As the mother of two girls who are considered to be part of Gen Z (anyone born between the years of 1997 and 2012, according to the Pew Research Center, although other sources contend it extends as far as 2014), I am constantly thinking about the ways I can raise daughters who grow up to be successful, confident women.
I am watching my girls on the cusp of adulthood, that sweet age teetering between a childhood of playing with dolls and the age of sneaking into my room to steal my earrings and makeup. (Seriously, kid, I need those earrings back.) When I think about all the hardships of growing up, from periods to boys breaking their hearts to that first time they will be dismissed simply for being a girl, I wish I could blaze a trail for them out in the world, a mama knight brandishing a shield and sword to keep them safe.
But I know I can’t do that. So, instead, to all the Gen Z girls of the world, here’s what I want you to know.
You don't have to be nice
You're not the ones we need to worry about
You know how everyone is saying we need to worry about the teens and smartphones? Um, have you looked around lately? I kind of think it’s the adults that have the problem — because we aren’t the ones who grew up with them.
To you, technology interwoven into the fabric of our everyday lives is just normal, so honestly, it’s no big deal. But to those of us who grew up with things like physical video rental stores and dial-up internet, those little computers in the palm of our hands can be mighty alluring. So, don’t listen to grownups who say that you’re the problem. Harness the power you know for good as you grow. But maybe not just TikTok.
You’re already doing it
Most of all, the thing I want you to know is that, girls, you’re already doing it.
You’re already growing up to be more confident, powerful women than I could have ever dreamed of. You’re doing things like speaking up on the issues that matter; you’re realizing your own power, and you’re not letting your worth be tied to your size or weight or what some boy thinks of you. You’re advocating to save our planet, you’re enacting real change — and yes, that may be in the form of VSCO girl metal straws, but it’s progress.
The truth is, you never needed us old folks to show you the way.
You’re already doing just fine on your own. And I couldn’t be more proud of the women you are growing up to be.
Now, if you could just let me know if I can pull off wearing the scrunchies I have saved from the ’90s, that would be great. #sksksksk
