I’m not au fait with what Gen they are but i currently teach in a secondary school. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that once the majority of them are expected to become functioning members of society - we are royally fucked (and I wish I was joking
)
my observation of Gen Z (I’m in my thirties which I guess makes me a millennial?)
is that they aren’t a generation of people focused on self so much as they aren’t as willing to take crap as much. Especially the women and girls. They are calling men out who grope them in public, calling out inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, leaving bad relationships sooner. They are demanding fairer treatment at work or leaving. It’s like social media networks have empowered them to stand up for themselves in ways people haven’t before. I’m all for it, I’d wish I’d been like that more in my younger days.
I took so much crap from men, laughed off uncomfortable experiences, because of internalised misogyny that made me convince myself I should be flattered by any attention from men. That I should prioritise not making them uncomfortable at my expense.
and the young men feel much less sexist and misogynistic. It still happens, inevitably - but it feels like gen z boys and men aren’t being squeamish about body hair or periods as much. They are more emotionally intelligent. They know what consent is as a concept which, when I was at school/Uni - I don’t think many boys did. At all.
if you teach at a school, then you’re surrounded by teens. Maybe they come across as idiots to you, but most teenagers are idiots. That doesn’t mean they won’t grow to be fully functioning adults.