Exploring of generation Y via attitudes towards economy, education and marriage

Abstract

This thesis analyzes Turkish Generation Y, which has been scrutinizing recently in terms of economy, education, and marriage, and also in comparison between its European and American counterparts. The research is based on the thought that political and social events affected and changed this generations’ attitudes. In Turkey the Generation Y includes individuals born between 1980 and 1994. To explain the historical background of the term generation, Karl Mannheim and Jose Ortega y Gasset’s generation theories were used. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with students and graduate students from Koç, Marmara, and İstanbul Universities. To understand the impact of economic background on ones’ attitudes, one of the universities was selected among private universities. Instead of collecting statistical data, the main aim was to understand Turkish Generation Y. Also the four major generations from 1925 to 1994, namely, Silent, Baby Boomer, Generation X and Generation Y in Europe, America, and Turkey were explained in terms of economy, education, working life, family, technology and marriage. The study consists of Generation Y members who are living in İstanbul and graduate from university, therefore, instead of general conclusions, personal expressions were provided.|Keywords : Generation, Generation Y, Youth.