Baby Boomers || Mid 1940s – Mid 1960s || 47 – 66 ||
 * Gen x || Mid 1960s – Early 1980s || 31 – 46 ||
 * Gen Y || Early 1980s – Late 1990s || 12 – 30 ||
 * Gen Z || Late 1990s - ? || Age 11 & Under ||
 * Gen Z || Late 1990s - ? || Age 11 & Under ||

**__ Generation Y __** – Due to the percentage of teenage pregnancies going up, youth depression and suicide approaching epidemic levels and Gen X’s favorite show being “Degrassi Junior High” The younger generation were seen as being at war with the world. Unsure of what went wrong with Generation X, society decided that they would do everything in their power to make sure this next generation would be different. Influences saw parenting trends move away from neglect and negativism towards protection and support. In the early 1980’s the attitude towards the role and place of children moved from “children should be seen and not heard” to “children are to be prized, protected and above all else pampered” It has been said that this younger generation think they are the centre of the universe. The reason for this being, that since birth they have been told that they are!!! In early Gen Y years, divorce rates began to level off and a greater value was placed on children and smacking was no longer acceptable. The new status symbol the “stay -at- home mum was born. Statistic showing that children felt their parents were spending enough time with them and they had a good relationship with them. Parents of Gen Y children have ensured their children have every possible extracurricular opportunity afforded to them, resulting in an increased busy-ness and the guaranteed greatest start in life. Generation Y are said to be: educated, ambitious, tolerant, tech –savy and socially aware. However this does differ from many stereo types surrounding many young people today. These state that these young people are selfish, narrow- minded, disrespectful, disloyal, rude, unfocussed, disengaged and arrogant. Michael ensures that this generation is no better or worst than others. Generation Y are simply different. They are a product of the time into which they are born and their mind set, world view and approach are different from that of older generations in a number of significant ways. To explain the difference of mindsets of the Generation Y see a chart from Michael’s book below - Michael stated that builders use the word should, as when someone said to them “they should do something” they were taught they had to do it. When “should” is said to Gen Y they ask “why should they do it?” To them it puts judgment on them. Some thoughts of a Gen Y - They look at black and white. When they are asked why – they are asking – “What is your perception to make you come to that conclusion?” - They believe respect should be reciprocated and based in relationship not just given because they are older or have been told they must. - They believe communication is about ease and functionality. They use fewer words than generations before. They only use what they have to and not because they are told to. Unlike the Builders generation, who believe language should be properly used as they were taught. -**The traditional statements** of “Patience is a virtue”, “Good things will come to those who wait”, “Life wasn’t meant to be easy” and “When it gets tough, stick to it” have been changed in **the eyes of Gen Y** to – “Patience is pointless and frustrating”, If I have to wait, I am on the wrong track”, “If life is not easy, then I am on the wrong track”, “ “When it gets tough, Gen Y believe something is wrong with them, they are doing it wrong” - Unlike previous generations that think that you stay in one job and rise up through the ranks. Gen Y doesn’t know what they want to do in their life and they see lots of pathways and options in their future. Instead of deciding what they want to do they tend to say they are “preparing for the future”. - Where once children learnt by means of blackboards (chalk and talk). They had to copy down the information remembering as they copied before it got wiped off and replaced with more information and studied in silence. Gen Y studies with ipads and computers. Visually seeing the information and having exposure to a lot of information at the same time. They are the first generation to be able to learn whilst multi tasking with other media and noise influences. It is not unusual for a teenager to be studying with their ipod pumping out music. Michael states that because they are so use to working within a world of noise, Gen Y should study for exams in silence as that is the environment they will be doing them in. This silence adds more pressure to them on exam day if they have not practiced studying within it. Michael speaks about the eight areas of paradigm rift: 1) Concept of truth 2) Respect 3) Patience 4) Communication 5) Future 6) Loyalty 7) Work ethic 8) Learning An expansion of how these are different for Gen Y than for other generations and how to deal with them can be found in Michaels book. “The New Rules Of Engagement” Some of Michael’s tips I noted down on differences with Gen Y are as follows – Gen Y is easily bored as they are use to being constantly stimulated. Therefore as parents and educators we need to teach Gen Y how to occupy themselves, that life is not easy and they have to persist when things get hard. “I don’t care how much you know, I want to know how much you care” This is a typically thought of a Gen Y. They don’t believe in authoritarian roles. They put relationship before roles. They easily detect a lack of truth or sincerity. They want people to be authentic, truthful and real “Keep it real” is their catch cry. They don’t want someone telling them it is right, they want someone to show them it is true. Michael suggests that by sharing stories and your experience to make a point instead of just saying this is how it is would help relationships with Gen Y. Teachers are no longer seen as fountains of information, Gen Y has infinite information on the internet as their fountain. Parents and educators can adopt a facilitator’s role, showing them the process of how to find the information and direct them to where they could go to source their information and encourage children to question their findings for relevance and truth. Never start a question with “WHY”, it makes them think there is something wrong. They will answer with something they think you want to hear. Use “What made you do that” instead. This will encourage thought and communication. **__ Gen Z - __** Our current generation of youth filling our kindergartens, primary schools and day care centre are called Gen Z. Although several years off adolescence, this generation are already showing significant differences to other generations including Gen Y.  