I sat down with Gina a few weeks ago to talk about the millennial image issue. We both felt that there were some discrepancies between the stereotype that the media has placed on millennials and the actual characteristics of the millennials we are acquainted with.

There are hundreds of articles and reports about the millennial generation in the news and across the web. Articles like “Five really good reasons to hate Millennials” (Washington Post), “Millennials: Do they hate us?” (Huffington Post), “Are Millennials lazy, entitled narcissists?” (CNBC) litter the web, and it’s no wonder – there have been many studies suggesting that this generation is the most entitled of the generations. This image is so ingrained that those who belong to this generation who don’t identify with this “Me Me Me” image may be at a disadvantage in the workplace.

A recent Pew Research Center Poll showed that millennials have more negative views of their generation compared to generation X and baby boomers. 59 percent of poll respondents reported their generation is “self-absorbed” and 43 percent reported that their generation is “greedy”. This study also reported that 60 percent of millennials do not want to consider themselves part of the “millennial generation”.

If millennials have been told over and over that they’re entitled, greedy, and spoiled, those who are actually smart, productive, and humble might not be willing to stand up for themselves at work to avoid coming across as entitled, whether that be pitching their great idea in a meeting or asking for a raise. A millennial mentee confided in Gina recently, “I am reminded all the time that millennials are so entitled and that we are so bratty, but then I have mentors who tell me that I am not getting paid enough – that I need a raise and I should ask for one, or that I shouldn’t be so passive when my boss keeps me extra late. But I don’t want to speak up because that just makes people go, “oh, she’s a millennial – they’re so spoiled.” I don’t know what to do”!

Should employers work to be more understanding and tolerant of millennials? Should millennials stand up for themselves even though they may be worried they will come across as entitled? Yes, and yes. It doesn’t make for very inspiring, productive, or enjoyable workplaces if managers hold resentment for the largest generation in the workforce, and if this generation’s unpretentious members are miserable because they aren’t articulating their ideas and needs in the workplace. Millennials – speak up! If you genuinely feel that you have a good idea or that you deserve a raise (and can back it up!), then let it out. You may be labeled as the most self-absorbed generation, but you have so much to bring to the table and you do deserve to be heard.