Socially Just, Not Just Social

 

From an early age, Gen We has been raised to be empathetic, to spot and stamp out bullying, to know that “It Gets Better” and now to see that Black Lives Matter. As part of the most ethnically and gender aware cohort, teens are exposed to more, asked to understand more, and driven to fight for more. It’s only natural that teens are passionate about equality and justice of every kind. They fight for themselves, their friends, their classmates and others they see treated unfairly, whether due to issues of gender, sexuality, race, pay, or environmental.Those members of Gen We who are over 18 can vote for the first time in a presidential election this year, and mean to be heard fighting for change — they overwhelmingly supported Bernie Sanders and his political revolution.

While Bernie didn’t make it past the primaries, he and his supporters will continue to make their voices heard on domestic and global issues. Fast Company reported that 76% of what they call Generation Z is concerned about human impact on the planet and believe they can operate as a change agent.

It’s no wonder that web activism (some call it “slacktivism”) has exploded. The Internet is what the generation knows; they know how to exploit it, and will use it — they believe — to save the world. Now, teens are exposed to ideas, opportunities, inspiration and issues through YouTube, Instagram, Kickstarter, selfie challenges, Twitter debates and more.

One of the many social justice issues supported by teens is this generation’s feminist agenda. Teen Vogue writes about the burst of feminism and feminist clubs as awareness grows.  Even President Obama, writing in Glamour, is lending his voice to how equality for women means equality for all.  Buzzfeed reports that On Twitter, there’s a growing movement of young women who post and share personal photos of one another as a gesture of support and empowerment amid a body-positive movement.

 

Last Updated on: Jul 03, 2024