Sociologist says generational labels like 'Millennial' and 'Baby Boomer' are 'treacherous'

Generational labels such as Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z are frequently used these days to call groups of people based on age cohort. They are useful in some ways, but a sociologist believes these labels can also be "treacherous" or flawed.

In an episode of "The Howie Severino Podcast," Dr. Jayeel Cornelio of Ateneo de Manila University said such generational labels apply to North American society, but they do not necessarily fit in the Philippine context.

"Napansin ko rito sa Pilipinas, mayroon tayong tendency to copy wholesale, mga ideas, concepts generated in North America. Kasama riyan 'yung mga generational labels," said Cornelio, who edited the 2020 book "Rethinking Filipino Millennials: Alternative Perspectives On a Misunderstood Generation."

"The reality is that from a sociological perspective, hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na lahat ng pinanganak in 1992 or 1982 belong to this generation anywhere in the world. Bakit? Kasi each country has its own history," he said.

Cornelio said the Baby Boomer generation, for example, is characterized by the post-World War II period of economic growth and population growth in the United States.

In the Philippine context, however, it's a little bit different.

"'Yung economic growth, yeah, kung totoong may economic growth tayo. May population growth, totoo. Pero mayroon tayong sumabay na Martial Law, may dictatorship," Cornelio said.

"So 'yun 'yung complication doon na hindi naman na-experience ng somebody who was born in that time, at that time in North America or in Western Europe."

Cornelio said Millennials in the Philippines also have a different experience compared to the stereotypical Western Millennial, who are often characterized as digital natives.

"Itong pandemya ipinakita niya na actually hindi tayo digital natives, 'yung marami ngang Pilipino walang kuryente, hindi makapag-internet. Ilan ang mga kabataan na actually ngayon ay nagmo-module?"

Another unique shared experience by Filipino Millennials is many of them are children of Overseas Filipino Workers and grew up with the consciousness that they can work abroad.

Cornelio, who was named among The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2021, said it would be nice to put the proper context into the generational labels we use.

"The reality is that it challenges us, adults, young adults, people who are working with young people, number 1, be very careful about the generalization that we make about them."

—MGP, GMA News