Gen Z has only known a world of instant connectivity as the norm. In their short lives they have access to and understanding of an enormous amount of technology and instant gratification. Gen Z have never seen a camera that requires film, much less had to wait for photos to be developed. Gen Z is a generation of “tweenies”. They are fashion conscious, advertising – savy and worldly wise and maturing at an incredibly early age. Toddlers and children are now called “little people” and they are expected to have the same level of self control and capacity for reasoning as adults. They are growing up with fewer siblings. Attention, affection and money have been lavished on this generation like none before. Therefore signs of self-centred individualism are starting to shine through. Michael suggest that concepts such as compromise, team playing and sharing are seen as foreign to Gen Z. After all many of them have been treated as mum or dad’s little prince or princess since birth. Michael Gross paints the picture of a generation who has grown up in a media saturated and technology – centred society in his book XYZ. Although Gen Z is too young to be profiled with any great certainty, the early signs are indicating that this is a group who are:- Addicted to technology- entertainment, play and social interaction all revolve around television, computers and video games. This exposure to technology and media is leading into the premature maturity that researchers are witnessing. Prematurely mature- according to many experts including Michael McQueen, Michael Gross and Gregory Landman, children are exposed to more, experience more and experiment more than previous generations. Studies suggest that children are beginning puberty three months earlier with each decade. Body image is becoming a problem for primary aged boys and girls. It seems to some experts that parents have a desire to hasten their children’s development towards adulthood by encouraging them to act like mini adults. Many are waiting to see how Gen Z approaches adolescence when so much of the sense of discovery, innocence and curiosity associated with this stage in past eras has been lost. Risk adverse- Michael states “Generation Z have grown up in an era where risk has become unacceptable and “throwing caution to the wind” is akin to negligence” To Gen Z, risk seems too frightening a proposition for many young people. Many think it could lead to failure, danger, disappointment and harm. They are growing up in a world of fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of terrorists, fear of neighbours and most of all, fear of being sued. Failure it seems is not an option for this group. Michael suggests that perhaps we need to work towards a better balance between letting our children experience risk and protecting them from it. He quotes from Ivy Baker Priest an American policitian – “My father had always said that there are four things a child needs – plenty of love, nourishing food, regular sleep and lots of soap and water – and after those, what they need most is some intelligent neglect. I found Michael to be very informative and left his seminar feeling that everyone needs the opportunity to be exposed to this information, to enable us to understand our future generations better, and to learn to communicate with them in their language. By sharing our stories we can help them to have a more balanced outlook on their lives and for future generations. All of this information has been sourced from either my personal notes taken at Michael’s presentation or from my interpretation of information out of his book. This has been written as a parent for my knowledge and interest. I am sharing my thoughts for anyone else who is interested. I have not followed correct resourcing procedures by stating details of some quotes etc. This report is my innocent intention of educating through my eyes and not for any personal or monetary gain or with disrespect to copyright laws. (showing a Gen Z trait of fear of being sued J ) Peta Rourke
 * TOPIC || BOOMERS || XERS || GEN Y ||
 * TELEVISION || Bonanza || Family Ties || Jerry Springer ||
 * WEALTH || I’ll earn it || I don’t care that much about it || Gimme, or I’ll take it ||
 * ROLE MODELS || Men of character || Men and women of character || What’s character? ||
 * EMPLOYMENT ATTITUDES || Jobs are hard to find || I’ll work if I have to || Jobs are a dime a dozen ||
 * LOYALTY TO EMPLOYER || I’ll work my way to the top || This could lead me to the top || If I can’t take Saturday off I will quit. ||
 * JUSTICE || Always prevails || Usually prevails || Can be bought ||
 * EDUCATION || Tell me what to do || Show me how to do it || Show me why to do it. ||
 * RESPECTING ELDERS || Is automatic || Is polite || Is earned not assumed ||
 * PERSONAL DEBT || Only if I have to || If I really want something || How much can I get? ||
 * PERSONAL DEBT || Only if I have to || If I really want something || How much can I get? ||

Check out Michael McQueens website - it has some great information http://thenexgengroup.com