EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Who are Millennials?  Why do they matter?  Why should we care? Much of what is said about this generation of nearly 80 million born roughly between 1984 and 2002, is negative.

Authors Regina Luttrell and Karen McGrath examine the mindset of one of the most enigmatic generations in decades, Millennials, and offer their broader observations to parents, educators, future employers, co-workers, and, yes, even Millennials themselves.

Lazy? Spoiled? Really?

In their book, "The Millennial Mindset: Unraveling Fact from Fiction," the authors consider questions such as: “Can Millennials be that bad?  Are they really lazy, spoiled, entitled, condescending “know-it-alls”?  If so, why?  If not, then who are they . . . really?”

Presented using a fact or fiction format, the authors, both college professors who interact with Millennials daily,  identify criticisms of this generation, and then frame associated behaviors leveraging historical events to situate Millennials in today’s world.

By examining characteristics of previous generations, the authors draw comparisons and offer contrasts of Millennials, while also introducing a relatively new metaphor for many parents raising Millennials: “snow-plow parenting."

The two authors identify seven characteristics that describe Millennials, and lend their findings to decipher what’s true and what’s not.

Snow-plow parenting clears the way

Millennials are: confident, connected, committed change agents, contradistinctive, cavalier and collaborative, according to the book. They've been raised by parents who clear the path to success, much like a snow-plow paves the way for a clean drive. This parenting style attributes to how millennials perform in educational settings and in the work-place, the authors say.

The book includes numerous interviews with Millennials that provide insights into their perspectives on other generations, religion, relationships, education, money, sex, and careers.

“Our hope is that we can better understand and accept the strengths that all individuals inherently possess in order to live and work cohesively," Luttrell says.

The Millennial Mindset: Unraveling Fact from Fiction can be purchased via Amazon.com for $36.00 USD.

EMU's Luttrell an expert on social media

Luttrell is an associate professor of public relations and social media at Eastern Michigan University and author of “Social Media: How to Engage, Share and Connect.” She has held leadership positions in corporate communications throughout her career. Follow her on Twitter: @ginaluttrell.

McGrath is professor of Communications at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY where she has been teaching for almost 20 years. Her interests include pop culture, media, gender, and race, with her most recent publication focused on The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper. Follow her on Twitter: @karenmcgrath

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.