"What is It About 20-Somethings?", written by Robin Marantz Henig, is an article addressing the problems that kids from the current generation are faced with during their lives. By giving specific examples throughout the article, Henig explains how the generation of kids today live life differently compared to the generations of past years. Things like getting married later in life, creating families at an older age, and even going to school give the reader a general idea of how the current generation lives differently. Using a brief summary of the article, identifying the overall theme, and giving my personal opinion about the article will reveal a hidden meaning and purpose of the article, that will help explain the culture and generation that I have heard and read about, and now that of which I have become a part of.
"What is It About 20-Somethings?" begins by introducing a phrase that sums up the entire article. This phrase would be "failure to launch." Henig includes this phrase to get the point across that kids are staying at home longer than ever before, and getting onto their own feet taking years of development. Several reasons, all spanned over the entire article, are given as reasons for why these kids are stuggling to get out on their own. This issue was not a big problem in past generations, as people went to work or to the military after graduating from high school. Shortly after this, families would be started, as younger people created families at earlier points in their lives. Times have taken a turn to the hard side of things, as more years of education is needed in order to get a good job, and live a successful life. As the article states, "[t]he traditional cycle seems to have gone off course, as young people remain untethered to romantic partners or to permanent homes, going back to school for lack of better options,..." Young adults are unable to remain in a stable place, and are scared of commitment.
The society of today allows this to happen to these young people. It is accepted throughout the country, and this is all that this generation has ever known. Studies have been conducted to support the idea of kids not being able to get out on their own, and what they expect to get from their lives. The answers support the idea that young adults were confused about their future, not knowing where their life would take them. The society has come to believe that the environment these people are living in contribute to their lack of confidence, resulting in the security blanket of their parents, and living at home for longer spans of time, further into their lives. This generation has been given everything they ever wanted, and there is nobody to blame. The world has done this, in the advancements of technology, to the efforts of parents trying to give their kids the things they need to get through life. The loss of jobs, and the lack of existing jobs has contributed to the twenties living at home as well. There are so many reasons as to why this is happening, but all of the problems cannot be solved. This is something that another generation will have to climb out of, and start a new system of expectations to live by.
The theme of this article by Henig is that times change, along with the generations that follow it. Generations from the thirties and forties could graduate from high school, and go out into the world, and pick up any job that they could find, such as grocery stores, factories, and even the military. Things have changed now. Kids have to go to school to get decent jobs, that will help to support themselves, not to mention a family. When these kids go to school, they have to go not only four years, but to get a good job, six, even seven years of higher education is needed. Kids do not have the jobs or money to go out on their own now. It is free for these kids to stay at their parents houses. Times have changed since the last generation was at the age these kids are at today. There are many factors that play into the reasons for these changes, and we cannot point fingers and any one thing.
I personally can relate to this article strongly. I will probably be one of these kids who live with their parents into their twenties. My parents are more than willing to keep my room open for me until I can get a firm stance on my feet, with stable finances, and a good job. I would not want to start a family too early in my life. If I have a family, without a stable job, and not a good weekly income, I would be in debt for many years to various people and companies. This article helps me to look into my future, to try and set goals for how I want my life to turn out. The less conflict that I have with my finances and the battle to get jobs, the happier my life will be, and the sooner I can retire, and live my last years in a relaxing environment. Growing up into this generation is going to be difficult, but if I can determine my own fate, and make the right decisions, then I can live a good life, be able to support my family, and enjoy life. If it means that I have to stay in my parents house into my twenties, I will do it if it leads to a better road in life.
