By Marina Cameron
An atmosphere of panic is building over the potential of the next generation to "lead" our society. All the disparaging talk of Generation X during the 1980s — a glib way of dealing with youth dissatisfaction over a growing social and environmental crisis — has come back to haunt the ruling class now that Generation X is getting older and will be relied upon to take over the levers of the system.
Suddenly, a rash of media articles are attempting a quick backtrack on the previous Generation X characterisation, such as the one in the Financial Review on October 11-12 which declared that, contrary to popular belief, Generation X are not lazy, apolitical, selfish and pessimistic.
According to this article, the struggle against 30% youth unemployment has created a new entrepreneurial spirit and a solid work ethic: Generation Xers know what they want and how to get it; they are better with technology and realise that things are not just going to happen for them.
"What should worry the [Baby] Boomers and others is that Gen Xers are turning out to be smarter and tougher than they ever were, and feel less than kindly towards what they see as a gutless, self-centred generation that forced them to do it tough."
The touting of a new generational struggle is a diversion. The generation categories are false distinctions used to describe what is really class conflict. It was big business during the late 1970s and 1980s that demanded deregulation, privatisation, job cuts and the unremitting constriction of the public sector. And it is only a youth elite which fits the Financial Review's description of the next generation.
The stereotyping of generations is an ideological weapon. While Baby Boomers are depicted as ageing hippies who sold out questionable ideals (and created all the world's current problems through mismanagement) Generation X are now, apparently, the blossoming new-age entrepreneurs who will ensure that the system runs smoothly. There's nothing wrong with the system; we just need to get rid of the oldies!
The new politics ascribed to Generation X is also reflective of the ruling class's desires. According to the same article, the new generation's lack of faith in government, church and family is simply a reflection of their wish to create their own family, community, values, ethics and meaning.
Generation X have, apparently, given up on mass protests and demonstrations to make their views heard. Instead they solve problems through individual "success" and constructing their own future.
So sexism, racism, homophobia and environmental destruction are all going to be solved by a little positive thinking!
A recent article in the Australian also questioned the idea that today's youth are disenchanted and despairing, arguing that the lack of job and education opportunities was a figment of their parents' pessimistic imagination. According to the Financial Review article, 75% of respondents in one survey said that they were not ungrateful for the world they had been born into.
This propaganda displays a certain uneasiness amongst the ruling class about the upcoming generation. While there will always be a percentage of willing ruling class replacements, a growing polarisation between rich and poor, rising unemployment and further attacks on welfare are also going to create larger and larger pool of dissatisfied and alienated youth.
Whether these youth turn their dissatisfaction in on themselves — through drugs and violence — or towards fighting for social change, they will create problems for the system. Those with a shed of optimism should work hard to convince those without that the world can be and has to be changed.