Gen Z - Key Characteristics No. 6 - Diverse
This is part of a series of blogs on Generation Z. Over the course of these blogs and through the talk I have put together I explain
how and why Generation Z is different, naming seven key characteristics
the challenges this presents for leaders and organisations
the actions not only to overcome those challenges but ensure future prosperity.
Gen Z is the most important generational shift yet. Their experiences and outlook are not understood well enough by those who have come before them. Generation Z has huge, as yet mostly untapped, potential to meet the challenges of today.
"We have inherited some amazing things like the freedom to be ourselves. The generations before us fought for such important rights and provided us with a space to be ourselves. We can be queer and I'm grateful for that" - Gen Zer 20Changes over time
Demonstrating that Gen Z is more diverse than previous generations is a straightforward task.
Below are some statistics from the 2011 census for England and Wales. Analysis of the 2021 census is still ongoing but should be finally available by the end of the calendar year.
I acknowledge these are extremely broad headings, including ‘other’, but they provide a starting point. The overall population grew during this period so although the ‘White British’ population shrank as a percentage it was very similar in terms of numbers. Note how the changes in the other categories are also very similar.
Ageing White British population
The 2021 census will show something about the impact of Brexit, but it is also likely to show an extension of the trend above.
The percentage of the population for each group changes for two main reasons, the first of which is migration. The other is birth/death rates, and the graph below shows why. On average the White British population is older, therefore a smaller proportion of them are having children than other groups and a higher proportion are dying.
It is quite a change in ten years. The composition in classrooms is changing, as I saw from my own experience. The make-up of friendship groups was changing in those classrooms too, and some of that is borne out by the increased number of those with Mixed ethnicity. On average they are less than half the age of both the White British and overall population.
Put simply, a key reason why diversity matters a great deal to Generation Z is because they are more diverse as a group. The trend that (narrowly) ‘Mixed’ was the fastest growing ethnicity is very likely to have continued in the 2021 census.
Feelings about discrimination
Given this, it is not a surprise that Gen Z feels passionately about discrimination.
According to a 2020 survey of Gen Zs by Tallo, 77% have seen discrimination and 51% have felt discriminated against on the basis of ‘gender, ethnic, racial identity’. (The Tallo survey was a global survey from a website which ‘enables students to showcase themselves and be discovered by employers’.
These are significant numbers, particularly as it does not take all types of discrimination into account. Understandably, feelings run high on the topic not least because the idea of discriminating against anyone else on the basis of who they are or how they look makes no sense to them.
Friends made online have amplified this further. One in four Gen Z would have to travel by plane to spend time in person with most of their friends from social media. That was before the pandemic. Whether this means a change in the composition of friendship groups I don’t know but I would doubt it means a less diverse group of friends.
One Gen Zer said to me
“I’m biracial, but also I've got a lot lighter skin than my sister, who's also biracial. I've definitely experienced people questioning my ethnicity growing up. They say ‘where are you from?’ I say oh, I grew up here. Then they say ‘no, but where are you actually from?’. I just have no answer to that.”
Another referred to social media emboldening some of the older generation to say what they like unhindered. She referred to someone asking for a ‘white nurse’ to take her bloods in a hospital.
Sexual Orientation
If there is a single set of statistics which show changes over time most effectively it is this one. The percentage of the population who consider themselves to be exclusively heterosexual has dropped very significantly from one generation to the next.
In the space of a few decades the numbers who do not consider themselves to be exclusively heterosexual has almost tripled. What is also telling is that a higher proportion of the younger generation were willing to answer the question. Note the quote at the top of this blog. It is not just there I have found gratitude for what this generation has inherited, accompanied by a determination to drive this through. As the oldest Gen Z enters the decade where they are most likely to be parents, expect this to be carried through to their children.
These statistics are taken from an Ipsos Mori poll in 2017. I have seen another survey which had the Gen Z figure as closer to half, although it did not have the comparison across generations.
The 2017 poll found that 10 percent of Generation Z regards prejudice toward the LGBT community as one of the most pressing issues in the world today, as compared to only 2 percent of Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers who believe the same. This underlines that diversity is not just more important to Gen Z because they are more diverse. They really believe in its significance and expect others to do the same.
Broad minded generation
Gen Z also sees itself as more broad-minded. The increasing trend towards gender neutral clothing is just one example. There is also an argument to say that Gen Z is a lot less tolerant about intolerance but I do not see this as an irony. Values count, and Zoomers expect to see the same from their employers.
One of the key pieces of advice I give to organisations is that they must be who they say they are. Gen Z needs to see that commitments to diversity, equality and inclusion on the website are tangible in practice, not least in terms of representation. A business which does not take this seriously can expect their recruitment, retention and motivation issues to be that much more significant.
Other blogs:
Click for the first blog summarising who Gen Z are and why they are different.
And then for the Key Characteristics:
no.1 - Well-Behaved
no.2 - Prudent
no.3 - Pragmatic
no.4 - Diligent
no.5 - Apprehensive
no.6 - Diverse
no.7 - Patience
Accompanying videos are all here and also on YouTube
Click on the link to book Alex to speak at your event about Generation Z.
