This makes me think of bell hooks in Art on My Mind and how she talks about the way art is tied to imagination, power, and what we’re taught to believe is possible. And also her critique in Where We Stand: Class Matters around the American Dream as something that presents itself as open and universal, but actually hides how structured it is by class and access.
What you’re describing, a “faux American Dream” really shows up in that tension. It looks like equal opportunity on the surface, but in practice it becomes a story people are asked to keep believing while navigating systems that don’t actually offer equal footing. So when we’re looking at work life, especially millennial work culture, it can feel like individual struggle or ambition, but hooks would push us to see how much of that is shaped by larger structures being normalized and even aestheticized. Are we required to romanticize the burn out and imbalance of it all?
That’s what makes your reflection feel so resonant. It brought me lots of clarity.
Hey Tyra! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, i’m really glad this piece resonated 🩵 I’ve not read those pieces but i’ve added them to my list - they sound incredibly interesting!
The days of the 60 hour week golden handcuffs and "pension" are most definitely gone. I've been in recruiting for 20+ years now and see the same issues for the 50+ crowd. Their jobs are all disappearing. I've started redesigning my life over the last 18 skiing things that open my heart. I haven't made much money yet but the work makes me feel connected to life and the beauty of people.
totally agree! i was in recruitment for a little while and i even saw a drastic shift from covid and the years following. that’s so exciting that you’re redesigning your life! all the best with it 🩵
I'm a millennial too and absolutely agree to this. Accounting number by day and moral erosion by night through dark fantasy fiction. Create worlds like this actually make me feel joy and the challenge is not really a challenge because it feels more like fulfillment.
A really interesting piece. As a headteacher, I feel bad for the young people coming through the system now. They genuinely don't know what jobs will be around five years from now and so lack certainty about where to put their efforts. The word changes so fast.
Thank you! You’re so right. It’s incredibly tough for the generations coming up. Having understanding head teachers like yourself, though, makes all the difference!
I'm 28 and the longest I've been in work for a set of time has been 3 months - I never really got going and I'll always feel really sad about it. My mum for a long time didn't understand that the job market has changed, and it's only now because it's all over the news.
I was always scared of it because I thought "it's gonna take over my life and I won't have one outside of work" which is why I'm insistent I won't do more than 3 days a week. It's not worth torturing myself over, and being autistic there's enough out there doing that. 😅
Thank you so much for sharing! It’s really tough out there so it’s great to have boundaries like yours 🩷 28 is young, and life will figure itself out if you stay true to yourself x
Yeah, it's literally only in the last month that I've gone "okay THAT'S what I want to do as a job" which has helped a little, but I wish I worked that out earlier. Especially when we're talking long term work.
I've worked in the TV industry before and that's very much ad hoc/freelance so you never really get the feeling of stability 😭
That’s great! I’m 30 and still not entirely sure. Life is different for our generations. My mum has been in the same industry for 40 years - same exact job for 15. I just couldn’t do that!
Yeah the moment life ever became monotonous is when I'd know something needs to change. The area I want to go into is media related - volatile, admittedly, but I just know I'd enjoy it more.
Not to say Gen Z’s don’t have it hard as well, the world is literally on fire but I feel like they were never given these false promises or at least they grew up seeing enough bullsh!t to not believe in it. We were that generation that watched our parents and really believed we’ll have all that only to have the goal post moved so far away that we don’t know if there even is one! 😂
Totally agree! Gen Z definitely have it hard - amazingly, they’re more vocal about it! They don’t put up with long hours and extra work, they want a culture that fits them. Millennials, I think, are more anxious to be up front and call things out. You’re so right!
This makes me think of bell hooks in Art on My Mind and how she talks about the way art is tied to imagination, power, and what we’re taught to believe is possible. And also her critique in Where We Stand: Class Matters around the American Dream as something that presents itself as open and universal, but actually hides how structured it is by class and access.
What you’re describing, a “faux American Dream” really shows up in that tension. It looks like equal opportunity on the surface, but in practice it becomes a story people are asked to keep believing while navigating systems that don’t actually offer equal footing. So when we’re looking at work life, especially millennial work culture, it can feel like individual struggle or ambition, but hooks would push us to see how much of that is shaped by larger structures being normalized and even aestheticized. Are we required to romanticize the burn out and imbalance of it all?
That’s what makes your reflection feel so resonant. It brought me lots of clarity.
Hey Tyra! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, i’m really glad this piece resonated 🩵 I’ve not read those pieces but i’ve added them to my list - they sound incredibly interesting!
The days of the 60 hour week golden handcuffs and "pension" are most definitely gone. I've been in recruiting for 20+ years now and see the same issues for the 50+ crowd. Their jobs are all disappearing. I've started redesigning my life over the last 18 skiing things that open my heart. I haven't made much money yet but the work makes me feel connected to life and the beauty of people.
totally agree! i was in recruitment for a little while and i even saw a drastic shift from covid and the years following. that’s so exciting that you’re redesigning your life! all the best with it 🩵
Thank you so much Chon 😀.
I'm a millennial too and absolutely agree to this. Accounting number by day and moral erosion by night through dark fantasy fiction. Create worlds like this actually make me feel joy and the challenge is not really a challenge because it feels more like fulfillment.
That’s great!! 🩷
A really interesting piece. As a headteacher, I feel bad for the young people coming through the system now. They genuinely don't know what jobs will be around five years from now and so lack certainty about where to put their efforts. The word changes so fast.
Thank you! You’re so right. It’s incredibly tough for the generations coming up. Having understanding head teachers like yourself, though, makes all the difference!
I'm 28 and the longest I've been in work for a set of time has been 3 months - I never really got going and I'll always feel really sad about it. My mum for a long time didn't understand that the job market has changed, and it's only now because it's all over the news.
I was always scared of it because I thought "it's gonna take over my life and I won't have one outside of work" which is why I'm insistent I won't do more than 3 days a week. It's not worth torturing myself over, and being autistic there's enough out there doing that. 😅
Thank you so much for sharing! It’s really tough out there so it’s great to have boundaries like yours 🩷 28 is young, and life will figure itself out if you stay true to yourself x
Yeah, it's literally only in the last month that I've gone "okay THAT'S what I want to do as a job" which has helped a little, but I wish I worked that out earlier. Especially when we're talking long term work.
I've worked in the TV industry before and that's very much ad hoc/freelance so you never really get the feeling of stability 😭
Totally agree! Sure media can be tough but is also incredibly important. Good luck!!! 🤞🏼
Thank you!
That’s great! I’m 30 and still not entirely sure. Life is different for our generations. My mum has been in the same industry for 40 years - same exact job for 15. I just couldn’t do that!
Yeah the moment life ever became monotonous is when I'd know something needs to change. The area I want to go into is media related - volatile, admittedly, but I just know I'd enjoy it more.
Not to say Gen Z’s don’t have it hard as well, the world is literally on fire but I feel like they were never given these false promises or at least they grew up seeing enough bullsh!t to not believe in it. We were that generation that watched our parents and really believed we’ll have all that only to have the goal post moved so far away that we don’t know if there even is one! 😂
Totally agree! Gen Z definitely have it hard - amazingly, they’re more vocal about it! They don’t put up with long hours and extra work, they want a culture that fits them. Millennials, I think, are more anxious to be up front and call things out. You’re so right!