All it takes is a quick stroll around town to get a superficial feel of what Baby Boomers are obsessed with at the moment. And it should come as no surprise that once again, Gen Z is back to being at the forefront of coffee-shop conversations as they manage to spark more debates than one can count against the noise of clinking cups and spoons.
For as far as many of us can probably remember, those born between the mid-nineties and early 2000s have constantly been viewed as the backbone of most— albeit not all— woes our society is having to come to terms with and overcome. Vehemently pointed at for allegedly being lazier than any generation before them, as well as for being much “softer” than the pillows they’re accused of scrolling through social media on, young adults in 2024 have found themselves being roasted, almost daily on TV or online, on the spit of societal critique. Yet, amidst that heat, our era’s scapegoats might, in fact, have a few things to say in their defense. And after close consideration of their plea, we might even be reminded to think and reflect before casting stones on a fair few who have shouldered burdens, learned lessons, and dealt with challenges, unique to their time.
After a long period spent in relative peace as COVID-19 monopolized all headlines and socially distanced chats, Gen Z’s are unfortunately back under the spotlight, carrying the heavy expectations of a world eager to see where they will steer us. Following years that may have felt stagnant, though they were anything but, the myriad of LinkedIn and Facebook posts lamenting their relative complacency towards corporate stress and all things negatively impacting their mental health, has left a lingering feeling that twenty-something-year-olds today are not fit for the task of modern life. And though there might be elements of truth in such claims (not), behind the screens and hashtags, a real needle-moving ethos is developing, poised to debunk their peers’ doubts and frights in the long run.
Yes, Zoomers quit at the most minor of inconveniences. No, they won’t go above and beyond at work if their pay doesn’t match or follow with the amount of effort they put in. Yes, they prioritize their personal lives over professional objectives and career-orientated targets. So what do you make of all of this? Are they really the generation of entitlement and the pseudo-embodiment of laziness as some would like to claim? Hardly. In fact, it only seems as if they’re demanding what’s fair in a world that often places profit over people. After seeing our parents work themselves to the bone with little to show for it, can you really blame us for wanting to disrupt and break that cycle?
@resumegenius we’re gen-z 😩 any more examples to add? #genz #genzatwork #officehumor ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Advice
Growing up, we barely got to enjoy spending time with our elders as they were hardly afforded the time to catch a breath. Now that they are getting closer to retirement are they starting to wonder whether it was all worth it after all? Usually, the wisdom of hindsight brings clarity, and in this case, it’s no different. After a lifetime spent between four dull walls and over a desk— for the luckiest of them— more and more are slowly coming to the conclusion that they were robbed of all their youth and from precious time with their loved ones who might unfortunately no longer be here, all for a salary that was most likely not commensurate with the amounts of sacrifice put in. Many are only now realizing that what they thought was “professional growth” may have come at too high of a personal cost. And what’s most unfortunate is probably the fact that they’re still struggling to make ends meet as their contributions were never acknowledged or adequately compensated in the first place— a harsh reality check for those who dedicated their lives to climbing the corporate ladder, only to find themselves precariously perched on the edge of financial insecurity once again.
Add to that the fact that in the average lifespan of a 25-year-old in 2024, he’s seen those two huge towers in New York collapse, most countries in the region he calls home go through either a civil war, an invasion, or a revolution, went through a whole pandemic as well as experience levels of inflation that would make even their grandparents’ jaws drop, and you’ve got a generation that’s weathered more storms before hitting 30 than most do in a lifetime. Burn-out if not depressed, today’s youth is juggling more than just student loan debt, from global crises and economic uncertainties, all while trying to maintain a semblance of sanity and optimism. So who really cares about pleasing their superior with all of the above in mind?
As we continue to survive rather than live our own lives, and as we finally identify the flaws that lie in the culture of workaholism, perhaps it’s time to redefine the meaning of success and place well-being over productivity. We’ve seen the impact it can and sadly has had on the health of elders, we’ve seen how it erodes relationships and steals the very essence of what life should be; so why continue on that same path if it’s only to make the same mistakes. What we came to know as “the normal circle of life” is seemingly slowly heading towards the way out, and as it does, maybe it’s time to take a step back and reflect on the criticism that is being formulated towards us by our peers. If anything, it seems that within their sometimes harsh words and difficult-to-hear opinions lies a sense of appraisal as we’ve chosen to not conform to the mold and forge our own paths in a way they never could. And since they didn’t have the luxury of hindsight, can’t we at least give them a nod of gratitude for enduring the unbearable on our behalf and paving the way for our alternative ways of living?
