Killer Millennials
So for my last blog post, I think it is fitting to touch on a topic that we covered in the beginning of our senior seminar course. The topic is of course non other than millennials! I recently stumbled upon this video on Youtube that is all about Millennials. The video aims to focus on explaining why millennials are 'hurting the diamond industry', many of which include the fact that the diamond industry exploit minors, ruins the eco system. And lastly, diamonds are an item that have an arbitrary value. It is all marketing! Diamonds essentially have no value! Millennials are also the generation that dealt with the toughest economy since previous generations, and they earn 20% less due to that. Not to mention that Millennials are stacked with student loans, and it doesn't help that the Government keeps trying to take away our health care, and all of the other services offered to help individuals. In conclusion, millennials are more aware of the negatives associated with diamonds, and we are broke.
I loved how the video referred to millennials as "killers" because that is exactly how the media perceives us to be. I am constantly hearing new reports about how millennials are killing the housing market, shopping malls, the sales of fabric softener, dryer sheets, soap, yogurt, and they are not supporting businesses like Hooters. I literally found an article that features a list of 19 things millennials are "killing"!
As a millennial, I find it rather amusing to read articles that bash on millennials shopping habits, and that provide little factual evidence. As I was reading the article I found myself disagreeing with the claims the article was stating. For example, the article claimed millennials aren't going to Hooters because of a loss of interest in breasts among millennials. The article states, "People ages 18 to 24 are 19% less likely to search for breasts on the pornographic website Pornhub. For "breastaurants" like Hooters and Twin Peaks, a loss of interest in breasts is bad for business. The number of Hooters locations in the US has dropped by more than 7% from 2012 to 2016, and sales have stagnated, according to industry reports. Hooters has struggled to win over millennials for some time now. In 2012, the chain attempted to revamp its image with updated decor and new menu items to attract more millennial and female customers" (Businessinsider.com). I find it ironic that the article claims a disinterest in breasts is the main reason why millennials aren't going to Hooters restaurants. In my opinion, perhaps millennials aren't interested in Hooters because their niche is focused on degrading and sexualizing women. As a feminist women, I do believe that women have the right to express themselves freely and work wherever they please, but I just have an issue supporting a restaurant chain that chooses to exploit women in such a manner, and attempts to normalize the behavior of using the female body as a commodity.
As for dryer sheets, yes as a millennial I do not purchase them but solely because dryer sheets are bad for the environment and they may be dangerous to ones health. I also do not purchase fabric softener because a lot of the major brands in supermarkets test on animals; I purchase only cruelty free products. Curelty free fabric softeners are a little on the pricey side when compared to traditional brands. I also notice no difference in my clothes now that i no longer use fabric softener, so I personally find it unnecessary. However, articles and statistics attempt to paint millennials as uneducated. The article states, "According to Downy maker Procter & Gamble's head of global fabric care, millennials "don't even know what the product is for."
All of this millennial information is a great example of fake news in the media. People are so quick to believe that millennials are simply poor and lazy, yet they do not take the time to do actual research to look into why were are the way that we are. The youtube video does a great job explaining millennials, and I wish the media would show videos like that rather than simply coming up with click bait reasons that are simply for views.
http://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-are-killing-list-2017-8/#breastaurant-chains-like-hooters-5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppAQ8uZpfQ&index=1&list=LLsANuIytztHwHQXFVqnKIbg
I loved how the video referred to millennials as "killers" because that is exactly how the media perceives us to be. I am constantly hearing new reports about how millennials are killing the housing market, shopping malls, the sales of fabric softener, dryer sheets, soap, yogurt, and they are not supporting businesses like Hooters. I literally found an article that features a list of 19 things millennials are "killing"!
As a millennial, I find it rather amusing to read articles that bash on millennials shopping habits, and that provide little factual evidence. As I was reading the article I found myself disagreeing with the claims the article was stating. For example, the article claimed millennials aren't going to Hooters because of a loss of interest in breasts among millennials. The article states, "People ages 18 to 24 are 19% less likely to search for breasts on the pornographic website Pornhub. For "breastaurants" like Hooters and Twin Peaks, a loss of interest in breasts is bad for business. The number of Hooters locations in the US has dropped by more than 7% from 2012 to 2016, and sales have stagnated, according to industry reports. Hooters has struggled to win over millennials for some time now. In 2012, the chain attempted to revamp its image with updated decor and new menu items to attract more millennial and female customers" (Businessinsider.com). I find it ironic that the article claims a disinterest in breasts is the main reason why millennials aren't going to Hooters restaurants. In my opinion, perhaps millennials aren't interested in Hooters because their niche is focused on degrading and sexualizing women. As a feminist women, I do believe that women have the right to express themselves freely and work wherever they please, but I just have an issue supporting a restaurant chain that chooses to exploit women in such a manner, and attempts to normalize the behavior of using the female body as a commodity.
As for dryer sheets, yes as a millennial I do not purchase them but solely because dryer sheets are bad for the environment and they may be dangerous to ones health. I also do not purchase fabric softener because a lot of the major brands in supermarkets test on animals; I purchase only cruelty free products. Curelty free fabric softeners are a little on the pricey side when compared to traditional brands. I also notice no difference in my clothes now that i no longer use fabric softener, so I personally find it unnecessary. However, articles and statistics attempt to paint millennials as uneducated. The article states, "According to Downy maker Procter & Gamble's head of global fabric care, millennials "don't even know what the product is for."
All of this millennial information is a great example of fake news in the media. People are so quick to believe that millennials are simply poor and lazy, yet they do not take the time to do actual research to look into why were are the way that we are. The youtube video does a great job explaining millennials, and I wish the media would show videos like that rather than simply coming up with click bait reasons that are simply for views.
http://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-are-killing-list-2017-8/#breastaurant-chains-like-hooters-5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppAQ8uZpfQ&index=1&list=LLsANuIytztHwHQXFVqnKIbg
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