Modern Parenting



Thesis:

The Millennial Generation is known for being far less traditional than any other preceding generation; sex is the center focus of society, religion is pushed aside and lifting one’s self-esteem seems far more important one’s performances and achievements. Modern day parenting can be to blame for these issues which define the Millennial Generation as non-traditional.

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Furthermore religion is being pushed aside by many Americans, the need for spiritual guidance has diminished with the rise of individualism. Everyone is out trying new things and being unique and the traditional religion doesn’t quite fit that life style and plus religion is the last thing on their mind, as Prothero the author of “Is religion losing the millennial generation?” comments on the Millennial Generation, “Who cares about heaven or hell when there is a party to go to and a hot young thing eager to meet you there?” (3). As a result new religions are being formed to fit the needs of these younger people. Religion is more than just a belief, its faith and a way of life. It instills values and morals but most members of the Millennial Generation have strayed away from religion and therefore have little or no values and morals. The lack of values and morals can be observed by simply looking around. Sex is everywhere, marriage is no longer a sacred binding between a man and a woman, and there’s less respect for others in the world. The idea of abstinence is almost extinct. Abstinence is taught is at church but what good does that do if no one goes to church. Marriage is no longer the sacred binding it used to be, Steven K. Wisensale, author of “Towards The 21^st Century: Family Change and Public Policy”, finds an alarming rise in divorces and single parents homes (418). I don’t know how many times I’ve heard from my parents, that things aren’t like they used to be, where you walk to corner store at any time of the day without any worries but in this day and age it’s not a very good idea. Just by watching the news you get a good idea of all the bad people out there with no morals committing crimes from stealing to murder, there is no respect for others. The sixth and seventh commandment state “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal”. A life with religion can only help a person, religion teaches people right from wrong, moral from immoral and just from unjust. It is a parent’s job and responsibility to teach their kids right from wrong, moral from immoral and just from unjust but religion helps reinforce those ideas but in most cases members of the Millennial Generation have neither. Religion not only helps people become a better person but with religion you have God on your side and with God on your side all things are possible.



The Millennial Generation’s Health: Why an Apple a Day May Not Keep the Doctor Away

Thesis: The Millennial generation’s declining level of health can be attributed to poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, and participation in risky behaviors that contribute to the risk of diseases and cancer.

            Generation Y’s poor eating habits have resulted in a staggering number of overweight teens and young adults. It seems that the cute baby fat of the younger years seems to be lingering onto and through the teenage years. According to the former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, Susan Blumenthal, “The obesity rate of young adults between 18 and 29 is more than 3 times higher than it was forty years ago,” (2). This statistic should not come as a surprise, considering the food industry’s distorted proportions; large is the new small, and super-sized seems to be the norm nowadays. The overall quality of food that our population has access to has drastically lessened. Without even leaving our cars, we can order a virtually endless amount of food; and have it made and put together for us within minutes. From the snacks in the school vending machines, to the food served in college dining halls, nutrition for Millennials has taken a downfall. “It’s everywhere; unhealthy food is as common as water,” Mary Garza, my roommate who is a self-proclaimed “health-nut” shared, “Fast food restaurants are everywhere. Without self-control, giving in to one is inevitable”. Even if one ventures out to make a healthy step in nutrition, the price of healthier food is significantly more elevated than less nutritious food; leaving the grocery shopper in the midst of a tough position. Theoretically, health should be the top priority for any individual, but with the economy leaving people saving every last dollar, the healthy option is not always the easiest option. According to the Journal of Nutrition, “The cost of fast foods fell by 12% and soft drinks became cheaper by 32%, making both more affordable to purchase,” (Powell 2). With prices of unhealthy foods and drinks so low, teens and young adults are often forced to make money a priority over health. Another shocking point that Blumenthal made in her article was the fact that, “A little over a quarter of young adults in this country do not meet the physical requirements to be in the military,” (3). If a person in their prime, at the supposed peak of physical performance cannot stay in average shape; what’s to say about their future health? Eric Boutin-Bloomberg, a freshman at the University of Houston, used to struggle with obesity himself. In response to being asked if obesity is a big deal in our society Eric said, “It’s an unfortunate truth, but our society judges based on weight, obesity is so rampant, it’s hard not to notice”. A problem only gets worse if a solution is not put into action. At the rate this generation is going the matured years of Millennials will be plagued with even more obesity and health problems than it is bearing through now; and if this generation’s level of health dwindles, what will be the fate of its children?

A Slice Of Beauty: Cosmetic Surgery In Millennials

Thesis: The millennial generation has increased the popularity in cosmetic surgery, weather it is to improve their self-esteem or just to simply fit in, in the workplace.

