Emerging adulthood

People around twenty years old are being labeled as individualist, competitive and spoiled by their parents. The lack of responsibility, being held by those young people, is giving them the status of an “emerging adulthood”. One might say that it has psychological mature basis and it is related to the late development of our brains. If it is true, it should happen the same way all over the world.

Arnett’s studies have shown that young Americans are swapping phases of life. They are having multiple experiences of sex, reaching professional success, occasionally getting a master of doctor degree and maybe even having a child before getting married. They are being called the “boomerang generation” because many of them are returning home after some years. Due to their over-qualified, and yet, valuable skills they just aren’t being absorbed by the market.

In Europe we are seeing a slightly different movement. Young people are not coming back home before they turn 30, but they are taking longer to leave their parent’s. The equal distribution of income and the wide range of jog opportunities are leading young people to take longer to graduate at university. They are having as many experiences of life as possible before facing the responsibility of adulthood.

In Latin America, as expected, similar behavior can be observed highlighted by economic disparities. The 20s generation is postponing adulthood. They have financial protection of their parents, who are supporting their consuming needs and spoiling them. At the same time, they are either overqualified or do not have skills at all, if they are unable to afford for education.

If we have so many different pictures and such similar behavior we could say that, in fact, people around their 20s can’t confront the responsibility of choosing just one option when there are so many to pick from. This can be a positive thought if their experiences are chosen wisely and guide us to a world were more self-confident people live.