GENERATION X

WHICH GENERATION ARE YOU?

Born between the early-to-mid 60s and early 80s, they came of age in the 80s and 90s, experiencing economic boom and bust. Associated with cynicism, a love of rock music and grunge, they’re also dubbed the ‘MTV generation’. mixed race, I was given a lecture about how I shouldn’t use that term any more as it’s racist – I should call her “dual heritage”, she says. ‘Sexuality is not up for discussion; most of her friends are bisexual, gay and gender fluid. When I asked if any of them were heterosexual, I was told it was overrated.’

They’re also the first On Demand generation, who grew up in houses with a choice of screens. They haven’t been sitting watching the same TV as their parents, which perhaps further explains their ‘one view’ perspective; they haven’t been exposed to things with opposing viewpoints and swapped opinions about them. They’ve been immersed in their own brave new world ever since they could choose what they consumed, and they don’t have much time for your old one.

Some conversations with Generation Z do have a familiar ring to them, though, according to Lizzie, who quotes one: ‘How can you live in such squalor? Your room is a mess.’ Except, ‘this is my 16-year- old scolding me for being a slob. She clearly has no idea what I do all day (work). She’s too busy living her “best life”. Whatever that means.’ (See page 37 to read what that means.)

Lots of Generation Z kids grew up with divorced parents or in blended families with the children of their new step -parents, so they’re less tolerant of flawed relationships. Their parents ‘switched things up’ – leaving marriages if they weren’t happy and going on to meet new partners; their mothers hoping to have it all, including a fulfilling love life.

So for Generation Z, it’s the new normal: if it doesn’t work, start afresh. A recent survey suggested that up to a quarter of 18- to -24-year- olds think marriage should be a temporary arrangement similar to a mobile-phone contract. But as Aggie MacKenzie discovered, her love life also needed to meet her son’s approval. She’d downloaded dating app Tinder when she took part in the ITV reality show about midlife singletons, Our Shirley Valentine Summer, and forgot all about it. ‘One evening Ewan heard Tinder’s notification and he dived across the room to my phone, grabbed it and said to me, “What are you doing on Tinder? It’s not for the likes of you! You need to stick with Guardian Soulmates [an online dating site popular with older singles], Mum. Delete it NOW!” He stood there until he saw that I had actually deleted it.’

Like most revolutionary generations, such as in the 60s, with their ideology of nonviolent resistance, spiritual searching and sexual liberation, Generation Z are bringing new ideas into the mainstream. They really do care. They’re already forcing society to rethink its attitudes to women, race, gender and language. But, as in most revolutions, their fervour risks being succeeded by a reign of terror.

As Lizzie’s daughter put it, ‘Don’t tell me what to do. Your generation destroyed the planet.’