“This generation is too damn sensitive,” says my 50-year-old father and almost all of his peers. This has been a constant thought in my mind, and I look forward to deep-diving into how my peers and I are severely misunderstood.
Being sensitive is not the same thing as being empathetic and understanding of those around you. What trips me up the most is knowing that the “too sensitive” comment almost always comes after I either express disdain over an insensitive statement or start defending the things that are important to me.
First things first, let’s talk about the last four years. Not the last century or the last decade but literally just the last four years. Our generation has been living out historical event after historical event with very little time in between to recoup or decompress. COVID alone was enough for us to say, “Okay WTF, this is a lot.” But, it also gave us a chance to put the things we care about and the things we are willing to fight for into perspective. You know what they say – "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."... I guess.
John Della Volpe's study at the Harvard Kennedy School revealed that our generation is more “politically engaged and optimistic than portrayed.” Our demographic has demonstrated a strong commitment to social and political causes. Gen Zers have leveraged digital platforms to organize protests, spread awareness, and mobilize support for issues such as climate change, racial justice, and gun control. We are not only more likely to vote but also to participate in political discussions online and offline. Despite growing up in a time of significant political turmoil, many of us remain super hopeful about the future and believe in our ability to drive meaningful change. This optimism, coupled with our activism, challenges the stereotypes often associated with us and underscores our potential to reshape the political landscape. And do you know what the root of all of this is? Our willingness to care, show emotions, and be what other generations perceive as "sensitive."
However, two truths can exist at the same time. Yes, we show up more as a generation, but we are also a little bit burnt out. Research from the Walton Family Foundation and Murmuration shows that “more members of Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—are grappling with mental health issues than people from older generations.” In the current social and political climate, this is bound to take a toll, and it does.
Depression and anxiety rates continue to climb as we navigate through this ever-changing world. We are dealing with issues past generations didn’t have to deal with. According to the Walton Family Foundation and Murmuration, “Gen Z (42%) is about twice as likely as Americans over 25 (23%) to battle depression and feelings of hopelessness.” We have seen presidents endorse sexual assault on live television, women have been stripped of their reproductive rights, children are not safe in their schools as mass shooting numbers continue to soar. As my elders love to say, “We’re living in a different time.” In short, what we are used to and have grown accustomed to isn’t working for us anymore and quite frankly, we are tired.
So, to answer my question, "Gen Z: Hyper-Sensitive or Emotionally Evolved?" I did a little Q&A with a couple of people of various ages ranging from 21-42.
Q: Is Gen Z more sensitive or more in tune in their emotions?
River (21): “We’re just a more educated, connected generation. I think that with the internet, we have reached an entirely new era of communication, and from that, we get to understand different perspectives and new experiences. So to say that we’re sensitive really undervalues an entire generation.”
Keiara (31): “I think y’all are in tune with your emotions, but there’s a couple crazies in there.”
Amiyah (25): “I think Gen Z is too sensitive. We can dish it, but we can’t take it back. We can’t take criticism. If it's criticism that can have nuance to it, we often apply erasure to it. We think everything has to be black and white when that’s not the case.”
Taliya (42): “Your generation is just very intentional when it comes to your emotions. You all speak up when things are not right that previously would have been swept under the rug when I was younger. It was harder to speak out about certain things when I was your age; you all are pushing the boundaries. I think social media also does an amazing job at letting you guys know that you’re not alone; there are people in the world who have similar experiences to yours.”
Justin (24): “I feel like it's a mixture of both. As people in general, it's good to be in tune with your emotions; that’s what makes us whole. I think it’s social media that makes us sensitive.”
Majiya (38): “I don’t care if nobody calls me sensitive, it is what it is. I agree with a lot of things that people your age believe in. We shouldn’t be comfortable with working 40 hour work weeks and still struggling to make ends meet. There shouldn’t be an instance where I shouldn’t be able to get an abortion just because that is my decision. It’s a lot going on in the world and it evokes emotion. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, if anything that makes the most sense to me.”
So, I’ll leave the decision to you. Is Gen Z "too sensitive," or are we more in tune with our emotions?