Maybe We've Been Getting Gen Z Wrong...

Every generation has been misunderstood by the one before it.

Baby Boomers thought Millennials had it too easy. Millennials think Gen Z is too sensitive. And somewhere in between, we’ve all become comfortable putting labels on generations instead of trying to understand them.

But over the last few months, I’ve found myself thinking about Gen Z very differently.

Whether it’s conversations around mental health, climate change, social justice, workplace culture or larger societal issues, this generation seems remarkably unwilling to accept, “This is just how things are.”

• They ask questions that make people uncomfortable.

• They challenge institutions, traditions and sometimes even their own families.

• They don’t always get it right, but they’re willing to have conversations many of us never dared to begin.

Growing up, my generation knew what was unfair. We recognised injustice when we saw it. But we were also raised to believe that keeping the peace was often more important than questioning authority.

We learnt to adjust. We learnt to tolerate. We learnt to stay quiet because that was considered maturity.

Gen Z has a very different relationship with silence.

What fascinates me isn’t that they speak up. It’s that they’re often willing to do it knowing they’ll face criticism for it. They understand that change rarely benefits the people who start it. More often than not, it benefits the generations that come after. That willingness to think beyond themselves is something I don’t think we acknowledge enough.

History has always moved forward because ordinary people decided that the status quo wasn’t good enough. India’s freedom struggle wasn’t won by people who chose comfort over conviction. Social reformers questioned practices that had existed for centuries. Environmental movements like Chipko changed the way we thought about conservation. The Right to Information movement changed how citizens interacted with governance. Every generation inherits a better society because someone before them was willing to ask difficult questions.

As parents, I think this moment presents us with an incredible opportunity.

Our children are growing up in a world where news travels instantly. They overhear conversations. They read headlines. They watch videos. They know when something significant is happening, whether we choose to discuss it or not.

As parents, I think there’s another shift happening that we don’t talk about enough.

Today’s children aren’t just hearing about history in textbooks. They’re hearing conversations around the dining table.

They’re asking,

“What’s happening?”

“Why are people protesting?”

“Why do some people disagree?”

And for perhaps the first time, many parents are choosing to explain instead of saying,

“You’re too young to understand.”

That matters. Because awareness doesn’t begin at eighteen.

The question isn’t whether they should know what’s happening around them. They already do.

The question is whether we’re helping them make sense of it.

Instead of telling them what to think, perhaps we should be teaching them how to think. Ask them why they think people protest.

-Why do some issues matter so deeply to certain groups?

-Can two people disagree and still respect one another?

These conversations don’t require us to take political positions. They require us to raise thoughtful, empathetic citizens.

A while ago, I wrote that Gen Alpha could grow up to be one of the most advanced and aware generations in history. I believe that more strongly today than I did then. Not simply because they have access to more information, but because they’re growing up watching older siblings, young adults and communities engage with the world instead of remaining passive observers.

Perhaps the greatest lesson Gen Z is teaching us isn’t about any one movement or one moment in history.

It’s that caring isn’t weakness. Questioning isn’t disrespect. And using your voice responsibly is one of the most powerful things a citizen can do.

As parents, we often tell our children to be kind, resilient and confident. Maybe it’s time we added one more quality to that list: the courage to question, even when the answer isn’t easy.

Because the future won’t be shaped by children who simply inherit the world. It will be shaped by those who believe they have the responsibility, and the ability, to make it better.

Here’s the conversation I hope more families have this week.

Not, “Who’s right?”

But, “Why do people feel strongly enough to stand up for something?”

Ask your child:

• What do you think people hope will change?

• Can you disagree with someone and still respect them?

• What does courage look like?

• Have there been moments in history where speaking up changed people’s lives?

• What responsibility comes with having a voice?

• What does “Accountability” mean?

Those questions matter far more than giving them our answers. It’s not about politics; it’s about humanity.

And with that, it’s a wrap on this week’s editorial. Also, if you like our newsletter every Saturday, drop me some replies or reach me on my Instagram handles- @mansi.zaveri and @kidsstoppress.

Ciao!

Till then, Happy Parenting!

Mansi Zaveri,

Mom of 2 & Founder- Kidsstoppress.com