Gen Z: The Divided Generation

The Gender Divide Is Not the Only Divide

I have written about Gen Z before. But I do not focus on the entire generation too often in my posts. Why? I guess because it’s hard to pin down Gen Z. From 2020 to recently I have read articles that hilariously contradict each other. Gen Z is liberal. Gen Z is conservative. Gen Z is having less sex. Just kidding: Gen Z is the kinkiest generation ever.

And so on. It didn’t take me long to realize that Gen Z is a divided generation that’s hard to pin down. I just didn’t see the value in writing about it. An article that openly states there is no way to pin down the most prized demographic? Ugh. Might as well write an article about being a single guy who’s just going with the flow.

Then the election scrambled the mainstream media’s brains. Thinkpiece after thinkpiece about how Gen Z is ruled by right-wing male podcasters. Some even saying the Internet is making our kids Nazis. Many of these seem to notice a major divide between men and women.

True. But that’s just one split. First off, Gen Z also voted Joe Biden in. Let’s remember that. The belief that Joe Rogan convinced the youth to vote for Trump betrays the unspoken belief the media has that they were responsible for the youth voting for Biden, Obama, etc. Never underestimate how little the elites think of those beneath them in power.

There has been a focus on how podcast bro types in the 18-24 demo overwhelmed Gen Z Kamala supporters at the polls.¹ Never mind that the alt-left was never going to vote for Kamala Harris. This has been what the media either doesn’t understand or pretends to be confused about: Trump’s victory was less about a particular Gen Z presence than it was about a notable Gen Z absence.

Though we can’t say in good faith the youth were united against Trump — even the young men — we can acknowledge that most of Gen Z did not like Harris or Biden. For some, it was the “woke” messaging of the Biden administration. Yes, Harris avoided this messaging in her campaign. But people are more likely to believe what is done in office than what is said in a stump speech. But why did Chappell Roan not endorse Harris, then? Surely she doesn’t think she is too woke. Nope; she saw through her centrist neoliberal bullshit, like the rest of Gen Z did. Even though Gen Z didn’t seem to like Harris or Biden, there was no one cause that united them to think this way.

So, if we’re looking at a divided generation, shouldn’t we look at a map of the terrain? My pleasure. First, let’s take another angle on the “podcast bros.” They are not only overwhelming females in general; they are also a dominant force in culture. In April, when I needed time to kill before watching Civil War at Williamsburg Cinemas, I stopped by a cafe that had a stereotypical Millennial hipster aesthetic. Everything seemed stuck in 2018. Until I overheard the male barista tell his coworker he couldn’t wait to catch the latest Kill Tony episode.Just to be clear, this podcast bro takeover of culture comes at the very dear expense of the similarly conservative Dimes Square movement. Red Scare is not on any of these fans’ radar. Contrary to what Curtis Yarvin said, the dudes — sorry, the “hobbits” — have more power than the urban elite “elves'“ of the dissident right.

That’s right, even the online right wing youth are divided.