Nonfiction essay on the Millennial Generation (aka Y or echo boomers) and Asian American millennials.
For generations, the story of Asians in America has been about discrimination, racism, stereotypes, the model minority myth and other struggles. But as the page of history turns to a new millennia, the arc of our stories, that of young Asian Americans, may be different. Our numbers are increasing, and a new culture is embracing many things Asian: from food to pop culture. There is no doubt that the experiences of Asian American millennials will be different, but one may ask: how so? How does the "Google Generation" context shape, influence and interact with one's social identity?
To answer the question, "Why do we need this study," one must understand that millennial culture affects the future of Asian Americans. For one thing, it is significant to charter how the perception of "foreignness" and stereotypes on Asian Americans change in time. Studies in American millennial and popular culture could aid in predicting the future of Asians in America. They may also help discern commercial, political, sociological and psychological aspects this new generation has in the context of a larger Boomer, X and millennial generations.
My research tends to focuses on the trends and issues regarding millennial identity and how the generation affects Asian Americans. In this paper, I discuss what millennial culture is and who they are. Next, I describe how Asian popular culture has and continues to influence American millennial culture and perceptions. On the other hand, we also view research on how Asian Americans react to millennial attitudes, whether they embrace or reject these trends. Given this background, we shall look at how millennials view diversity, and issues of racial identity. Finally, we look at problems, personal essays and critical views on the emerging generation.
METHODOLOGY
This paper is informed by several sources, including news articles, published research and theories, personal essays and case studies. These sources give different opinions on the commercial, political, social, psychological aspects of this emerging generation. The oldest material I refer to dates back to 2005. Analysis of these literature, theories and perspectives later in this paper will come from my training as an English major.
This research, however, has its limits. For instance, studies in American millennial identity and attitudes assume that the millennial has been exposed, at the very least, to popular culture and the Internet. Its culture is heavily urban and suburban. Hence, this paper focuses on major popular trends instead of topics involving millennials coming from rural and poverty-stricken lines.
LITERATURE REVIEW
As an emerging generation, much of the research has been done mostly by corporations and popular culture researchers, particularly because of how millennial consumerism had changed the market. Theorists William Strauss and Neil Howe have analyzed several generations and recorded their findings in books. Among their works is Millennials and the Pop Culture (2006), wherein they extensively discuss several trends of the emerging generation. Their viewpoints on the generation are overwhelmingly positive and hopeful, but one may suspect if their research truly captures the nationwide Zeitgeist of all millennials, particularly from areas with smaller minority groups.
To supplement Strauss and Howe's theories, several articles by Asian Americans and Hispanics provide positive insight on the millennial generation. Articles from AsianWeek and The Asian Reporter refer to Asian American figures who complement findings on millennial ethnic diversity and the evolving trends in the young consumer base, one that is highly influenced by Asian popular culture. Similarly, Anne Allison's book, Millennial Monsters (2006), gives an extensive report on how Japanese fantasy products and media have altered and influenced millennials.
Lastly, Joann Faung Jean Lee's collection of interviews, Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century (2008), offers several perspectives and personal essays that give a glimpse of how Asian Americans, both millennials and older generations, view racial identity, stereotypes and current trends in popular culture. The anthology, Asian American Psychology: Current Perspectives (2009) also gives insight on how millennial identity and ethnic identity matter.
SAMPLE BODY (quotations removed in respect to copyright)
Authors Strauss and Howe give an in-depth analysis of the emerging generation. First off, they describe the millennial generation as different from the Baby Boomer and X cohorts in terms of general character, values, diversity, consumer habits and trends. Millennials have greatly affected the market, especially the entertainment and media industries. Among these effects are CD purchases dropping dramatically, as well as movie theatre and television viewing going down in recent years. (...)They are a smart generation, more likely to shun stupid pop celebrities than the more liberal Gen Xers, and their quasi-conservative reactions against overt sexual themes have gained the disdain of Boomers and Xers in the industries. Attributed to this is the rise of Asian popular culture influencing millennial trends. Innocence and cuteness, and the preference towards bloodless violence have captured the millennial taste, according to Anne Allison's research. For these reason, the terms "Generation Y" and "echo boomers" are misleading and inaccurate. The millennial generation, by itself, is unique and not simply a continuation of past generations. With vast information spreading through the Internet and social networking sites, this emerging generation tends to be more globalized and up-to-date.
What exactly is a millennial? For Strauss and Howe, a millennial is generally born from 1982 up to the present, based on the high school graduating class of 2000. Strauss and Howe ascribe several core traits to the millennial generation. (...)
The Asian American millennial exists within the global diversity inherent in the millennial generation. Strauss and Howe claim that this cohort is the "most racially and ethnically diverse, and least Caucasian generation in U.S. history. <…> Thomas Tseng, in his article "Millennials: Key to Post-ethnic America?" agrees on the ethnic and cultural heterogeneity of the emerging generation. (...)
-14 more pages.-
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