Author Sarah Cunningham a “twentysomething” and member of the disillusioned generation gives 12 general observations about her generation.
1. Twentysomethings redefine the word family.
Because so many of them have grown up in blended families or single-parent homes, they have expanded their definition of family to include some who are not genetically related to them. Family is more about commitment and state of the heart than genetic coding.
2. Twentysomethings are comfortable with competing schools of thought.
This is the “both-and generations” they grew up being able to finish the dishes and make the movie on time. They can have sex and be reasonably assured that they won’t get pregnant because of birth control. They can be a democrat and a republican at the same time because they are more interested in an ideal than political affiliation. They feel like they can save the world and goof off at the some time.
3. Twentysomethings feel connected to their surroundings.
Technology allows them to stay connected with their friends no matter where they are in the world. They have been taught in their education curriculum with a focus on the environmental, social and political issues to appreciate the invisible umbilical cord that connects all of us. They value community and will stand up against that which they feel violates that community.
4. Twentysomethings don’t see money as a trustworthy indicator of success.
This does not mean that they do not like a stack of presidents and want to get paid what they are worth. It does mean that they are conscious of the dangers that correspond with financial security and do not want to sacrifice theirs or their families’ emotional health to get it. They saw the damage of that first hand with their parents.
5. Twentysomethings want instant gratification.
They have grown up in a world in which life can be seen as a drop-down menu of choices that can accessed quickly with the click of a mouse or a punch of “send” on their cell-phones. And even though life is fast, they try to make it faster. This makes them grossly impatient if something cannot be solved right-away.
6. Twentysomethings like technology, but prefer human contact.
While they are very comfortable with multilayered technology, they are very skeptical of the media-driven, advertising-crazed world. They prefer real live humans with real live stories.
7. Twentysomethings are less relativistic than they seem.
They do believe in right and wrong though sometimes it does not appear that way. They don’t all have a copy of “I’m Okay, You’re Okay” in their glove compartment.
8. Twentysomethings are idealistic to a fault.
They are looking for perfection in everything they perfect adventure, the perfect job, the perfect church, etc. If they cannot find it they become antsy. In order to work to make it “perfect” they want a sense of real responsibility and the authority to accomplish the task.
9. Twentysomethings are transparent.
Why are rapper Eminem and radio talk-show host Ben Ferguson, polar opposites ideologically, so popular with twentysomethings? They are painfully transparent. What you see is what you get. They are open about their views and their struggles. That resonates with twentysomethings.
10. Twentysomethings value community.
They especially value small-group community. They do not form these communities like you are taught in the “forming small-groups manual”, but they do crave for a place to discuss real life issues and strong relationships.
11. Twentysomethings want to help.
These are the “volunteer” generation.
12. Twentysomethings don’t pledge their allegiance lightly.
They are slow to commit to anything. They will marry older and have children older. They are slow to commit to brand names much to the dismay of companies like Pepsi and the US Army are still trying to figure it out.
Having laid all of this out these are general statements and all twentysomethings will tell you they don’t like to be categorized. They are however, things for us at FBCH to consider as we seek to pass the faith from generation to generation.
