Last week The New York Times covered what it really means for you to be 20-something in 2010, coining a new life stage called "emerging adulthood."What, you might wonder, is an "emerging adult"? Well, The Times said, you 20-somethings today look a bit different from the 20-somethings who came before you. You're not hitting the usual life markers (college, job, marriage, mini-mes) in a traditional order. Or on time. Read: when your parents did.
Overall, they concluded, 20-somethings have a certain "failure to launch": You're moving back home, taking your sweet time choosing a career, and marrying years later than Americans ever have.
But is that bad -- or just life as we live it today?
We asked Lemondrop readers for the truth about what the decade between 20 and 30 means to them, and over 1,000 of you told us.
Jessie Rosen, 27, gave us her response in essay form: Dear NY Times, Here's Why I Haven't "Grown Up." Love, a 20-Something. Many of you willingly spilled your guts. For a no-holds-barred look into the secret fears of 20-somethings, click here.
Below we report our findings on 20-something life: how many of you live at home, how many of you are married, and how many have live-in lovahs. Read on!
Love and Marriage: Is Living Together the New "I Do"?
What The Times got right: You're getting married older. The average age of marriage, they report, is now 28 for men, 26 for women. In our findings, only 13 percent of 20-somethings were married. And here's how the rest of you are faring: The NYT didn't really address the romantic concerns of singletons.-- 28% are having a hard time meeting Mr. Good Enough, let alone Mr. Right: You described yourselves as "perpetually single."
-- 19% are currently dating.
-- 38% are currently in a relationship; of those, 28% currently live with their significant others.
-- 13% are married.
-- A scant 2% are divorced.

Friends and Lovers: Where (and With Whom) You're Living
Two-thirds of 20-somethings spend at least some time cohabiting, said The Times. What we found: Living in sin is rampant. As is moving home. In fact, an equal number of you live with your parents as with a live-in lover. -- 28% of 20-somethings are currently living with their parents.
-- 28% are living with a significant other.
-- 26% said they live with a roommate or roommates.
-- 18% currently live alone.

I Haul, U-Haul: How Often You Move
According to The Times, one-third of people in their 20s move to a new address every year. What we found: Indeed, you're rarely living without cardboard.-- The average 20-something has changed addresses five times this decade.
-- Fewer than one in five of you (16 percent) have only moved once; only about a quarter (26 percent) have moved once or twice.
-- More than three-quarters (78 percent) have moved at least six times.

To MBA or Not to MBA: When to Be Done With School?
The Times didn't report on your education levels, but we found you a highly educated, highly motivated bunch, with over 1 in 4 considering grad school. -- 4% of 20-somethings' highest education is a high school degree.
-- 34% are currently in college or have completed a two-year degree.
-- 41% are college graduates; of those, a quarter are considering going on to get a grad degree.
-- 21% had completed grad school.

And when it comes to your dream job, you're not inclined to settle and just stay put: The average 20-something has already had six jobs this decade; more than half (57 percent) have already had five or fewer.













