73. Millennials Who? Stereotyping the Demographic cohort

Millennials is a term commonly used to define a certain demographic of the population. Also known as Generation Y, millennials denote a set of people based on their demographic. The term has been derived from the demographic cohort of the population as a whole. Each and every category has been placed in buckets namely, Generation X (1965-1980), Generation Y or Millennials (1981-1996) and Generation Z (1997-Present). The age range of the Millenials has been reported differently at various platforms but The American Psychological Association described it as people born between 1981 to 1996 which is a widely accepted categorisation.

Instead of representing the generation, the term has become a stereotype for people belonging to certain demographics representing their behaviours, habits, and beliefs. The term carries a negative connotation now because of its overuse and references.

Millennials are also referred to as ‘echo boomers.’ In an article published in 2013, Times Magazine says Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation. The term has been overly used and exploited multiple times. The categorisation has become a stereotype now. Following are some of the stereotypes imposed upon the Millennials:

They are self-centred, lazy, laid-back, whiners, entitled, job-hoppers, and sheltered. They want a trophy for everything, they seek too much flexibility and accommodation.

Now saying that all of these things are true for people born between 1981-1996 is stereotyping to a whole new level. Acknowledging that most of these terms are obnoxious and insulting and not necessarily true.

In 2015, the Pew Research Center conducted research regarding generational identity that said a majority did not like the "Millennial" label.

It is not necessary that people from the same generation come from a similar school of thought. You and your friend might be born in the same year but are totally different. So, now where does that difference fit in this stereotyped categorisation?