Body Paragraph: Millennials are getting cosmetic surgery to feel attractive and to boost their self-esteem. They opt for cosmetic surgery because it makes them feel better about themselves and feel more confident. We live in a culture where media plays a major role in influencing the actions that we take. Famous people like the Kardashians, Beyoncé, and other famous models have set the bar of beauty at a high level. Millennials want to look like these famous models because they believe that if they attain that level of beauty they will be happier. In the article “Cosmetic Surgery and the Cultural Construction of Beauty” by researchers Lorrie Blair Associate Professor Ph.D and author Maya Shalmon argue that media has largely influenced cosmetic surgery. They address how TV shows and movies portray the idea that only beautiful people achieved happiness. For example they use the movie Disney’s Little Mermaid (2000), which is about a beautiful mermaid Ariel that falls in love with the handsome prince Eric, and of course like every fairy tale movie there is an evil character, which in this case is Ursula. Disney portrays Ursula as a “large, oozing black squid, while the mermaid Ariel appears as to be modeled after a slightly anorexic Barbie doll. Although there are exceptions, generally in these stories only a beautiful princess and her prince live happily ever after” (15). Movies such as these send a message to younger teens that only beautiful people attain happiness. With that said Millennials find the need for cosmetic surgery to feel happiness. Woman that want to get cosmetic surgery often mention the famous icon Barbie, Mattel’s best-selling doll. For instance “Cindy Jackson, an American talk show celebrity, had more than 20 surgical procedures in an attempt to resemble Barbie” (16). These Barbie dolls and movie characters portray the image of perfection, and that is exactly what millennials want. They want to look flawless because it will make them feel happier. In an interview with a single 30 year old elementary school teacher Leticia Rojas from Houston TX, says that undergoing cosmetic surgery for a smaller nose, is something she plans on doing in the near future. When asked why she wanted to get a nose job, she said “because it will make me feel more confident and it will improve my self-esteem…overall I just want to be happy”. When asked about what she thinks about cosmetic surgery in our millennial generation she says “It is becoming popular among young adults, and media promotes and influences women into getting cosmetic surgery. Women want to look like Kim Kardashian, she is the definition of beauty. Not only that but surgery has become easier to access, you can pay the surgery in payments”. Leticia Rojas is currently looking for surgeons in her area to begin the process of undergoing a nose job.

The Millennial Generation and Media's Influence on Politicians and Views on Crime

Thesis:  The Millennial Generation has access to many forms of media to stay connected and entertained which influence the way politicians are trying to adapt and stay connected, the new form of news coverage and the way crime is being portrayed. 


Body Paragraph:  Given that the United States is all about technology, staying connected on Facebook, Twitter and any other social network roaming the internet, do our politicians have to succumb to the point of having to make accounts on all these social networks in order to get votes from young voters and get their points across to them in this form?  President Obama seems to believe so given that he used Facebook and Twitter to reach out to the younger generation and it worked out well in his favor seeing that he became our first African American U.S. President.  Dr. Simmons a Professor at Concordia College stated, "He [President Obama] is the first president elected by massive, organized, committed, efficient and effective use of the Internet for campaign organization" (Simmons, 118).  President Obama even appeared a couple of times on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' not only to speak about politics or the issues going on in the United States but to find out his interests and his thoughts on basketball games and the way he would handle a potential date for his daughters.  Mayra Vasquez whom I interviewed made a great point when stating, "America doesn't need a hip president, America needs presidents that can lead America out of the current economic problems and into a positive future" (personal interview 2012).  I agree with her 100% because I  find it unfortunate that if our future leaders don't take the path of being on social networks or appearing on entertaining television shows that Americans will frown upon them for not being as "cool and outgoing" as President Obama.  Being cool and satisfying the public eye with unimportant topics not concerning the United States isn't a president's job.  A United States President has seven roles that have several responsibilities that a U.S. President must abide by and one of those don't include entertaining the people or sharing their personal interests or issues to the world because it can be a security threat.  It's also hard to take someone of such a high authority seriously when he is commenting on personal and entertaining issues one day and giving a State of the Union address the next because it's expected for him to give some form of entertainment during such a important address.  Although we can't escape the negative causes of technology and the influence of the new generation, a pro of having advanced technology and communication with the world is that the internet helps inform and connect with people on important issues quickly and effectively.  This is an advantage for politicians to win more votes and connect with their potential supporters.  It also has pushed more Americans specifically young voters to begin voting and participate in political issues than ever before.  Yet it's hard not to wonder whether the votes of these young voters are based on their genuine interest in politics or for the popularity and personality of the politician.

Millennial Generation and Religion

Thesis:Americans ages 18 to 29 are considerably less religious than older Americans, fewer young adults belong to any particular faith than older people do today and are also  less likely to be affiliated than their parents' and grandparents' generations were when they were young.

