This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Arianna Nahim. Find her on Instagram at @ariannanahim. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
For many people, to be seen as average, carries a very negative connotation. It can mean you’re not good enough or that you’ve failed in some way. But there was a time when average did not mean “underachieving” but “standard.” Whether it was related to dating, beauty, jobs, or the economy there was an achievable standard that could bring comfort to anyone. However, today because of the rapid advancement we’ve seen in technology, the goalpost has been moved, and not subtly. Today, the expectation is to be extraordinary, and if you are anything less you will feel it greatly. We are so use to seeing the cream of the crop when it comes to anything that “average” is a thing of the past.
The Job Market
“If I even want an internship I basically have to be a god,” said my friend majoring in Computer Science, the major that’s supposed to be all the rage.
It was a ridiculous claim to me at the time. Yes, CS had the potential of being life or death, but could it be that earth-shattering? And for just an internship at that?
But after joining the internship hunt myself, I had a rude awakening. The job market now really does expect you to be a god in your own right. With the way technology works today, it’s no wonder that’s the case. While job openings are now being posted online, they are seemingly more accessible. However, with this accessibility comes specific cons. A job opening that is now available on the World Wide Web is now readily available to interested applicants all across the country and even the world. This makes the competition even more complicated, thus bringing out the thinking: I must be god. Today, being the perfect candidate for simply an internship means you are beyond impressive, leaving no room for just an “adequate” person.
Beauty
Mobile phones have brought us a lot: fun applications, goofy filters, and the ability to contact just about anyone immediately. But they have especially disfigured our idea of beauty, making the new beauty standard nearly impossible to obtain naturally. Now, if you wish to be considered beautiful, you’ll need voluntary cosmetic surgeries that could endanger your life.
Those fun applications have quickly turned into creations like FaceTune and FaceApp, which let users edit their faces and bodies in photos later posted for the world to see and leave an unrealistic lasting impression on viewers. The goofy filters we once laughed at now subtly enlarge our lips, smooth our skin, and slim down our jawline. Things like the beauty filter on TikTok have even morphed my perception of having my face, leaving me more insecure and dissatisfied. At a point in humanity, you had to rely on a pool of water to catch a glimpse of yourself, and even the act itself was self-reflective. Are you willing to position yourself, hunched over or lying on your stomach, just to see how you look? Fast forward to today, and there is a whole generation of young women who have fallen victim to the idea that cosmetic surgeries that are advertised to achieve what we consider beautiful today are empowering. It is an endless cycle of a standard that will forever change and never be accomplished by anyone because of its hollow significance.
Dating Apps
The first person who created online dating probably thought to themselves, “I’ve just revolutionized dating!” This is true, but little did they know it would be for the absolute worst. Yes, you could argue that it’s great. You can choose the kind of people you want to see and instantly refuse those you don’t. Your perception of a person and likeness to unite can be determined by just a few surface-level facts and curated pictures. And now, people have become drunk on social power. Since an endless stream of people rests in their hands, it gives people an inflated standard of who they can and should match up with. Now we’re left with young people who are left feeling like they’re not good enough to date and those with impossibly high standards who make. It’s made the dating scene a barren wasteland filled to the brim with vapid interactions.
Economy
For quite some time now, we’ve heard all about inflation. Yet, it seems like prices aren’t dropping but are staying at increased levels. It used to be that a burger, fries, and drink from a fast food chain could be roughly $8. Today, an average fast food visit can cost $20. The number of people who live with roommates has increased, not because people prefer roommates but because they need them. Buying a house has become an absolute luxury that many cannot afford, and thus, they are forced to stick to renting.
Rather than experiencing any relief from this economy, it is almost as if we are being forced to accommodate instead. Inflation is up? That means the average citizen should do what they must to make more money. Gone are the days of one college degree, a modest career, and, while not luxurious, a comfortable life. And isn’t that all most Americans want anyway? To own a home within their means, earn a salary that will give them stability, and enjoy life without having to be prepared to spend at least $40 anytime they leave the house.
All In All
Drive and ambition aren’t something that should be discouraged. Greatness is not something that should be avoided, however, greatness expected in every category of life is taxing and is rarely sustainable for most individuals. But because of these inflated expectations across the board, I fear many of us are feeling unnecessarily negative about ourselves and our own accomplishments. Bringing attention to some of these factors wasn’t in an effort to excuse a low performance, but to reassure many individuals that there are so many underlying and uncontrollable factors that breed an unrealistic amount of standards to live up to, it’s not their fault that success is harder to find today.
It begs the question, what is wrong with being average? Don’t leave us unanswered, let us know what you think in the comments below!
Leave a Reply