The messages from CPA’s May 1996 Youth Voices survey, that
so-called "Gen-Xers" are highly motivated citizens with many concrete solutions to the challenges facing our country, are again being reflected in U.S. mainstream news media.
A Time Magazine cover article, June 9, 1997, quotes CPA’s Youth Voices data on how 18-24 year-olds describe themselves and notes in its subtitle that "the so-called Generation X turns out to be full of go-getters who are just doing it — but their way." In fact, 72 percent of those surveyed in Youth Voices believe they have an important voice that no one seems to hear.
The difficulty of defining this generation using descriptions
familiar to most baby boomers continues to be an underlying current of Youth Voices and other studies probing Generation X. Representatives of older generations frequently point to a lack of youth involvement in politics and low youth voter turnout as evidence of youth apathy — in part, fueling use of the term "slacker." Often ignored, however, is youth activism in volunteer initiatives and civic groups, and interest in small business startup and economic self-sufficiency.
Businesses and market analysts are belatedly realizing the potential impact that youth consumers will have – ad campaigns encourage young buyers to notice that this "is not your father’s Oldsmobile." Politicians must soon follow course and address the issues
on the minds of young voters if their appeal to youth is to grow. The message that the youth of our nation have much to contribute may be slowly sinking in.
For more information about Youth Voices, contact Tracey Arvin at CPA or see the Youth Voices graphs on CPA’s website.
