The Journal of a Snowflake

“Snowflake” - A term originally coined in 19th Century Missouri to describe someone opposed to the abolition of slavery.

Funny how in little over a hundred and fifty years, 9 letters went from describing an indifference to human suffering, to supposedly epitomising the liberal attitudes of 21st Century youth.

Thatcherists, Corbynites and in fact countless numbers of people globally, from all walks of life, have used the phrase in an attempt to belittle contemporary youth, categorizing us as no more than ignorant children incapable of having logical opinions. Or if in fact our opinions are considered logical, our viewpoint is still too “soft” and we’re still too “emotionally vulnerable” to cope with differing views. Ironic how voicing our political, economic and social concerns leads to claims that we’re too soft, isn’t it?

Now let’s be clear, I’m not saying every millennial is a social justice warrior, or that anyone born before 1981 is naive and set in their old-fashioned ways. I’m not saying that liberals are the heroes of the 21st Century, or that anyone who supports a right-wing party purely does so to attack “snowflakes”. However, in a system where paying £35,000 for higher education is compulsory, where sexual assault and domestic violence particularly affecting youths is ignored, and where 40 US students have already been shot and killed in their classrooms this year, there will undeniably be tension between us “snowflakes” and our critics.

The term has come to mean weak and there’s no ignoring its derogatory nature. As Claire Fox, director of the thinktank ‘Institute of Ideas’ claims, young people are simply “easily offended and thin-skinned”. While I can’t deny upon hearing Fox’s words I was so offended I began a three day snapchat and Instagram hiatus whilst hauled up in my bedroom, I can perhaps counter her point by adding that maybe we’re just more open with our emotions than previous generations.

With the rise of social media and 99% of 16-24-year olds having regular access to the internet, as well as the lessening stigma around mental health issues, it’s no surprise we’re more inclined to talk about our feelings and voice our political as well as social views. If there’s one thing millennials aren’t it's “too soft”.

Our predecessors didn’t grow up in a generation where information; however shocking or disturbing it may be, was readily available at the click of a button.

They didn’t grow up in an age where body-shaming and discrimination was viewable 24/7.

They didn’t grow up in an age where a “snowflake” from the other side of the World could challenge their opinion for being genuinely offensive.

I’d like to finish on a well-known quote by Chuck Palahniuk from his legendary novel Fight Club: “You are not special. You're not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.”

Maybe Palahniuk is right. Maybe we’re not unique and are simply another generation and another way of thinking to challenge those before us. But you never know, a generation of snowflakes is more than enough to create a blizzard.

#Youthpolitics #Snowflakes #liberal #activism