Talking ‘bout my generation of slackers

Do people in their 20s take too long to grow up? Are we slackers, wandering aimlessly through life without purpose? Are we stalling and postponing milestones associated with adulthood, milestones like getting married and having children? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are getting married later in life than they did in the past. But is this simply because we are putting it off? No, no, no, and no. I am in my 20s and strongly resent being told that I’m not working hard enough. We are not putting off adulthood. In the race to grow up, the finish line is moving farther and farther away. Milestones that commonly signal adulthood, such as financial stability, a secure job, and home ownership are becoming more difficult to attain, which is drawing out the process of growing up.

The New York Times Magazine recently ran a 10-page spread discussing the state of 20-somethings. In this piece, Robin Marantz Henig overviews why it takes this long for people in their 20s to reach what is commonly defined as “adulthood.” Henig draws on the work of Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, a Clark University psychology professor, whose extensive research has led him to label the 20s lifestage as “emerging adulthood.” Henig then poses the following question: “Is emerging adulthood a rich and varied period for self-discovery, as Arnett says it is? Or is it just another term for self-indulgence?”

Of course, using “self-indulgence” when referring to young adults immediately conjures condescending images of selfish children gallivanting on an exploratory journey to “self-awareness.” But this isn’t a fair characterization at all. What about all of the 20-somethings who are eager to jump into “adulthood,” but who find themselves facing augmented hurdles to securing a job, attaining financial security, and living independently?

While our grandparents’ generation could often begin a career straight out of high school, a bachelor’s degree and even graduate degrees are now commonly required for many professions. With more and more years added on to “studenthood,” 20-somethings in school often feel like they are in limbo—no longer a child, but not quite in the real world. Furthermore, the logical next step after graduation is to work. What happens when there simply are no jobs available?

As we have witnessed since the economic collapse, the oh-so-lucky graduates of the classes of 2008 and 2009 have ... struggled. Some who couldn’t find jobs revised their plans and chose to attend graduate school right away. Others switched gears, deciding to travel or taking an unpaid internship with the hopes of a paid job offer in the near future. More than ever, 20-somethings are grappling with low self-esteem and anxiety due to unemployment or an arduous, seemingly endless, job search. Without the assurance of a paycheck, it is impossible to pay the rent, to afford a car, or to buy health insurance—all traditional indicators of independence and adulthood.

In some respects, society is beginning to respond to the challenges we face when transitioning to adulthood. This year’s health care reform bill included a provision to allow young adults to stay on their parents’ health care plans until age 26. The Obama administration assures us that this will play a crucial role in covering one out of three young adults who are now uninsured. Still, much work remains to be done. An important next step is to work on making education more affordable, so that, as tuition fees continue to rise, students may prevent the accumulation of even more student loans. Programs that provide affordable housing for young adults should be created, and the minimum wage must be raised to a realistic and livable amount.

It’s not that we are self-indulgent. It’s that the cost of admission to adulthood is much greater than it once was. It’s not that we want to be in school until our late 20s. It’s because jobs that were once attainable with a college degree now require additional education. It’s not that we want to move back into our parents’ homes. It’s that we need to save money in order to afford ever-increasing housing costs. This isn’t a question of whether or not we want to remain “children” for longer. Our generation isn’t looking for a longer childhood—we are struggling to overcome the barriers to adulthood.

Alexandra Katz is a Barnard College senior majoring in political science. Umm, Excuse me runs alternate Tuesdays.