Say Goodbye to the "Lazy Teen" Stereotype: The Real Deal on Youth Today
Youthful Cravings Unveiled: Unveiling Desires of Today's Youth
Fed up with the typical stereotypes attached to young people? Let's ditch the lazy, uninterested, sensitive labels. A recent nationwide survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation, in collaboration with the Institute for Social Work e.V. (ISA), has some surprising results. Contrary to popular belief, the youth want to get involved, make changes, and have their voices heard. They just need more opportunities to do so.
More than a thousand children and young people aged 10 to 15 were surveyed nationwide about what they need for a good life and how satisfied they are. Surprisingly, about half (49.3 percent) of these young people were "rather satisfied" with their lives, and nearly 46 percent rated their lives as very satisfactory. Only five percent said they were "not satisfied."
The New Class? Let's Check the Financials
When asked what was most important for a good life, around a third of them named social relationships with peers. Family relationships followed, which a fifth thought were the most significant factor.
The desire for social contacts mirrors their financial priorities. For nine out of ten respondents, money was essential mainly for shared activities with friends. Only then came "trendy things" like clothing, cosmetics, and technology (67 percent), hobbies (61 percent), and the internet and phone (55 percent).
However, only around 20 percent of parents fund their children's leisure activities with peers. With limited financial support, many young people have to fund these activities themselves. Hence, those who don't have enough money often stay at home and run the risk of becoming isolated.
Money Worries on the Rise
So, it's no surprise that children and young people also struggle with financial fears. Almost half of the respondents (46.4 percent) "often" or "sometimes" worry about their family's financial situation. Forty-nine percent said they often were unable to afford something that their friends purchased, highlighting financial inequalities.
More Than Money: Stress and School Pressure
But it's not just about having money for the latest fashion or gadgets. The pressure from rising rents, food prices, and other expenses affects the mood and stress levels within the family. "Children realize when their family is struggling. Financial restrictions are noticed by young people," the study notes. That they need more money to live well, 36 percent said.
However, money is not the only source of stress, as Lukas Thiehoff from the Youth Expert Team (JEx-Team) at the Bertelsmann Foundation points out. "School, grades, homework, exams: all put immense pressure and stress on young people." Add to that worries about ongoing global conflicts, climate change, and the rise of right-wing populism. "Young people shouldn't have to feel this way," he warns. "They should be freer in their lives and less controlled by fears."
The Grades Game
While around 61 percent of respondents rated their school as "good" and 34 percent even as "very good", a drastically different picture emerges when it comes to grading. The majority (52.3 percent) find grades either unnecessary or not necessary for their learning process. Only about 13 percent said they require grades to learn.
Homework fares even worse: 63.7 percent of students claimed they needed little or no homework for good learning. It is often seen as a burden that could potentially exacerbate inequalities in the classroom. "Because it often depends on the home environment whether students receive homework support or not."
According to the study, the majority believes that other factors are much more important: "The opportunity to ask questions when something is unclear, places where one can concentrate, tasks that interest them, clarity about why something is being learned in class, collaboration with others. And: the opportunity to participate in determining lesson topics."
Unlazy and Frustrated
More participation, especially on the political level, is what Romance Bassingha from the JEx-team wishes for. "There are lobby groups for everything, but not for students and young people. I wish the Bundestag to be younger. And I wish for more youth participation," she states.
Because the parliament also concerns their future. But instead of being included, many young people feel that decisions are being made about them without their input. "We just want to live in peace. And we want to have a say. We're old enough to make decisions. Some of us even have the right to vote. We have answers. But we're not asked. I'm so angry at politics."
This doesn't sound like one of the Gen Z stereotypes - lazy. Thiehoff sees young people here confronted with a double standard. "On the one hand, it's said that young people should work more and have more ambition for the job market. But they're not offered a real future perspective," he says. "It's about living one's life and not just working 40 to 60 hours and killing oneself," he adds. It's important to take notice and create opportunities that empower young people to make positive changes.
Source: ntv.de
- Youth
- Children
- Bertelsmann Foundation
- Federal Government
- School
- Family
- Participation
Enrichment Data:
The Bertelsmann Stiftung supports various initiatives, aiming to engage young people and empower them to shape their futures. Some of these initiatives include:
- Strengthening democracy and promoting youth-centered policies by participating in research and policy discussions.
- Advocating for improved health outcomes through the WHO Youth Council.
- Conducting surveys on public attitudes to raise awareness of societal issues, such as perceptions of different countries or groups.
- The Bertelsmann Foundation, in collaboration with the Institute for Social Work e.V. (ISA), found that many young people desire more opportunities for participation in community policy, education-and-self-development, and politics, aiming to make changes and have their voices heard.
- In terms of lifestyle, relationships with peers and family ranked high among the priorities of these young people, while fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and financial security were important for shared activities with friends.
- Despite a desire for financial stability, the study noted that about half of the young respondents often or sometimes worry about their family's financial situation, indicating a rise in financial stress and inequalities.
- To alleviate these issues, the youth expressed a need for more vocational training opportunities to improve their employability and economic independence, emphasizing that they should not be limited to academic paths.
