The consultant described in "Speaking to Generation Nexus: Guru Explains Gens X, Y, Boomer To One Another" (New York Times) has reduced generational differences to "cheat-sheet wallet cards." I think the degree of simplistic stereotyping she has brought to the various cohorts is both laughable and insulting.
Many of the quotes from the article made me wonder if this woman is putting us on. For example:
Near the end of the seminar, Loehr instructs one group to devise an ad campaign for a trip to France geared to Generation Yers. As the allotted time ticks down, Perry, the banker, stands up and rattles off buzzword after buzzword.
"We're going to fly in the Airbus . . . which is advertising green accommodations . . . and recycled seats . . . while being connected to the Internet . . . and because we are somewhat risky, we are going to [bungee] jump off the Eiffel Tower," she says. "Text us at organic.com for a 20 percent discount."
Everyone laughs and claps, but Loehr stands up to evaluate. "That was great. A couple comments. . . . Gen Y do not like to fly because of the carbon [emissions]. . . . Also, you started off by saying, 'We work hard to play hard.' . . . That's an X thing. That kind of threw me off. And the last thing, you
said something about bungee-jumping off the Eiffel Tower? . . . That's an X thing.
"Y's maybe working in the local schools, teaching French to the poor elementary school kids. Okay? That kind of thing."
Loehr's students, grateful for the insights, nod. Some reach for the handy cheat sheets she had passed out earlier. It is all laid out for them, quick and easy.
I was not alone in being drawn to responding to this article with sarcasm. Read 'Generational Consultant' Holds America's Fakest Job (Gawker).
Reading the New York Times article was a good reminder to be very cautious with stereotyping. Yes, there are certain commonalities among many members of the generations but I don't think they can be reduced to cheat sheets.
Comments