The articles that were found on the wikispace were very insightful. It is true that both Chinese and American youths are very different from their respective previous generations, especially the Chinese ones, whose lives are very different from their parents’. The current generation of Chinese, the “Me Generation”, are totally different from their parents’ generation, ranging from their daily lives, characteristics and interests. The millennials in the USA, however, are becoming more careful on how they spend their money.
The interests of the “Me Generation” have shifted away from politics to economics and materialism goods. This generation care less about the country’s politics, and more about the economics and how much money they can earn. They are also more indulged in wealth, and more materialistic. For example, in one of the articles, it showed how the “Me Generation” is addicted to materialistic goods, wearing expensive accessories and clothing, talking about their wealth, goods and experiences and eating expensive foods. This is unlike the previous generation, who didn’t have all these opportunities to have such materialism goods and experiences. The “Me Generation” also admitted that they didn’t care about the politics in the country, and only care about the growing economic and how to be rich. So, why does the “Me Generation” not interested in politics? The main reason is definitely due to the economic reform and open to the west. Before the 1980s, China closed her doors to the West, and many major events happened, which the previous generations have witnessed. These events such as end of the Qing Dynasty, establishment of the Republic of China, the Communist Party took over in 1949, and cultural revolution. These are all major political events that changed the country’s fate and future. The previous generation that lived through this, were more involved in these events, they will be more likely to talk about them and the ongoing political situation in China, as they care about the future of this country after going through so many events. However, the “Me Generation” lived in an era which is a lot more stable, they have never witnessed these events or experienced them. All they have experienced is the peaceful world they live in today. They will then take this for granted. As they feel that the current situation in China is good enough, the economic is growing, they are getting richer, so there is no need to change the political situation in China. It is already good, why not just let it be. Thus, the current generation care very little about the politics. Also, why are the “Me Generation” so materialistic and only care about economic growth? This is also due to the economic reform in the late 1970s. Before that, China was relatively poor and didn’t have so much materialistic goods, thus the previous generations didn’t have a chance to be materialistic. However, the “Me Generation” are born in the generation where they have a lot of chance to meet the material goods from other countries and also since they are the first generation to see these new goods, they will be very interested in them. The growing economy also gave them chances to become rich, thus they will want to show off their wealth by purchasing material goods, and showing them in front of others. The growing economy also gave them opportunities to start their own business since there were not many competitors in China. Thus, the “Me Generation” will be more materialistic than the previous generation.
The “Me Generation” has also a different daily life, which changes their characteristics. They have more opportunities to travel, to study, and access to great variety of goods, but won’t have siblings. Due to China’s open to west, the “Me Generation” has their opportunities to travel to other countries, for tourism. Like mentioned in the first article, the “Me Generation” has opportunity to travel to Thailand. This is unlike the previous generations, who could not travel at all. Firstly due to lack of money, secondly due to them being locked inside their own country and thirdly people were not allowed to move from city to city. Due to China opening its doors, all these policies are gone, the people are also becoming wealthier, and this “Me Generation” are born in the right time to travel. Also more goods from other countries are also allowed to come into China and the generation have a chance to try out all these goods. In difference to the previous generation, whom doesn’t have access to all these things due to China being closed to the outside world, the “Me Generation” has access to all of these things, some examples mentioned in the articles are blogging, the Internet. They also have a chance to experience things that the previous generation could not, such as snowboarding, Starbucks and western products. Their daily lives are becoming more colourful, filled with many different things and opportunities as compared to the previous generation. Thus their daily lives are different in such a way that it’s more colourful and entertaining, with more access to things. Also, China’s one child policy began in 1980, which caused this generation of people to have no siblings. The “Me Generation” thus will be more lonely and spoiled. Due to being the only child, and parents working most of time, this generation will grow up alone, without any siblings to talk or play with. Being the only child also cause their parents and grandparents to be more caring towards them, fulfilling them with whatever they want and often spoiling them. This will then change their characteristics. These generation will lack responsibility and become spoiled, and be very self-centred. As being the only child, their parents will give them whatever they want, they also doesn’t have need to take care of their siblings, which will cause a lack of responsibility. Being treated so well by their parents, this generation will generally become more selfish, only care about what they want, and not about others. The previous generations however, often have a lot of children. And this will make them become more responsible and caring towards others, less self-centred, and not spoiled. Thus, the “Me Generation” have a different daily life and this changed their characteristics.
The millennials in USA, are different from their previous generation in a way that they are becoming more reluctant to buy their own properties, and want to rent them more of the time. They are becoming more careful on how they spend their money. Firstly, the millennials are more reluctant to buy houses. They are marrying at a later age and live with their parents until a much older age. As compared to their parents’ generation, who moved away and lived alone at a much earlier age. They are also more reluctant to buy extravagant things like expensive cars, and rents them most of the time. Generally they are more careful in how they spend their money, as compared to their parents’ generation who would buy everything. One of the reasons for this is maybe the houses and cars are becoming more expensive overtime. The inflation has caused everything to become more expensive, the millennials are having difficulty to pay for their college fees and whatever that they want to buy. Many of them are becoming more careful on how they spend their money, as the goods are becoming expensive. As compared to the previous generation, who did not care much about how they spend their money, as the goods were much cheaper and they could afford everything. Thus, the millennials are becoming more careful on how they spend their money.
In conclusion, the Chinese “Me Generation” and American millennials are very much different from their previous generations in how they lived their lives.
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