For Gen Z, the American Dream comes with new challenges
I shared the September PBS NewsHour report “Is the American Dream still achievable for younger generations?” with my English composition students this week as we begin our Gen Z and the Workplace theme for their second research essay. I found this report, which is part of PBS senior correspondent Judy Woodruff’s continuing “Crossroads: America at 250” series, appealing due to its inclusion of the perspectives of baby boomers, millennials and Gen Zers. The first couple Woodruff interviews, Art and Roxanne Williams, are retired boomers who grew up in Pennsylvania during the 1950s and ’60s, when steel mills provided union jobs that enabled men to comfortably support their families. Roxanne mentions that she never wanted for anything as a child and that although her parents did not graduate from high school, they “had the American dream. They owned their house. … The prospects were good.” Art believes he and his wife surpassed their parents in what they have achieved, especially since they were able to put their two daughters through college. However, one of their daughters, Vanessa, is currently unemployed and has struggled in her career. Her husband, Dan, is also looking for a job, as they try to maintain their home and provide for their daughter, Cora. Vanessa and Dan’s perspectives on their current situation, with both being college graduates, caused many of my students to pause and consider the challenges they will face after they earn their degrees. One student, who plans to major in health sciences, commented that everything seems much harder now because of the rising cost of living, but she believes her goals are still attainable. Another student added that even working extremely hard in college and following a career path may not be enough, but she too remains optimistic about her future.
Trinity Jackson, a 20-year-old college graduate interviewed by Woodruff in this series, also had my students thinking about how student loan debt is causing many Gen Zers to postpone life milestones. Trinity currently works part time at Sips, a cafe in York, Pennsylvania, owned by Vanessa’s sister Brina and her husband. Trinity was direct that she does not feel financially secure and believes the American dream no longer exists for her generation. “We can’t own a home when we’re 25. We don’t feel like we’re in a place to bring children into the world if we can’t pay our own student loans and pay off our own cars,” she said. “For me, my American dream right now is just to not have loans by the time I’m 30.” Some of my female students echoed Trinity’s comments about delaying having children because of worries they won’t earn enough to provide for them. “The job market is insane nowadays,” one student said, “so I think that kind of instilled a fear into a lot of us that if we can’t afford a house or a car, how are we gonna afford to have kids?” I responded by saying that U.S. birth and fertility rates are declining, and that if we don’t have enough children in the future to maintain our population and workforce, this will put safety-net programs like Social Security and Medicare at risk.
I was pleased that the “America at 250” series got my students thinking about the job market that awaits them after college. I urged them to keep pursuing their dreams despite the numerous discouraging media reports. For example, one student shared that when she was younger, she aspired to own a flower shop but now has second thoughts. I encouraged her not to give up on being an entrepreneur and explained that with a small business like a flower shop, she would have to find a specific niche, something she could offer her customers that larger, more established shops could not. I then reminded her and the class of another major point from a June PBS NewsHour segment I shared, featuring New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor, who told students to “harness” their “craft” so it fills a precise need. “Any employee can be fired, but your craft can never be taken away from you,” Kantor said. I then recapped a similar statement I made in my convocation remarks, telling my students to work their God-given gifts, because that divine deposit will make room for them. I am incredibly blessed to teach students who are passionate about succeeding in life, and as I get to know them better this semester, I am praying that doors will open so that they will stand before extraordinary people as their talents shine.
Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University’s Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc.