Millenials:Too Sensitive or Simply Well Informed?
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Top - New Look (ASOS)
Let’s start this post with something everybody loves to do on a
Saturday – drinking games! Start by opening Facebook or Twitter (either works
for our purposes) and pick a meme or a tongue-in-cheek post that appears on
your feed. Next, scroll through the comments and for every comment you see
where someone is offended by something, take a shot. Repeat as necessary.
Fast forward and: you are very drunk and my point is very clear.
Articles offend at least some section of society on a daily basis.
Someone, somewhere is mad about something and they are sure as hell going to
tell you about it. Whether it’s race, sex, animal rights, developing countries,
etc. But does this automatically mean that we are more sensitive as a society
(or put plainly, a generation of whuses) or are we simple more socially aware?
As someone who has had the experience of living in a developed
country as well as a developing one, these so-called “whussy” comments tend to
appear more in the former. While Indian articles too garner their own share of
Facebook arguments and sensitivity, the topics are generally not the ones I
mentioned above. I’ll venture a reason for this discrepancy: perhaps, a large
section of society in developing countries is too busy figuring out how to
survive or improve their living situation to care about being offended by
Facebook posts.
Likewise, our older generations may have had other concerns on
their mind. For instance, while women still face hardships, they were in an
infinitely worse place in the earlier generations and it is important to
recognise that their contributions have landed us in a place where we don’t
have to worry about the lack of basic rights (speaking from an Australian
context) and can focus on the finer battles – like being more sensitive to
other people’s feelings.
When you don’t have to worry about putting bread on the table, you
can absolutely take the time to think about how something may have a negative
impact on your fellow human beings, and I’d argue so you should.
Add to that the increase in travelling, globalisation and the
widespread use of the internet and we as a generation are much more aware of
social issues. Today, millennials take pride in travelling ‘authentically’ and
the multicultural make-up of most developed countries gives us a plethora of
information from around the world without having to chase it (we have social
media to thank for that one). And while the world or Australia isn’t a perfect
place, we’re getting there. With us having access to better healthcare, more
equal rights, better education and living longer lives, we are able to pick
up the baton for the “sensitive” issues as some may call them.
And no, this isn’t some love letter to millennials. I acknowledge
that this generation has a sense of entitlement that wasn’t so prevalent in say,
the boomers. And yes, helicopter parenting has taught us that we’re all winners
even if we came dead last and just as deserving of the praise as the kid who
came first. But, an extension of this entitlement is also the entitlement to
instantly speak up when we feel we or someone around us is being treated
unfairly. Though, some may do this without thinking of the flip situation or
giving much thought to the opposing side’s point of view, is speaking up against
injustice a bad thing? Certainly not. Political correctness gets a bad rep
sometimes but as someone who grew up in India I know what I one day will tell
my child: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Why? Because as I said, I grew up in India where being PC was
absolutely not a thing. Any random stranger, distant relative or family friend
feels its their duty to make derogatory comments about your looks, body type,
weight, what you eat, how you eat it and where that 165 calories is going to
land and how best you should work on losing it – all without you asking for it.
That stuff can take a serious toll on a person’s confidence (or for those of us
who are exceptionally strong willed, give you some thick skin). But ask
yourself, if that really is the environment you want to be living in? Yes
excessive political correctness can be bad and sometimes tough love or the brutal truth is necessary but should come from people who know you well.
Millennials get taken the mickey out of for how opinionated we are
but I’d argue the generation before us, and the one before that, all had just
as many opinions. But where they argued about it in their living room, we
amplify our voiced with a quick status or tweet. Millennials have just as many
or as few grievances as anyone else (albeit on different matters), we just have
a much louder megaphone to voice them on.
Links à la Mode, April 5th, 2018
- Adorned in Armor: You Won't Believe My "Word of the Year!"
- Aesthetic Distance: Two Asian American Role Models For National Girl Crush Day
- A Girl in LA: Spring & Summer Fashion Guide 2018
- Couture Crush: Influencers and Authenticity
- Fashion to Live: Frilly Floral Dress + Moto Jacket + Block Heels
- I'm a Norbyah: Defining Style: The Culotte Coord, Sport Socks & Velvet Platforms Edition
- Lambassadrice: The Mysterious Life of Cristóbal Balenciaga
- Online Personal Stylist: Wardrobe Organising Tips: How to Fold, Store and Organize
- Style Diary by Osy: Red Hot and Gray Scale
- Tales of Two Blog: Millenials: Too Sensitive or Simply Well Informed?
14 comments
I love this post, it’s so well written and I totally agree - just because our views are amplified on platforms doesn’t mean other people haven’t had them before! Love the light in these pictures too!
ReplyDeleteAmy xx
callmeamy.co.uk
Excellent post...
ReplyDeleteand you look beautiful!
http://hungrycaramella.blogspot.it/
Wow, So pretty look!!! I love! :))
ReplyDeleteSo true! I can't agree more!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures too! I really love how happy your pictures are! :D
xo Noor
http://clothesanddreams.blogspot.com
Love this post! I agree that every generation has had opinions but ours is the one with the resources and confidence to voice them! That doesn't make us perfect or sheltered, it's just our reality! Also, your description of Indian people making rude comments is beyond accurate haha.
ReplyDeleteasplashofsharan.com
First up, love the photos. Second, I agree. We have just the same amount of opinions, just with a much louder way to vocalise ourselves. I also think that with the internet we're all a lot more aware of the injustices that go around us, so we're more educated about issues and then have the ability to voice them.
ReplyDeleteAmy;
Wandering Everywhere
Such a great post! So articulate and well thought out. I love the lighting in your photos, makes me want to do a shoot in a parking garage!
ReplyDeleteShann Eileen | www.shanneileen.com
Really enjoyed this post - so well written! I agree with so many of your point and definitely sit firmly in the camp of thinking millennials are simply well informed. I suppose sensitivity is a byproduct of being socially aware! It can be taken too far sometimes though, for sure. Have a lovely weekend!! :)
ReplyDeleteaglassofice.com x
I can't tell you how much I hate when people say "political correctness gone mad" or when men use "feminism" as excuses to underhand someone's sensitivity. The thing is everyone's emotions are valid so when people use statements like these it's irrelevant. Why are their feelings more important than another's? They're not. And why is it so hard for some people to understand those words have hurt another? Someone is upset over it. So enough, have respect and realise the world has changed and so does our attitude and tolerance. So to say we've gotten more sensitive is rubbish. The only thing that has truly changed is social media and the way information and opinions are more freely expressed. Comments like those have always hurt people, it's just the masses never heard about it.
ReplyDeleteSxx
daringcoco.com
Omg I'm literally obsessed with your outfit -- So cute!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Alexandra | These Chic Pants Trend Are Gonna Replace Your Skinny Jeans For A Moment
Great points here! Love your skirt, it's so pretty.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week.
Xx Caroline
www.foreverdolledup.net
This is well-written hun, and I absolutely agree with all the points you've laid out. And btw, I'm loving your outfit, you look so sweet <3
ReplyDeleteOmg the sun kisses look so adorable on the pictures. Really in love with your pictures and content.
ReplyDeletehttp://evgphotos.com/
The lighting in your photos are amazing! and what a great post! You write beautifully! I can totally relate to your point about "If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all." Since Asian relatives/older people tends to be pretty blunt and harsh on one's personal affairs.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day! xx
http://www.crystalchiffon.com/