Dear Millenials..

I am one of you and together we hold the key to a future that can be considerably “different”. Now here lies the problem. What defines this “different”?      
This question has clouded my head space for over weeks now and I am still trying to envisage what this “different” future would be. We Gen Z take pride in our understanding of society and various aspects that constitute it; of shaking up the meanings associated with n no. of issues. But have we actually taken course to an interpretation that would bring results of the kind of “social revolution” or have we just adopted denotations according to our own convenience?    

Take the issue of “sexual intercourse”. A lot of this youth support the cause of equal rights and respect for “all sexes”. This is what the root idea of feminism had been; only now there is an additional acceptance of the need of recognition of rights of the LGBTQ community too. Yet, when it comes to the much tabooed topic of “sex”, most of these voices of equality go mute. I am not even going to put facts and make point about the LGBTQ community because a thesis can be written on it. I make my case from what I have witnessed.                                                                                          
I talk of young women and their ordeal of maintaining oh so hyped etiquette. A young woman talking about it is deemed “too modern” yet a young woman saying “no” against her consent can be slut shamed. A young woman involving in it is definitely “slut shamed” and called “desperate” and the one who doesn’t, is termed “virgin”, which by the way is a “call for pity” and a way of patronizing the new notions of cool.                                                                                                                   
Now, I believe this is a matter of personal concern. But the fact that a young woman has to face this hypocritical and rather dual natured critique for an issue that is not only indispensable but also the discussion of which has become need of the hour for variety of reasons including public health, is a shame. This is not modernity and certainly not equality.

Another very prominent issue is of “mental health.”  Suicide was decriminalized in many countries due to concerns regarding depression and its impact. And while we may put on the mask of an “enlightened” individual, we can and do overlook and continue to be inconsiderate.                     
Peer pressure has always been stated as one of the reasons and it seems we have become the “agents of continuation.” The scrutinizing eyes persists, the taboo associated with therapy or professional help lingers and the urge to back out when coming across such cases due to fear of marginalization and stigmatization still clutches on to our rationality.

I can keep listing issues like race, feminism, marriage and hence forth. What we need is re orientation of what we preach and practice. If we are in any way challenging earlier notions, what are we substituting them with?