9. Gender Roles:

While men are still usually the ones to initiate talking, hanging out, and hooking up, it’s much more common — and acceptable — in the 21st century for women to initiate than it was in the 20th century (and now women are being rewarded for it, instead of shunned). Similarly, casual sex is much more acceptable for young women to engage in without shame these days. Perhaps that’s because casual sex before a commitment is the rule now, rather than the exception. Even though that happened plenty in the 20th century, there seems to be less wishful thinking about it now (i.e. there’s no “I’m really hopeful that giving him oral will really show how much I care and am interested in something more serious”). It’s much more universally understood that unless serious, deliberate words have been exchanged about exclusivity and commitment and intention, there should be no meaning attached to hooking up. Just because you got naked together, assume nothing.

10. The Best Way to a Relationship:

While dating apps and online personals can work, most young millennials begin real relationships from either long-term friendships, work connections, or by meeting friends of friends. Again, there are no dates.  (Can we make that any more clear?) People begin to “talk” via text or in person; this is followed by “hooking up” a few times; and eventually there will be a discussion about whether or not both people want a commitment. A lot of people like to argue that the millennial generation is less prone to be in serious relationships, monogamous relationships, or relationships at all. But that’s just not true. The difference between the generations is not the relationship status of most of the population—it’s just how they got there.

Curated by Erbe
Original Article