Millennials’ lived experience of navigating having a voice in a collective country: a hermeneutic phenomenological approach

A key facet of authenticity in many conceptualizations is true self-expression. In fact, it has gained the modern reputation in recent times for being almost synonymous with being true to one self. Existing research has questioned if this is solely a Western ideal as this seems to contradict with the collectivistic values that Eastern cultures hold. Even though findings have shown that people in collectivistic cultures equally value authenticity, a question remains. Does non self-expression or silence necessarily mean one is being inauthentic? This project is the first study to explore the way people in an Asian culture are striving towards authenticity. It applies Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological lifeworld approach and explicates four themes: “Barriers and Boundaries”, “Being Invisible”, “Striving to be More” and “Breaking Point”. Findings reveal that authenticity is for everyone, but it may be experienced in different ways. The millennials in this study choose to not let their voices be witnessed in certain settings or with specific others. A understanding of the participants’ lifeworld allows one to appreciate the ambivalence and complexity of their voluntary silence. Silence, as much as true self-expression, could equally be an act of authenticity. This research makes one question the impact of seeing authenticity through dualistic lens which has implications for the therapy profession.