By Sarah Newton
There has been little talk up to now about Gen Z, but I can see a few things coming up through the ranks. A recent post has claimed that they are more like Gen Y than Gen Y. Saying that, they are more connected and more comfortable with technology – well of course it is all they have ever known! At 9 years old, my daughter has her own web show, her own Skype and plays computer games while talking for hours to her pal over the Internet.
However, to me this is a little on the surface for Gen Z. Because they have mainly Gen X as parents, they have something that Gen Y did not have and that is realism.
While the Baby Boomers molly coddled their little Gen Y, Gen Z will have none of that!
Their Gen X parents have taught them to stand up for themselves rather than fit in. They have taught them to toughen up, as life is not fair (a favourite saying of Gen X). They have taught them to be individualistic and rebel, so while they may appear similar to Gen Y, they are entirely different.
They are more cynical; you only have to read my daughter’s account of a cleaning product (http://genyguide.com/the-world-from-the-eyes-of-generation-z/) to understand that. They demand structure and will no longer just get excited by an idea; the Coca Cola Happiness video taught me that. http://genyguide.com/gen-y-gen-z-viral-video/
And if we look at Howe and Strauss, (and while I love this I appreciate that others don’t) we find that they are the next artist generation.
Artists are subtle, indecisive, emotional and compromising, often having to deal with feelings of repression and inner conflict. They grow up as the over-protected children of a Crisis, come of age as the sensitive young adults of a high, rebel as indecisive midlife leaders during an Awakening, and become the empathic elders of an Unravelling. The Silent Generation is an example of an Artist generation. The ingeneration (the term coined by Larry Rosen in his book Rewired: Understanding the ingeneration and the Way They Learn) is expected to emerge as the next generation of this example.
So they are not the Heroes Generation as Generation Y is. Their passing may bring little of note, but you can guarantee they will bring structure and a sense of stagnation, which may be a good thing. One thing is for sure, this generation will be the most family-connected generation ever and in my opinion are much more likely to make a loyal and committed workforce.
Hey Sarah, I appreciate you blog post. Just wanted to know why do you think that Gen Y is heroic? Best Regards, Renato
Hi Renato great to hear from you.
Howe and Strauss talk about four different generational “themes” I have pasted below from wikipedia. Some people dislike this model but to me it makes sense like a creative cycle of construction and deconstruction. The heroic generation “shake things up” and I certainly think we have seen this in everything Gen Y touch…..but it is only my opinion…..
trauss and Howe state that Generations last the length of time of one phase of life–the same length of time as a turning. Like turnings, generations come in four different archetypes, defined in “The Fourth Turning” as Prophet, Nomad, Hero, and Artist.[1]
* Prophets are values-driven, moralistic, focused on self, and willing to fight to the death for what they believe in- and they can convince other people to join them in the fight. They grow up as the increasingly indulged children of a High, come of age as the young crusaders of an Awakening, enter midlife as moralistic leaders during an Unraveling and are the wise, elder leaders of the next Crisis. The Boomers are an example of a Prophet generation.[1]
* Nomads are ratty, tough, unwanted, diverse, adventurous, and cynical about institutions. They grow up as the underprotected children of an Awakening, come of age as the alienated young adults of an Unraveling, become the pragmatic, midlife leaders of a Crisis and age into tough, post-crisis elders during a High. Generation X and the Lost Generation are examples of Nomad generations.[1]
* Heroes are conventional, powerful, and institutionally driven, with a profound trust in authority. They grow up as the increasingly protected children of an Unraveling, come of age as the Heroic, team-working youth of a Crisis, become energetic and hubristic mid-lifers during a High and become the powerful elders who are attacked in the next Awakening. The G.I. Generation that fought World War II is an example of a Hero generation. Millennials are expected to emerge as the next generation of this example.[1]
* Artists are subtle, indecisive, emotional and compromising, often having to deal with feelings of repression and inner conflict. They grow up as the over-protected children of a Crisis, come of age as the sensitive young adults of a High, rebel as indecisive midlife leaders during an Awakening, and become the empathic elders of an Unraveling. The Silent Generation is an example of an Artist generation.[1] The iGeneration (the term coined by Larry Rosen in his book Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn) is expected to emerge as the next generation of this example.