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"We’re a lot more political than millennials were at our age. I think it’s because things are affecting us more ... This younger generation, we don’t put glitter over things. Unlike the millennials, we’re not in denial." https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/4ay3gw/what-gen-z-thinks-of-millennials
I know there’s quite a bit of commentary on this out there already, but I do think it’s worth repeating: We can’t fully understand difference in political involvement between Gen Z and Millennials without talking about South Park.
Created by two white male libertarians, South Park’s theory of the case was the least cool thing you can do is to care. About anything. If someone gives a shit enough to want to make things better, they deserve to be mocked.
“Relax, we make fun of everybody!” became the shield for sexism, homophobia, racism, transphobia, ableism, and so much more. Worth mentioning that The Simpsons employed the same excuse when confronted about the character Apu.
My generation’s formative years were marked by 9/11, the Iraq War, and the 2008 financial crisis. We then entered adulthood electing the first black president, which was then followed by the immediate racist (and sexist) backlash in 2016.
I don’t blame Gen Z for thinking we were politically apathetic, but it’s worth considering why the way we dealt with these life-changing world events the ways in which we did. We were taught not to care, and then confronted by events that left us no choice BUT to care.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that only in the last few years, with a public push to destigmatize mental health issues, and the rise of Gen Z reaching a critical mass of tolerating bullshit, that Millennials are finding better ways to deal with *all of this*.
