According to a 2012 study by Frank N Magid, the current generation of kids aged 0 to 15, also called Generation Z are the most ethnically diverse generation in the US and have the most positive outlook towards diversity compared to previous generations.
The open-minded kids of Generation Z are also likely to acquire individual-oriented skills from Gen X parents and group-oriented traits from Baby Boomer parents. The collective impact of this is a the least amount of belief in achieving the American Dream among Generation Z children.
Generation Z, the most ethnically diverse generation in the US, also has the most positive outlook towards diversity
The current generation of US infants, kids, tweens and teens (Generation Z – those born on or after 1997) are the most ethnically diverse ever. Slightly more than half (54%) of Generation Z (i.e. 0-15 year olds) are Caucasian compared to nearly three-fourth of the population (72%) among Baby Boomers (i.e. 48-66 years old).
The US population will become more diverse in the coming years as the number of Caucasian live births is expected to fall below 50% for the first time in 2019. This makes Generation Z the last generation where Caucasians effectively make up more than half the US population.
However, Caucasians will continue to account for more than half the population for another quarter of a century as a new pluralistic generation of kids come to age. The proportion of Caucasians in the US is expected to fall below the 50% mark only in 2042 – though they will still account for the majority of the population with Hispanics making up 27.4% and African Americans accounting for 12% of the nation’s population.
Besides being the most ethnically diverse generation, Generation Z also has a more positive outlook towards an ethnically diverse America compared to older generations. Nearly half of all Generation Z (47%) say it’s a positive trend compared to 32% of Baby Boomers, 38% of Generation X-ers and 45% of Millennials. More importantly, the proportion bearing a negative opinion towards increased diversity declines from 21% among Baby Boomers to 12% among Generation Z.
Generation Z learn self-help skills from Generation X parents, while Boomer parents pass on community-oriented values
Across all generations, parents strongly influence their children’s values and beliefs. Baby Boomers, for instance, have played a key role in keeping the hopes of an American Dream alive among their Millennial children. 73% of Baby Boomers in the US say they believe in the American – comparable to 71% of Millennials who say the same.
Generation Z, however, is less likely to buy into the American dream because their parents who belong to Generation X were also less likely to believe in the American Dream either. Only 60% of Generation Z believe in the American Dream – comparable with 64% of Generation X-ers. Having to grow up during the greatest period of economic distress since the Great Depression likely contributes to Generation Z’s lack of attachment to the American Dream. Their Gen X parents have also been absorbing the impact of the downturn in financial strain, obstructed promotion opportunities as Baby Boomers postpone retirement, and the rising tide of Millennials either clamoring for a spot on the corporate ladder or joining the start-up/freelance trend that is redefining work cultures.
This also shows that while a child can be a member of the generation immediately following his/her parents, the parental influence for the collective cohort skips a generation. For instance, even though Millennials followed Generation X, the Baby Boomers parenting style influenced the Millennials. Consequently the prevailing parenting style among Generation X-ers plays a critical role in shaping the mindset of Generation Z.
When asked what qualities are most important for young people to develop, not surprisingly “honest,” “respectfulness” and “trustworthy” were at the top of the list for parents overall. But, when comparing Boomer and Gen X parents, an attitudinal shift is apparent. The Gen X parenting style is more inner-focused (i.e. a stress on qualities that help oneself such as hard work, confidence, independence, and organizational skills) whereas the Boomer style is more outer-focused ( i.e. stress on qualities the rest of the community finds of value such as honesty, respectfulness, trustworthiness and ethics).
This shift is taking root in the developing mindset of America’s Generation Z. When Gen Z members were asked what qualities are important for young people to develop, the group with Gen-Xer
parents were less likely than those with Boomer parents to name “dependable” (19% vs.30%) and “respectful” (34% vs. 44%). Also, Generation Z kids with Gen X-er parents were more likely to say “creative” and twice as likely to say “independent.” Furthermore, ongoing qualitative research reveled that Gen Z kids with Gen X parents routinely express pride in being an individual and the necessity of learning from their mistakes.