Body Paragraph:There is a downward trend of respect in society for standard morals and values which is a direct result of the lack of religious influence among people today. This certain disregard for religion and religious beliefs can be attributed to a shift away from the traditional family structure. Ethical and moral standards are often gained through a religious belief, and these beliefs are taught at home. They are passed down from generation to generation. However, divorce is occurring at an alarming rate and non-traditional families are becoming more prevalent. Take for example the life experiences of those known as Generation X compared to members of the two older generations, Baby Boomers and Pre-Boomers. Forty-five percent of Generation X-era went through some sort of family disruption, such as the divorce or separation of their parents, or they were raised by a single parent. That compares to twenty-seven percent of the Baby Boomers and only twenty-three percent of the Pre-Boomers.
A result of this disruption in family dynamics is the low percentage of Generation X-era who said they were not involved in religion while growing up. Surveys show that thirty-five percent of Generation X-era indicated religious involvement while growing up compared with forty-five percent of Baby Boomers and fifty-three percent of Pre-Boomers. This represents a striking decline in involvement among the three generations. Generation X-era evidently felt less pressure or encouragement to participate in religious activities than their parents or grandparents, likely the result of a lack of family dynamics. While religious involvement is not strikingly different between Generation X-era and Baby Boomers, they are very different from Pre-Boomers. Generation X-era and Baby Boomers are more interested in personal autonomy, freedom, and independent thought, and for the most part are not committed to institutional religious involvement, which has generally negative effects on their ethical and moral values.

Why Does Everyone Think We've Become So Narcissistic?

Thesis: The perceived rise in narcissism in the Millennial Generation is occurring, but it is not as widespread as Twenge and her colleagues say. The assumption is due to Millennials’ belief that they can control others’ thoughts of them, that they are customers and the world serves them, and their impulsive behaviors. Survey errors and inconsistent data weaken the argument’s severity.

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Social networking sites have also encouraged the thought that you are important and others care what you think. The designs of many social networking sites seen today are to display anything and everything people think or do. Instagram is dedicated to sharing the images you want people to see of you. Twitter can document your every thought, even if it is not a brilliant one. Facebook has both of these designs and more that promote the sharing of the self with the world. Locations, thoughts, images, and the people you are with can be shared within seconds with others. That is assuming that other people even care about any of this. Social networking sites now glorify the self maybe in ways not intended. Sokol states, “People like to brag about themselves and show what they got and what they have accomplished. People make themselves out to be better and make others think that they are this prestigious person” (Sokol). Since social networking sites let people choose what they want others to see, they can choose to only show the good characteristics of themselves. The fact that people focused on what others think of them, coincidentally caused them to only focus on themselves and how they will be perceived. Gen Me-ers are conflicted and show narcissistic behavior because they are self-conscious about what others think.

Pressure of the New Generation: The Struggle to make ends meet

Thesis: As the Millennial Generation, also known as Generation Y, begin to move into the work force, there is a rise in the level of dissatisfaction and stress.

Body Paragraph:One struggle that Generation Y must face with on a day-to-day basis are family-work conflicts. Family may be a huge distraction towards young adults and their jobs due to the amount of responsibilities they have within the household. The vice-versa of this is true as well, majority of Generation Y are hard workers so their work responsibilities interfere their family life by making it difficult to find the time that their family needs or wants. Young adults coming home from work are usually exhausted, so they have no energy for family interactions due to having limited control over their work hours and schedule. This brings in an important point, most businesses will set up employees according to their terms. Businesses will try to set up a schedule that will go with the employees’ agenda. However, this is not always the case a business cannot accommodate with every worker’s needs. The odds are workers will be put on a schedule that will not completely flow with their daily duties. By having limited control on their work hours it’s completely up to the worker to decide weather or not they can juggle work into their daily planner. In an article called Social Class and the Experience of Work-family Conflict during the Transition to Adulthood, Ammons and Kelly mention, “Young adults’ exposure to work-family conflicts is affected by the amount of time they are at risk, or engaged in work and family roles, as well as the sources of support available to them in their workplace and families.” With no time on their hands it leads to family conflicts due to the lack of communication between family members. Another predominant cause of family conflict that arises is simply because Generation Y cannot provide the income their family needs. Some members of Generation Y have families at a very young age, with that on their mind; their job comes in between caring for their own children. With young adults having to deal with working at such a young age, there’s a high percentage that they will be working under a low paying job. Low income means less family-support and they begin facing new challenges such as keeping their square meals a day and pursuing their career goals. It is highly unlike for a young adult with children to support their family and aim towards a degree at the same time. Ammons and Kelly also point out, “higher-wage and higher-status jobs tend to have predictable, steady, and secure work hours with more flexibility and greater access to family-supportive policies and benefits, but these jobs often bring intense demands that spillover into family life.” With that being said, having higher-wage does not mean that there will be less conflict and less stress on family life.