Stereotypes of Gen X and Gen Y/Millennial Women Shattered Worldwide!
Hey Chicks!
As I’ve mentioned, I recently wrote a book about the Millennial (Gen Y) generation (called Millennials Incorporated) so I’m constantly gathering up-dated info about them for my seminars and workshops that I conduct for companies.
This study recently came out and I just saw this press release. It supports what I teach Boomer and Gen X management teams: The Millennials are NOT lazy and clueless!!
This study was about women in the Gen X and Gen Y/Millennial generations and I thought it was interesting:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2007
Press Contact:
Dannie Tillman
Director of Marketing & Communications
INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN
415.543.4669, ext. 28
dannie@imow.org
AWARD-WINNING IMAGINING OURSELVES EXHIBITION CLOSES
WHITE PAPER SHATTERS STEREOTYPES OF GEN X AND GEN Y WOMEN WORLD-WIDE
San Francisco— The International Museum of Women (I.M.O.W.) released a white paper today, a myth-busting report that shatters common stereotypes of Gen X and Gen Y women, that they are apathetic, self-absorbed, oblivious to the world’s problems, have a poor work ethic, and a heightened sense of entitlement. More than one million people from 222 countries have participated in Imagining Ourselves: A Global Generation of Women, the interactive and award-winning online exhibition showcasing over 20,400 web pages of original art, writing, film and music. Their reflections and actions prove that many of them are not apathetic or self-absorbed, nor are they oblivious to the world’s problems. Instead, this innovative exhibition clearly reveals that this generation of young women in their twenties and thirties is engaged, aware, creative, compassionate, and active.
Imagining Ourselves founder and director, Paula Goldman, spent over six years conversing with women in their twenties and thirties globally, asking the question, What Defines Your Generation? A project of I.M.O.W., the Imagining Ourselves online exhibition—closing on December 31st after 21 months—explored this question. Combining global demographic statistics with first-person accounts and interviews, the white paper concludes with these four defining characteristics of young women today. They are:
1.) Global in outlook;
2.) Proud of pushing boundaries in both their personal and professional lives;
3.) Confused about the many options and choices available to their generation;
4.) Solution-focused, viewing today’s social problems and ills with a positive attitude.
The complete findings are available here.
“This new generation of women in their twenties and thirties are not the disaffected, materialistic, or self-obsessed types we regularly see caricatured in U.S. popular culture. Imagining Ourselves shows that young women are committed, self-assured, creative, global in outlook, and future-focused—they clearly have the gumption and drive to be excellent leaders of tomorrow,” says Chris Yelton, I.M.O.W. president. “We’re honored to have provided this next generation of women an innovative and interactive global forum in which to share their struggles as well as showcase their strengths.”
Research was conducted with a select sample of women around the world, via their participation in the Imagining Ourselves online exhibition, either as authors or audience/community members. Participants were mainly educated women with internet access; the Imagining Ourselves team had minimal access to women from lower socioeconomic classes in the developing world. As a result, these findings do not necessarily speak for women of all classes and backgrounds.
On October 18th, 2007, I.M.O.W. and Paula Goldman were awarded the prestigious Anita Borg Social Impact Award for Imagining Ourselves.
About the Imagining Ourselves Project:
The Imagining Ourselves project leverages technology, as well as popular culture and effective storytelling, to connect young women around the world, and to inspire them to create positive change—in their own lives, in their communities, or globally. An initiative of the International Museum of Women in partnership with Paula Goldman, Imagining Ourselves launched online on March 8, 2006 and closes December 31, 2007. It includes an extensive online exhibition with multiple themes—expressed through thousands of objects of art, photography, writing, film, and music from around the world—a book, and more than 100 events in over 30 countries. More than one million people have participated in the online exhibition from 222 countries. Visit the exhibition at http://imaginingourselves.imow.org.
About the International Museum of Women:
The mission of the International Museum of Women is to value the lives of women around the world. I.M.O.W. amplifies the voices of women worldwide through history, the arts and cultural programs that educate, create dialogue, build community and inspire action. With its unique focus on cultural change, I.M.O.W. advances the human right to gender equity worldwide. Through its programs and exhibitions, I.M.O.W. seeks to inspire women, encourage them to get involved, and ultimately, to take action. Learn more at www.imow.org.
Cheers to chicks!
Lisa
Lisa Orrell, Chief Chick of Chickonomics, is a professional speaker and author who strives to educate chicks, society, and the business world about essential evolutions in women's issues, and gender relations, that impact all of us.