Adapting to the Generation Progression
August 4/2018

Today in the 21st century, the world is facing a massive advancement in personality and cultural development, and it is all due to the transcendence of a new generation being integrated into the world workforce population. Here we are, in the phase of Millennials / Generation Y (the mid-1980s to early 2000s) entering into the common workforce with new ideas and new innovations, boosting a shock-wave over the Generation X (mid-1960s to mid-1980s) and Baby Boomers (mid-1940s to mid-1960s). From a blooming spring out of the war, an era of disco and drugs to technology beyond expectation, the world has reached far beyond anybody could have expected, and progression has no exception for the Maldives.

Baby boomers introduced into the workforce during the Generation X, a time in which Maldivians were born to independence after a long period acting as a colony. The severe migration took place within the country and internationally, to enforce education onto the following generation. Baby boomers took over the first urban development phases of the Maldives, including the introduction of tourism, the development of the airport and the introduction of television. Popular music legends of today peaked on the radio during this phase, while education and secondary economic production were utilized. Baby boomers were highly focused in development that played an important role in the Maldivian economic boom during the mid-1970s. 

Followed by the Baby boomers, it was not soon until Generation X imposed into the workforce. Flourished by education and western media, the generation X were rebellious in their sense. Their time during the late 1980s to 1990s and beyond, invested in a cultural advancement. Integrating western fashion, music and arts, the introduction of multiple tabloid magazines and focusing on the pop-culture was their key cultural input. The market and demand for local movies, music and tabloid articles peaked in-between late 1980s and the early 2000s, and there is no doubt that this is the work of Generation X. This generation was more into sugar-coating social issues and problems with main-stream pop-media which blinded the community from new ideas of human rights and social activism.

Today, we are facing a new era of Millennials creating mind-boggling chaos. The technological evolution that raged over the Maldives, brought millennials up-to-date with the entire world. From common personalities that contained meme references and abbreviations, the millennials are very internationally oriented especially since majority get their higher degrees across the borders. The most anticipated change that is rising beyond the palm trees is the change brought through social activism. Majority Maldivians are speaking out on social media, through NGOs, public conferences and platforms regarding feminism, anti-racism, entrepreneurship and nationalism. They speak for their country, raising awareness for the Generation Z to step out of the stereotypes to promote their own ideas and mindset. The controversial independence given to Millennials have sparked a major change in Maldivian culture, personality and lifestyle. 

We are beyond the days where cat-calling and discriminating foes for their gender or race, to a new era in which we work for the future. To survive and adapt to the upcoming development and ideas, that is evolving the human population. Though the skyscrapers rise in the Maldives, it is not that development that depends on the Maldivians. Millennials are playing a major role in preserving and prepping generation Z to bring an end to social issues and to push the economy above its standards. As patriotic as it may seem, it is also beautiful to the human-eye witnessing sole individuals part of a larger generation working in their own yards creating their own impact, for one great cause. That cause, we are to see tomorrow, as generation Z steps in and to polish six decades worth of work, to create a landmark in the timeline for the human personality evolution that can guarantee peace to the communities across the world.