Gen Z Key Characteristics No.6 - Diverse
"We have inherited some amazing things like the freedom to be ourselves. The generations before us fought for such important rights and provided us with a space to be ourselves. We can be queer and I'm grateful for that" - Gen Zer
Demonstrating that Gen Z is more diverse than previous generations is a straightforward task.
Changes over time
Let’s start with ethnicity. Below are some statistics from the last three censuses for England and Wales.
I acknowledge these are extremely broad headings, including ‘other’, but they provide a starting point.
‘White British’ remains the largest group, but the percentage of those who are not in this group doubled in 20 years. The overall population grew during this period so although the ‘White British’ population shrank as a percentage, numbers remained stable.
Ageing White British population
The percentage of the population for each group changes for two main reasons, the first of which is migration and the other is birth/death rates.. On average the White British population is older, therefore a smaller proportion of them are having children than other groups and a higher proportion are dying.
Note not only the age gap between these high level ethnic groups, but that they are all getting older. Note also that life expectancy is not rising, but birth rates are falling.
The composition in classrooms is changing, as I saw from my own experience. The make-up of friendship groups was changing in those classrooms too, and some of that is borne out by the increased number of those with Mixed ethnicity. On average they are less than half the age of both the White British and overall population.
Put simply, a key reason why diversity matters a great deal to Generation Z is because they are more diverse as a group. Ethnicity is one key feature.
Feelings about discrimination
Given this, it is not a surprise that Gen Z feels passionately about discrimination.
According to a survey of Gen Zs by Tallo, 77% have seen discrimination and 51% have felt discriminated against on the basis of ‘gender, ethnic, racial identity’. (The Tallo survey was a global survey from a website which ‘enables students to showcase themselves and be discovered by employers’.
These are significant numbers, particularly as it does not take all types of discrimination into account. Understandably, feelings run high on the topic not least because the idea of discriminating against anyone else on the basis of who they are or how they look makes no sense to them.
Friends made online have amplified this further. One in four Gen Z would have to travel by plane to spend time in person with most of their friends from social media. That was before the pandemic. Whether this means a change in the composition of friendship groups I don’t know but I would doubt it means a less diverse group of friends.
One Gen Zer said to me
‘“I’m biracial, but also I've got a lot lighter skin than my sister, who's also biracial. I've definitely experienced people questioning my ethnicity growing up. They say ‘where are you from?’ I say oh, I grew up here. Then they say ‘no, but where are you actually from?’. I just have no answer to that.”
Another referred to social media emboldening some of the older generation to say what they like unhindered. She referred to someone asking for a ‘white nurse’ to take her bloods in a hospital.
Sexual orientation
If there is a single set of statistics which show changes over time most effectively it is this one. The percentage of the population who consider themselves to be exclusively heterosexual has dropped very significantly from one generation to the next.
In the space of a few decades the numbers who do not consider themselves to be exclusively heterosexual has almost tripled. What is also telling is that a higher proportion of the younger generation were willing to answer the question. Note the quote at the top of this blog. It is not just there I have found gratitude for what this generation has inherited, accompanied by a determination to drive this through. As the oldest Gen Z enters the decade where they are most likely to be parents, expect this to be carried through to their children.
This is just one survey. I have seen another which had the Gen Z figure as closer to half, although it did not have the comparison across generations.
The same poll found that 10 percent of Generation Z regards prejudice toward the LGBTQ+ community as one of the most pressing issues in the world today, as compared to only 2 percent of Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers who believe the same. This underlines that diversity is not just more important to Gen Z because they are more diverse. They really believe in its significance.
Broad minded generation
Gen Z also sees itself as more broad-minded. The increasing trend towards gender neutral clothing is just one example. There is also an argument to say that Gen Z is a lot less tolerant about intolerance but I do not see this as an irony. Values count, and Gen Z expect to see the same from their employers.
One of the key pieces of advice I give to organisations is that they must be who they say they are. Gen Z needs to see that commitments to diversity, equality and inclusion on the website are tangible in practice, not least in terms of representation. A business which does not take this seriously can expect their recruitment, retention and motivation issues to be that much more significant.
Click on the link to book Alex to speak at your event about Generation Z.
Remember that
There is a lot more to diversity than ethnicity and sexual orientation. Organisations need to show they are serious about all of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act.
Outcomes matter. Leaders and managers can expect a fair hearing if they say what they want to achieve in terms of representation, for example, but acknowledge they are not yet there and need help to make progress. Those who say it’s important but their actions do not match up with their words will not.
How can I help you?
1. Talks, workshops and seminars - including managing topics relevant to the two areas above plus explaining Gen Z to Gen X and dealing with the intergenerational workplace. Speaker showreel here.
2. My book The Snowflake Myth will be published in 2025 - to receive a free chapter (when available 😬) please click here.
3. One to one coaching programmes for senior leaders who are swamped by their jobs so they can thrive in life. Click here to discover where you are on your journey from Frantic to Fulfilled? Just 5 minutes of your time and you will receive a full personalised report with guidance on your next steps.
4. Team coaching programmes - working IN a team is not the same as working AS a team and yet they are often treated as if they are the same. I help teams move from the former to the latter, and generate huge shifts in productivity and outcomes.
