3 ms·

I was only able to skim this particular article, but I'm really curious about the international perspective of this "phenomenon" and the general attitude in Ame

I was only able to skim this particular article, but I'm really curious about the international perspective of this "phenomenon" and the general attitude in America. Europe is dealing with staggering unemployment among people in their twenties. Meanwhile, plenty of developed countries still cling to the multi-generational home system where you stay with your parents until you're a married homeowner. Would an influx in the number of people remaining with their parents even be considered a "generational crisis" in the rest of the world?

cliveowen 12y ago
I'm Italian, we're one of the countries in Europe that have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn. Staying at home with your parents in your early 20s has always been the norm here (mostly because you don't have to move to go to college, the local university is usually as good as any other). The problem is, even if it's generally acceptable to say that you still live with your parents, there are literally no jobs, not even low-wage, menial jobs. There is no hope for things improving in the long term and there's the lingering suspicion that this whole staying at home with your parents is more than a temporary situation. The only option seems to be moving to another country, but it's not as simple as it sounds. First of all, if you're unemployed, you don't have the money to move to another place, let alone stay there until you find a job. Secondly, you can't move to another country if you don't know someone who's already there and can help you out. And lastly, there's no reason for an employer to pick you (a foreigner) over some local guy. So the outlook is really grim and there's not even an inkling of hope on the horizon.
nroets 12y ago
Many South African kids who went to college were so determined to stand on their own feet that they went to the developed world to take whatever job they could find. Now the parents rarely get to see their kids (and their grand kids). So American parents should be careful what they wish for !

cliveowen 12y ago

I'm Italian, we're one of the countries in Europe that have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn. Staying at home with your parents in your early 20s has always been the norm here (mostly because you don't have to move to go to college, the local university is usually as good as any other). The problem is, even if it's generally acceptable to say that you still live with your parents, there are literally no jobs, not even low-wage, menial jobs. There is no hope for things improving in the long term and there's the lingering suspicion that this whole staying at home with your parents is more than a temporary situation. The only option seems to be moving to another country, but it's not as simple as it sounds. First of all, if you're unemployed, you don't have the money to move to another place, let alone stay there until you find a job. Secondly, you can't move to another country if you don't know someone who's already there and can help you out. And lastly, there's no reason for an employer to pick you (a foreigner) over some local guy. So the outlook is really grim and there's not even an inkling of hope on the horizon.

nroets 12y ago

Many South African kids who went to college were so determined to stand on their own feet that they went to the developed world to take whatever job they could find. Now the parents rarely get to see their kids (and their grand kids). So American parents should be careful what they wish for !