Gen Z Calling the Shots with “Because I Said So”, The Individuality Loophole?

So let me get this straight, we are shifting into normalizing all body shapes, fashion choices, haircuts, makeup trends, and the like. There couldn’t be more quotes posted on social media encouraging everyone to be their authentic selves, to be unique, and not try to blend in. Don’t copy other people just do what feels right for you. We applaud those who come forward and say this is me and I love me.

Then Gen Z comes around and says don’t part your hair on the side and don’t wear skinny jeans cuz they’ve canceled them. How… The hell… Does that make any sense at all? Those are literally contradicting statements. It’s as though the kids want to tell the parents what to do because, you know, they know better. It’s an awful way to shame someone else for their style choices.

I remember one time my son asked me if I knew who Metallica was. LOL and I simply smiled and said, “Yes I know who they are”. “Enter Sandman” was one of the epic songs when I was in high school. He looked kind of shocked. When I told him, Aerosmith was my first concert his eyes widened, and he said “Really?”. It’s funny cuz without even realizing it, they feel as though life really started with them. Their discovery of something is the first time it’s happened, and it’s original, to them.

So baggy jeans, bootcut jeans, flared jeans, flannels, crop tops, hair parted down the middle… We’ve already done those things. The difference is when we did them, we didn’t tell everyone else that they should be doing it too. We simply liked a style and wore it, end of story.

Honest to God, when I think about this, I think of a little kid looking up at their mom or dad wagging their finger and telling them you’re going to do it “because I said so”. Seriously that’s what I think of. Remember “Linda, Linda, listen honey”??? Yeah, that.

Now let me also say that I love Gen Z’s posts on TikTok. I love that kids have a fun way to express themselves and to make real changes. What I don’t love is any kind of shaming. I, for one, have always worn whatever the heck I wanted, whenever the heck I wanted, and however the heck I wanted, and I don’t plan to change that now. I just absolutely had to weigh in on all these articles I’m reading about Gen Z said this, and Gen Z said that. Listen to them yes because everyone deserves to be heard. But following everything they say, even you have to admit that’s a little silly.