Peter Pan Goes To College Analysis

Finding Neverland Growing up we have all heard the story of Peter Pan, the boy who never wanted to grow up, and Neverland, the land which allowed him to stay young forever. As young adults we have found our own Neverland, where the worry of growing up is nonexistent – and it is called college. In the article “Peter Pan goes to College” author Nathan Harden argues that Millennials and Generation Z are deferring typical adulthood responsibilities such as being economically self-sufficient and waiting longer to marry and start families. Harden builds a convincing argument by using compelling facts and statistical evidence, using credible authors and scholars to argue his main points, and attempting to create an emotional and personal connection …show more content…
He argues that today’s college students are able to put off becoming an “adult” because their parents are financially stable enough to support them through years of college. Harden argues that students not having to worry about finding a job or finding a life partner has more time for leisurely activities, which has brought in a “hook up” culture. Harden continues by discussing what the hookup culture is, why it is happening, and how it affects Millennials and Generation Z. Harden discusses the work of feminist and journalist Hanna Rosin ,who uses the hook up culture as a means for women to advance in the world, which Harden argues is wrong and deceitful. Lastly, Harden ends his article by stating that Millennials and Generation Z live in a world that is endlessly transitional and temporary, making the connection back to Peter Pan and the want to escape the investable “growing up”. Throughout his piece, Harden uses a variety of powerful sources that strengthens his argument and credibility. These sources include, “Arnie Kahn, one of the study’s authors,” “Sociologist Lisa Wade of Occidental College,” “a 2010 study by psychologists at James Madison University, Jennifer Homans from The New York Times,” and “sociologist Philip Cohen of the Maryland Population Research Center”(qtd. in Harden). Citing these credible sources shows that Harden has done his work and has provided …show more content…
It has to do with encouraging college women to fulfill, with their bodies, a specific political vision of loveless, commitmentless, marriageless, childless young womanhood” (Harden, 2013). Harden is attacking the ideas of feminist and portraying feminist to be heartless and cold. Harden provided no evidence to make his claim about the political vision of feminist. Talking so negatively about feminist breaks the connection between feminists, and anyone who believes in women’s rights. From the metaphor, Harden did appeal to pathos, but with the aggressive tones and demeanor of his ideas and opinions, the emotional connection was ultimately broken, creating a gap in trust. Though Harden begins the article by effectively persuading his readers that Millennials and Generation Z have adopted the hook up culture due to taking more time to become a traditional “adult”, he loses the personal connection he created by being aggressively overbearing. Readers can see that Harden uses credible sources, logical thought processes, facts, and statistic, yet his shift to aggressively and forcefully stating his opinions left the audience shocked and contemplating the real reason behind this article. Overall, Harden gave a compelling argument that Millennials and Generation Z have found their Neverland-