Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the term “woke” in recent years, one that Gen Z loves to use to describe progressive ways of life. However, older generations, such as millennials, often feel that this is being taken too far. To show you what we mean, here are 17 reasons why millennials are done with “woke” culture.
Disillusionment with Virtue Signaling
Many millennials feel that Gen Z’s public declarations of virtue often lack genuine intent, something that is synonymous with woke culture. Actions taken solely for social approval lose credibility and meaning, and this skepticism towards virtue signaling has ultimately led them to seek authenticity over performative behaviors. In fact, the Washington Post reports that some millennials see virtue signaling as counterproductive and even fringing on being right-wing.
Overemphasis on Cancel Culture
The term “cancel culture” is also synonymous with being “woke,” describing how people (usually celebrities or brands) can have their entire careers ruined for saying something that is not woke. Naturally, fear of making a single mistake can stifle open conversation and growth, and this punishing environment discourages millennials from getting involved, seeing it as walking on eggshells. Thankfully, it seems that Gen Z is finally starting to agree.
Desire for Authenticity
Millennials crave genuine connections and real conversations, something that woke kids don’t seem to get. Their conversations often seem completely superficial and lacking in depth, something that millennials have noticed. Their quest for authenticity leads them to distance themselves from cultural movements or other woke conversation topics that feel forced or insincere.
Mental Health Awareness
We can all agree that mental health is important, but some millennials think that Gen Z’s obsession with it has gone too far. These days, it feels like almost every kid has depression, ADHD, or PTSD and won’t stop talking about mental health awareness. Ultimately, it all seems a bit OTT for millennials, who often prescribe basic self-care as a fix, such as exercise, eating healthier, and reducing screen time.
Skepticism of Corporate Wokeness
There’s no denying that modern corporations are adopting a “woke” culture, especially when it comes to diversity campaigns, marketing, and company culture. Millennials aren’t really into this; they’d much rather just get on with their jobs and see no reason to hold themselves accountable for their employer’s actions.
Longing for Nuanced Conversations
As was briefly mentioned earlier, millennials value nuanced, in-depth discussions much more than the Gen Z way of binary thinking. They find woke culture’s black-and-white perspective limiting, as it always seems like there has to be a good guy and a bad guy. Life isn’t that simple, so millennials try to remind Gen Z of this whenever necessary.
Fatigue from Constant Outrage
Previously mentioned woke trends, such as cancel culture and virtue signaling, can result in a cycle of outrage that is downright exhausting. Millennials feel completely overwhelmed by this constant need to be angry or indignant. They yearn for a more balanced approach, where issues are addressed with calm and constructive solutions.
Need for Personal Growth
Everyone knows that personal growth requires space to make mistakes and learn, but Gen Z’s woke culture is rarely so forgiving. Millennials see this as ridiculous because not receiving constructive criticism hinders development. So, they try to stay away from this woke nonsense, seeking environments where they can evolve without fear of severe repercussions.
Preference for Individual Expression
Millennials value individuality and personal expression just as much as Gen Z, and they actually stay even more true to it. Unlike the younger generation, millennials resist conforming to a collective ideology that demands strict adherence. Instead, they stick to their own unique perspectives and means of expression, refusing to join the herd of sheep.
Impact of Digital Overload
While the digital age has come with countless life-changing advancements, it has also bombarded us with information that millennials find completely overwhelming. The sheer volume of cultural debates, news, influencers, and “content” is just too much. So, seeking clarity and focus, they step back from participating in every trending issue.
Emphasis on Tangible Actions
Words without actions feel empty, and therefore, millennials prefer tangible contributions to society over mere discussions. They engage in volunteer work, support local initiatives, and take concrete steps to make a difference rather than just talking about it like “woke” Gen Z does.
Prioritization of Real-Life Communities
Kids these days love digital communities and online activism, but such platforms just can’t build real engagement and support in the same way that real-life communities can. This is why millennials invest in local relationships and face-to-face interactions; they find more value in direct, personal connections than in broad, digital cultural movements.
Influence of Economic Realities
There are many economic pressures that shape millennials’ priorities away from “woke” culture. With financial stability a major concern, they focus on their career, housing, and family, all of which they consider far more important than engaging in abstract cultural debates.
Shift Towards Pragmatism
Millennials always choose pragmatic approaches over sensationalist, idyllic, and woke solutions to problems. They seek solutions that work in practice, not just in theory, presenting a shift towards pragmatism that leads them to question the effectiveness of certain emotionally driven woke initiatives.
Appreciation for Diverse Opinions
It’s ironic how Gen Z often claims to be “woke” when it comes to diversity, even though they live in the echo chambers of social media and often shut down in the face of different viewpoints. Millennials hate this; they value diversity too and recognize that it simply cannot exist without hearing each other out.
Need for Constructive Dialogue
Millennials will always prefer conversations that lead to understanding and solutions, tackled with constructive dialogue rather than shouting matches. They actively avoid environments where discussions devolve into unproductive arguments and personal attacks, something that is, sadly, all too common in woke culture.
Focus on Personal Responsibility
Above all, millennials don’t let the opinions and judgments of Gen Z determine their actions in life. They hold personal responsibility as a core value, believing in individual accountability and self-improvement over the system blame of “woke” culture. Ultimately, the kids just don’t get this, but maybe one day, they’ll realize that millennials were right all along.