Millennials have earned the reputation of being the Participant Ribbon Generation, “a generation rewarded and praised simply for showing up. The result of social promotion, time-outs over spanking and the misguided concept that reward in deserved and not earned” ("Generation Mutant" by Derek Hunter on Townhall.com). The 1% Participant Ribbon lets us laugh at ourselves and our unconditional self-validation. We grew up in school systems that value self-esteem--a term that only entered households with the rise of our generation--over good performance. By sporting an award that signifies no accomplishment other than existing, the wearer ironically accepts that he or she is no more special than the rest of us.
"As a Millennial, you're special. You don't need to accomplish anything to know you're a success because you've been told how great you are all your life."
Silkscreened wool and embroidered blouse editions
2013
2013
