Generations: A Scoop of Gen. Z’s Ideology
By Mohamed Karrem
Children of cultural cringe
Long before the 25th of January Revolution, there was not much to tell about the ideological power in Egypt. Doubtlessly, Mubarak’s freeze mode helped to keep the country cool, and supported the regime to keep people with a heedless vision. The absence of the political movement, or in other words, the political deception pushed Gen. Z’ers off the nationalism cliff into the Internet world. This influenced their behavior and shaped their mentalities based on the real meaning of Globalization. You can tell that Gen. Z is the most open to a variety of themes not necessarily aligned with the broader beliefs of their declared culture, and we are about to dive deeper into their ocean.
Generation with several identities
When your country is trying to jail your thoughts, control your perception, and undermine your opinion, this may initiate a sense of losing interest in its culture, beliefs, vision, and identity. On the other hand, the Internet has been conquering the world with its huge impact on globalization, creating a space where you can question whatever you want, share your hidden thoughts, and join your own community. All of these aspects established Gen. Z’ers as the “Undefined ID” because they are open to the differences, and accept everyone’s style. They don’t distinguish between people they meet online or physically, besides flowing between communities that promote their similar causes. They believe in the fact that causes and interests are significant pillars for creating a community, not economic backgrounds or educational status. They hate to be defined through stereotypes, which explains why the other generations might see them as having multiple personalities.
How can Gen. Z make the world more peaceful?
Gen. Z’ers are more interested in human rights than previous generations have been, they have also shown great interest in matters related to race and ethnicity, in LGBTQ issues, and in feminism as well. This is a normal reaction to what Mubarak’s regime had unfolded upon them, as it gave Gen. Z’ers a broken set of glasses to look through, while the Internet gifted them with a clear window to the outer world. The comprehensive vision of the world and viewing different communities full of different beliefs have made Gen. Z’ers believe in the communication and acceptance of different opinions as the ultimate solution with their chosen community and their own families. They can interact with institutions that reject their personal values without abandoning those values. Gen. Z’s believe in communication combined with a high value for individual identity, the rejection of stereotypes, and a considerable degree of pragmatism.
