Gen Z refers to the generation of individuals born between the years 1997 and 2012. As the older Gen Zers approach 30, their involvement and curiosity in the political sphere become increasingly valuable and marketable in shaping the contentious political times that make up the current U.S. administration.
From my observation and conversations with peers, I have come to recognize that among many young adults, there is a general sense of despondency regarding the future of politics. I myself am guilty of feeling and contesting that “there is nothing to be done.” There is a general sense of hopelessness and desensitization to the widespread global catastrophes and tragedies that consume our digital screens for as long as we allow, until we scroll along. This manufactured complicit attitude is not isolated to the individual; it is ultimately beneficial for political spheres to have aging generations feel excluded from any governing processes; it’s even more effective to have them accept this reality. Among the “No Kings” protests I have attended, I have been disappointed by the lack of protesters my age. Gen Z is one of the most ethnically diverse generations in the United States, with more than 50 million eligible voters. This diversity encompasses a wide variety of political ideologies and priorities. Despite this, more than half of Gen Z were reported to not have cast a ballot in this week’s midterm election.
With that, many members of Gen Z who are eligible to vote are at a point in their lives where they are pursuing further education. They have begun living independent lives, distanced from the economic support of their guardians. Admittedly, they are in a very selfish time of their lives, where pursuing economic stability and opportunities is an increasingly difficult task that often takes priority. It is valuable to acknowledge that education can be a form of protest in itself. Pursuing academic inquiry with the intention of creating community, national, or global impact is a valuable weapon in combating a system that is ever so utterly disappointing. Even so, it is difficult to keep true to following a path that will ultimately create meaningful societal contribution. How one quantifies such impacts as influential can also be arbitrary.
Within my social circles, I notice a shared moral ground. One that remains at a simplistic plateau: Discrimination is not good, innocent people dying is bad, and too much of the world does not have enough. I witness a lack of adequate political analysis among real political statements; thus, we become comfortable creating baseless claims, as do many of the politicians in our administration. To clarify, I, on a personal level, am far from where I wish to be in regard to political and historical understanding within and beyond the United States. I aim to have matured perspectives as I develop my educational pursuits, and I should become a more informed voter. These shortcomings in my own understanding leave me dissatisfied. Through my academic exposure in sociology, I have subsequently been informed about strategies that keep civilians complicit. One of these is a lack of social evolution as systems of oppression progress in their manifestation and propagation through civilization. This historical pattern repeats itself. After the civil rights movement in the 1960s, historians argue that a political plateau persisted for nearly a decade. Concrete legislation was passed that “guaranteed” marginalized groups rights after a decade of mass protests. Allies felt that their contributions and moral responsibilities had come to an adequate halt. The legislative victories seemed satisfactory in creating the impression that the movement’s work was complete. Even though oppressive policies and political moves continued to evolve in silence. Like today, most people were trying to survive, live their daily lives, and support their families in times of economic unease. Creating a society that is willing to accept triumphs as satisfactory. Put frankly, political progression should not be viewed as a goal with a destination; a finish line should not exist.
In light of the Democratic Party taking a majority in Congress this week, it speaks favorably to the political progress of what includes Gen Z. Regardless, this political progress should not be confused with a victory, as it will lead to political stagnation. The danger of political complacency is ultimately the failure to recognize that progress requires continual evaluation. A win for the Democrats does not satisfy the fight against the United States’ continuous imperial and authoritarian rule. Nor does it satisfy a striving to end a continual involvement in foreign affairs. Nor does it address widespread dissatisfaction and struggle living under a capitalist society, among the plethora of apprehensions that face Gen Z as the future inheritors of these systems. All to say that I implore my peers to pursue political inquiry of their own accord. Reading not only current news but also historical and theoretical literature on the root causes of our current reality, which does not exist due to unforeseen events, is crucial. If we are the future, the pressure for our civic engagement should be that much more abundant.
