I’m a member of Generation X. In contrast to the two previous generations which identified themselves either by characteristics such as birth rate (the Baby Boomers) or participation in war (the “Greatest” Generation), we were simply identified by the curious letter “X.” Ostensibly, the label was given to us because it reflected the prevailing idea among preceding generations that we were undefinable in the traditional sense. We didn’t have clear cultural identifiers that placed us neatly within a national context. As such, the designation turned us into something of an anomaly or curiosity. Because we existed outside of conventional designations, more negative assumptions were placed upon us. We were the first “latchkey” kids who supposedly suffered from less traditional home structures; we were obsessed with music untethered to the “brown rice and bell bottoms” ethos of our baby boomer parents; we were the consummate slackers; we couldn’t find Vietnam on a map; we were the MTV generation. In short, we were perceived as lost and adrift on the waters of an empty and purposeless culture.
Of course, we dispelled these assumptions. We turned out to be decent parents by being far more attuned to our children’s mental health. We became innovators and entrepreneurs and led a technological revolution in the 1990s. We broadened the media landscape and reached beyond the homogeneity of our inherited culture. Not only could we find Vietnam on a map, those of us who chose to be educators could also teach about the history and literature of the period surrounding the Vietnam War.
I say this to our current generation of Gen Z (and perhaps even Gen Alpha) because I want you to know that endless assumptions will be made about you as well. You’ve already heard them: you’re poisoned by a sense of entitlement; you’re all slackers who don’t understand the value of a hard day’s work; you’re congenitally anxious and depressed; you’re prisoners of your phones and social media; you’re uncurious and dependent on artificial intelligence.
It’s undeniable that you face major challenges and none of you are perfect. Like me, some of you are far from it. But what about the strengths of your generation? You’re remarkably adaptable and flexible and have challenged preconceived notions of identity while embracing equity. You’re welcoming of individual differences and are allies of the disabled. You’re statistically less likely to engage in risky behaviors associated with sex and drugs. You’re innovators of the workplace who insist on job satisfaction and joy. You’re much more likely than your predecessors to be concerned with purpose and sustainability.
In short, you’re doing just fine. Now if you could only find Vietnam on a map . . .