在各种争议声中长大的80后一代，终于也开始登上历史的舞台。他们表现出与上一代人如此不同的特质：极其自信、乐观、满怀理想，但又自恋、不切实际、自尊心过强。在就业市场不景气的大环境下，这一代人究竟是会不堪一击，还是会表现出意想不到的抗压能力?
Forthepastfewyears, it’sbeenopenseasononGenerationY—alsoknownasthemillennials, echoboomersor, lessflatteringly, GenerationMe.[1] Oncedescribedbythetrend-watchersNeilHoweandWilliamStraussas “thenextgreatgeneration”—optimistic, idealisticanddestinedtodogood—millennials, bornbetween 1982 and 2002, havebeendepictedmorerecentlybyemployers, professorsandearnestlyconcernedmental-healthexpertsasentitledwhinerswhohavebeenspoiledbyparentswhooverstokedtheirself-esteem, teacherswhograntedundeservedA’sandsportscoacheswhobestowedtrophiesonanyplayerwhoshowedup.[2]
Asthey’veenteredadulthood, theyhaveinspiredanumberofbooksonhowunmanageabletheyareintheworkplace, withtheirubiquitousiPods, flip-flopsandinabilitytotakecriticism.[3] Storiesaboundaboutthemascollegestudents, requiring 24/7 e-mailaccesstoprofessorsandrunningtoMomandDadforhelpwithpapersortocontestabadgrade.[4] Aconsensushasemergedthat, psychologically, they’reagenerationofbasketcases: profoundlynarcissisticanddeprivedofasenseofagencybytheiranxiouslyoverinvolvedparents.[5]