Twixter
Encyclopedia
Twixter is a neologism that describes a new generation of Americans
who are trapped, in a sense, betwixt (between) adolescence
and adulthood. This Western neologism is somewhat analogous to the Japanese term parasite single.
became an adult, he or she was expected to become independent.
These young adults also typically marry later than usual and gain more college or career training.
s and freeters in other societies.
has seen the growth of a parasite single or freeter segment of the youth population who live at home and work at undemanding jobs. The Hodo-Hodo zoku
are employees who avoid promotion to minimize stress and maximize free time. Likewise, in Europe since the 1990s, there has been a growing number of NEET
, those "Not engaged in Education, Employment, or Training".
In Italy
, in October 2007, banker Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa
, then Minister of Economy and Finance, defined people 20–30 years old still living with their family (a considerable part of population) “bamboccioni” (big dummy boys), thus creating a big fuss in Italian public opinion. Newspapers received numerous letters from readers personally taking offense and pointing out that he knew little about the situation of a considerable part of the 20–30 years old Italian population, who live on approximately 1000€ per month and cannot afford to leave their parents’ house. A similar case is also seen in Spain
, with the term mileurista to describe the youth who live with 1000€ salary (mil euros). In Greece
, the minimum salary is even lower (€700) and the Greek mass media popularzed the term "The €700 generation". This generation evolved in circumstances leading to the Greek debt crisis and participated in the 2010–2011 Greek protests
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who are trapped, in a sense, betwixt (between) adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
and adulthood. This Western neologism is somewhat analogous to the Japanese term parasite single.
Behavior
Twixters are typically young adults who live with their parents or are otherwise not independent by other means, primarily financial. If they are employed, they often have unsteady and low-paying jobs. They may have recently left college or high school, or recently embarked on a career. Living with parents represents a cultural shift in Western households. Historically, whenever a member of the nuclear familyNuclear family
Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a father and mother and their children. This is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family. Nuclear families typically center on a married couple, but not always; the nuclear family may have...
became an adult, he or she was expected to become independent.
These young adults also typically marry later than usual and gain more college or career training.
Media coverage
Time published an article about twixters in January 2005, putting this relatively obscure demographic in the spotlight. The article focused on upper- and middle-class twixters whose parents could support them. The article made no distinction between people who lived on their own with their parents' help and people that lived with their parents, nor did it mention lower-class twixters similar to NEETNEET
NEET is a government acronym for people currently "not in education, employment, or training". It was first used in the United Kingdom but its use has spread to other countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea...
s and freeters in other societies.
Parallels in other societies
The emergence of twixters is not entirely new, as it is similar to social phenomena observed in other industrialized societies. Since the 1980s and 1990s, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
has seen the growth of a parasite single or freeter segment of the youth population who live at home and work at undemanding jobs. The Hodo-Hodo zoku
Zoku
is a Sino-Japanese term meaning tribe, clan, or family. As a suffix it has been used extensively within Japan to define subcultural phenomena, though many zoku do not acquire the suffix ....
are employees who avoid promotion to minimize stress and maximize free time. Likewise, in Europe since the 1990s, there has been a growing number of NEET
NEET
NEET is a government acronym for people currently "not in education, employment, or training". It was first used in the United Kingdom but its use has spread to other countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea...
, those "Not engaged in Education, Employment, or Training".
In Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in October 2007, banker Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa
Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa
Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa , Knight Grand Cross was a well-known pro-European Italian banker and economist who was Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance from May 2006 until May 2008...
, then Minister of Economy and Finance, defined people 20–30 years old still living with their family (a considerable part of population) “bamboccioni” (big dummy boys), thus creating a big fuss in Italian public opinion. Newspapers received numerous letters from readers personally taking offense and pointing out that he knew little about the situation of a considerable part of the 20–30 years old Italian population, who live on approximately 1000€ per month and cannot afford to leave their parents’ house. A similar case is also seen in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, with the term mileurista to describe the youth who live with 1000€ salary (mil euros). In Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the minimum salary is even lower (€700) and the Greek mass media popularzed the term "The €700 generation". This generation evolved in circumstances leading to the Greek debt crisis and participated in the 2010–2011 Greek protests
2010–2011 Greek protests
The 2010–2011 Greek protests are an ongoing series of demonstrations and general strikes taking place across Greece. The protests, which began on 5 May 2010, were sparked by plans to cut public spending and raise taxes as austerity measures in exchange for a bail-out, aimed at solving the...
.
See also
- WaithoodWaithoodWaithood refers to the period of stagnation in the lives of young unemployed college graduates in the Middle East and North Africa region, described as "a kind of prolonged adolescence"....
- FreetersFreetersis a Japanese expression for people between the ages of 15 and 34 who lack full time employment or are unemployed, excluding housewives and students...
- HikikomoriHikikomoriis a Japanese term to refer to the phenomenon of reclusive people who have chosen to withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement because of various personal and social factors in their lives...
- NEETNEETNEET is a government acronym for people currently "not in education, employment, or training". It was first used in the United Kingdom but its use has spread to other countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea...
- Parasite single
- Boomerang GenerationBoomerang GenerationBoomerang Generation is one of several terms applied to the current generation of young adults in Western culture. They are so named for the frequency with which they choose to cohabitate with their parents after a brief period of living on their own–thus boomeranging back to their place of origin...
- Emerging adulthoodEmerging adulthoodEmerging adulthood is a phase of the life span between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, proposed by Jeffrey Arnett in a 2000 article in the American Psychologist. It primarily applies to young adults in developed countries who do not have children, do not live in their own home, or have a...