Generation We

The Millennials are known to adapt quickly, efficiently use technology and have an open-minded outlook on society.

“Even now with the younger generation being more tolerant, the older generations are attempting to suppress a lot of change because they feel that it is not traditional,” freshman Caroline Kim said.

According to the Pew Research Center, younger generations have shown more racial acceptance than the older generations. Ninety-three percent of Millennials are more accepting towards interracial dating and marriage.

“Racism shows itself in different forms and is still a strong trend, but many people have come to accept people of other races,” Kim said.

Kim believes that racism, sexism and injustices have gradually been alleviated due to the Millennials’ increasing tolerance of differing views.

“Later generations sometimes see the prejudices of older generations and correct themselves,” junior Jimmy Draper said. “Each generation is going to tackle a different issue or difference and in doing so, we as a society become more and more open-minded as time goes on.”

Accepting homosexuality is another example of the Millennials’ growing open-mindedness. The generation is growing up with television shows that commemorate homosexual relationships and exposure to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community.

Experts and researchers from Psychology Today say that Millennials have grown up in environments where they can easily converse with diverse people. One possible explanation for the Millennials’ open-mindedness is the access to technology.

“What strikes me the most about this generation is technology,” John Wheeler, the Psychology AP teacher, said. “It is such a big part of the way [Millennials] live their lives so [one has] to consider [technology] as a big part any kind of difference between generations.”

According to Wheeler, more access to information through technology exposes Millennials to diversity, and thus, Millennials become more tolerant of other ideologies.

“I am really impressed with how open they are to all changes that are taking place,” Wheeler said.  “So many students want to find meaningful things to do and make some kind of contribution to the community.”