Summary: The False Stereotypes

As the ear screeching streak of masking tape was stretched across the large U-Haul box, Ava Bibergal situated the last item from the place she collected her college memories into the trunk of her parent’s car. With the end of her undergraduate career Bibergal is saying goodbye to her life of professors, papers, and the prospering spirit of Chicago as she moves back home with her parents to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Millennials are easy to stereotype. From being labeled as spoiled, to entitled, to just plain lazy, Millennials have gained an anything less than inspiring reputation. And according to a recent PEW Research Center report released May 24, 2016, for the first time in the modern era, there are more 18-to-34-year-olds living with their parents compared to any other living arrangements. Needless to say, individuals living at home with parents only fuels the portrayal of a generation comprised of unmotivated, selfish 20-somethings.

While stamping insults and stigmas to Millennials moving in with their parents is easy. Images of spoiled individuals spending their days on the couch watching television, eating junk food, while mom does the laundry are perceptions many assume. However, the reality of
According to The Atlantic article, “The False Stereotypes About Millennials Who Live at Home,” a 2014 data report from the Census Bureau, the “median earnings for young adults who were working full-time were only about $34,000 for Millennials.” This salary is much less than previous generations. Additionally, according to the same report by the Census data, “only 65 percent of Millennials were employed as of 2014, compared to about 70 percent in the three decades prior.” Despite being one of the most educated generations, currently, the decision to move back homes stems from the economical reality of simply not having enough to support