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Youths these days have mastered the ability to say no; they aren't just saying no to their families, they're saying no to toxic work culture, toxic bosses, bad friends, and bad ideas.
They don't feel the need to please everyone around them or fall at anyone's feet, however, this kind of behaviour can be considered bad or disrespectful to older people.
Culturally, as Asians, saying no almost feels like a sin, it’s like saying no to your mom, knowing a slipper could be thrown at you. So we say “yes” because it’s what is expected of you, it’s polite and respectful, but to what extent should we keep saying yes to?
The older generation likes to think of youths as lazy or incompetent. According to an article by CNBC, they consider Gen Z to be the “most challenging generation to work with”. Are Gen Z’s challenging because they don't allow themselves to get pushed around, or because they stand up against a toxic work culture?
Saying no, felt like a form of rebellion, when in fact it's just the younger generation learning from our elders. We grew up watching our parents become slaves to the corporate world, working overtime, tolerating bad in-laws and eventually burning out. Gen Z’s are putting their happiness and mental health first to avoid falling into a rut.
In a roundtable discussion with Hollywood Reporter, actress Jodie Foster praised the current generation of young actors and actresses for being able to say no. She was proud of them because when she was younger, she didn't know that “no” was an option.
Do the older generation think we’re lazy, or do they wish they could have said no too? They should take a page out of our book and know that it's okay to say no. After all, “no” is a full sentence.
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