Gen Z: The “Woke” Generation.
Is Gen Z really more sensitive, can’t take a joke, [insert whatever other big negative assumption someone may make], or are they really just kinder and more culturally attuned?
I would vote for the latter, and here’s why:
Gen Z and Millennials get a bad rap.
The generation who raised them taught and forgot. They wanted their children to be kind, sensitive, and socially responsible.
When they did those things, they were called snowflakes.
But are they really the generations of snowflakes? No. They are culturally competent, outspoken, and politically savvy. They voice their opinions and they’re not afraid to talk about once-off limit topics.
They Are More Comfortable Talking About Mental Health
Mental health crises have been steadily rising over the last several years, especially in light of the COVID pandemic and remote life culture.
While this is true, it is also true that Millennials and Gen Z are much more comfortable talking about their experiences with things like anxiety and depression than past generations.
They are working towards breaking stigma and making conversations about mental health and seeking help an acceptable part of our culture.
They Vote.
In the 2022 midterms, we saw the second biggest turnout of young people (aged 18 – 29) in a midterm election ever. Topics like climate, abortion, and protecting democracy were top reasons for young voters to show up and vote for candidates and topics that aligned with their beliefs.
They CAN Handle Life’s Challenges.
It simply isn’t true that these generations are less equipped to handle life’s challenges.
They’re changing the face of employment culture – No longer accepting low wages and workplace mistreatment as a standard operating procedure.
They’re less likely to overspend and take on debt compared to older generations (after all, they’re coming of age in a period of significant inflation, student debt, and unaffordable housing). They find new and creative ways to side hustle and generate passive income.
And they’re doing all of this despite the stigma their generations often face.