Twenge

Self esteem and self respect are two key things Generation Me feels are important. Since Generation Me was born they have been taught to care about your self, put your self first, and to make sure you yourself are happy. People from different generation have been taught differently. They were taught to take care of others before themselves because that’s the way it works. Twenge in Chapter two of Generation Me examines the differences between the generations when it comes to self esteem.

Twenge believes that the reason Generation Me people are focused solely on themselves is because they were born into it. Baby Boomers in the 1960’s realized loving your self and putting your self first was a different way to go, maybe a happier way to live. So the Baby Boomers started to find out who they were inside. They started searching for the meaning of their lives instead of focusing on others. This new trend was not a way of life when the Boomers were born, therefore it was not instilled from birth. The Baby Boomers set the path for Generation Me by self discovery and concern of self esteem. Now it is natural for one to say they need to love themselves before they love someone else. They have had the message of self respect and caring about “you” first instilled in them since birth.

There is a lot of focus on self esteem and self respect in Generation Me people’s lives. GenMe’ers doesn’t know any better. It is the way people live their lives today. Twenge says there is more focus on one’s self than there is on family or country. Also she says in so many words Generation Me is focused on having fun, they are practical, and they would rather be watching TV or on the computer than getting together in groups. I don’t think those attributes are negative, she portrays them to be. Twenge thinks more things got done during the Baby Boomer era. She doesn’t show confidence in the idea that Generation Me focuses on themselves to get things done instead of working in a group.

Twenge in Chapter two of Generation Me explores many ideas on how different generations vary when it comes to self esteem. Overall, from generation to generation the way each individual lives is different. We live in America where we are taught to care for ourselves first. One of the many freedoms we have as Americans is to be ourselves. We are able to separate ourselves from our families and do what we are passionate about. Generation Me is obviously is living in a different time than the Baby Boomers, which means no one can compare them especially when it comes to self esteem. Generation Me has been fortunate to live in a time where many freedoms have already been fought for. Because of this kids are able to find themselves and discover what is really important in their own lives.