Comments:
Add a comment
Wednesday 25 August
By Maya
It's funny to see what older people think about my generation.
Reply
Wednesday 25 August
By Cotton
do you actually believe we forget what its like to be 20 something when we hit 50 something? I have forgotten nothing. The percentages change but the story is the same. What makes you kids think that being any age today is different from being that age a few years ago or even more than a few years ago. This never ceases to amaze me. We learn the same things, feel the same way and make decisions the same way you do when we were your age. The worst mistake the young make is thinking that peoploe forget as they get older. We don't forget. If we are fortunately we learn but we do not forget.
Wednesday 25 August
By colleen
We'll see how funny you think it is when you are looking in the other direction. ;o) From 50 to 20.
For right now what do you think when you look at a 10 year old or a 15 year old?
Wednesday 22 December
By isubenn
The problem is that society HAS changed. Its been changing must more dramatically the last give or take 200ish, but more specifically look at how the economy, the population, the spread and readily available information is. Current 50 year olds were not NEARLY as bombarded with information that would change religious, social, and economical outlooks and choices that the 20 somethings have experienced. I would say that emotionally it probably has still very strong similarity, but to compare to two and declare them basically the same doesn't seem to do the situation justice.
Wednesday 25 August
By Huh?
This sounds a lot like how 20-somethings were thirty years ago, ie, extended adolescence / delayed adulthood. How old is the author? It's funny how every generation thinks it's inventing the wheel.
Reply
Wednesday 25 August
By d
Huh? I am with you, I am 50 and this article describes my 20's behavior to a tee. I think the generations are more alike than different.
Wednesday 25 August
By K
Agreed. I have moved multiple times since moving out of my parents house (the second time); once it was four times in a two year period. I waited until age 30 to marry and I am back in college. My age: 40.
Wednesday 25 August
By Binx
I thought exactly the same thing when I read this little article. Technology may have changed by leaps and bounds over the past 30 years, but people haven't. The last significant social shift was in the 60's; after that the differences in the generations have been minimal.
Wednesday 25 August
By Ditto
Thank you! :)
I think the journalist are just as much to blame for taking these surveys and presenting the information as if it's something "newsworthy" or just new to begin with.
Wednesday 25 August
By Memen97
I'm 20-something and all is true! Kinda annoying though, wouldn't mind marrying a nice good-looking Christian rebel chick. She don't have to be perfect just extremely hot with a college degree (cuz im an entrepeneur and told college to suck it)
20 somethings unitE!
Reply
Wednesday 25 August
By ARG
Mildly offended!
I just turned 29. I was at the DMV renewing my driver's license and there was a woman behind me chatting. She said "if I can survive trying to raise my almost adult 23 and 26 year old children, I can survive this surgery"
I was like almost adult? I was living in my own apt, hours away from my parents house, working full time (retail/minimum wage) AND going to school full time. I was responsible for every bill I accummulated. Yes, I did have up to two roomates until I was almost 24.
After college round 1, I got a job in my field (sales & marketing), got another college degree and still lived on my own (without roomates).
Before that, I was working in a factory atmosphere in the evenings during high school. Why? My parents had no money to pay for my car, car insurance or college. If I wanted freedom and an education, it was totally up to me to pay for it.
If someone at 21 told me that I was almost an adult, I probably would've drop-kicked someone for all the hardwork I wasn't getting credit for and the stereotype I was assumed to be.
As for dating, I agree. I'm married now but when I was dating, it was a total turnoff to go on a date with a guy and for him to tell me he still lived at home or ahd five roomates and still had issues making ends meat.
Reply
Wednesday 25 August
By JBOY
You GO girl, and hold out for a real man, lol. All kidding aside, too many women don't even have the standard that their man needs to have a steady job and be able to support himself. If that's not begging for trouble, I don't know what is.
Wednesday 25 August
By Katty
Today things are different ARG, as you already know getting to the point of supporting yourself is an arduous task.
You should be commended for what you accomplished I am sure your parents are proud.
With the way things are today people alot older than you are still flailing. It sure does help to be in a solid relationship. It's two against the world that way.
I have been telling my friends about a great way to meet someone special.
I actually found my partner this way too.
It is much more cost effective to get to know new people online these days. Screening people and saving yourself time and trouble.
One of the better ones is etalk311
I am still looking because I have not been asked to commit yet, however I have never been against making new friends and on this site I can meet people from all over the world.
I hope to do alot of traveling some day so this might come in very handy. Whether I travel alone or with someone special.
Hope your relationship continues to grow.
If not try etalk311 or one of the many others.
Wednesday 25 August
By colleen
Oh Alice, please...
My daughter is 21 and lives at home while attending college. She works 20 hours a week but could never support herself on that with rents being a minumum of 700+ per month. It is much wiser for her to live in our house than to be dumping money into rent when we live 30 minutes from the college. I don't really worry that she will be a "spinstress". lol
Wednesday 25 August
By mac mills
Looks like all that hardwork still didn't knock that chip off of your shoulder. Glad you were an overachiever i can only imagine how much you missed out on being so jaded.
Wednesday 25 August
By Alice
It is terrible how many kids are living with their parents who are over 18 years old. Most are too lazy to find a job and work for a living, especially younger men who want to live with "Mommy". My neighbor has her 22 year old daughter living at home who will not help around the house such as doing the dishes, laundry or even cutting the grass. I told her that when a woman reaches the age of 40 and not married, she is called an 'Old Maid" and if she reaches 50, she is then a "Spintress". Men on the other hand who live at home are called "Gay".
Reply
Wednesday 25 August
By Christa
Wow Alice, you're a real bitch. It's called student loans dumbass. Maybe if you had $80,000 in loan debt and worked TWO jobs AND went to school full time to complete a masters degree, you would be living at home too. I am 23 and live at home. I cannot possibly afford to live on my own. So before bashing those in their twenties for living at home, maybe you should get yourself a brain and not generalize us as being lazy. On another note, why does being a woman and being married before 40 categorize a woman as being worthy? Get out of the 1930's please...some women have more ambitous things to do then marry a disappointment and pop out a bunch of kids.
Wednesday 25 August
By Gatitta
Give the kids a break though, we are in the middle of a recession! Jobs aren't out there, and if they are they're low paying, certainly not enough to keep up with the inflating prices of everything. If I had an 18 year old I'd have NO problem with them living with me. What kind of job is an average 18 year old going to get anyway??? I wouldn't want my kids living in the type of conditions a 20k-30k job would offer. I think you need to spend a little less time worrying about your neighbors daughter, it's really their own business.
Wednesday 25 August
By Saban
Hey you twit , what about a guy that lets his Mother live with him because she has Demetia and he takes care of her ??? I she still GAY or just being a real man , evidently something you will never find !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think before you speak about things that you have not a fecking clue about .....
Wednesday 25 August
By Marshall
May I ask, where are you coming up with these labels of various ages of
single people?? May I point out that due to the steep(er) rents and outrageous
real estate , we , as single adults have to be realistic and stick to our
monthly budgets. This sometimes means renting at home. By the way Alice,
I am not gay ! and I have been a loyal tennant for over ten years in one unit.
I happen to have a girlfriend . Also! you left out other important stipulations
in regards to the varying trends we now see in today's more complex rental
markets nationwide.