The term “Snowflake” is used to describe individuals who are perceived as overly emotionally fragile when facing challenges. The Oxford and Collins dictionaries—two of the most authoritative and widely-used English dictionaries—have even dedicated a word to describe the younger generation that is overly sensitive or easily stressed when things don’t go their way: “Snowflake” (literally meaning “Snowflake”).
Delicate “Snowflakes”
The Snowflake generation—a cohort of young people with fragile psyches—who’s to blame? (Illustrative image: DT).
The term “Snowflake” originated from the saying: “You are not special. You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You’re the same decaying organic matter as everyone else.” This quote is from the 1996 book *Fight Club*, which was later adapted into a film released in 1999, depicting individuals with “fragile” mentalities who are easily hurt.
Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the book, emphasized that the definition of “Snowflake” used in the dialogue back then is vastly different from today. He noted that today’s youth tend to believe they are “the center of the universe.”
In today’s context, the term “Snowflake” has become commonplace. It is used to describe people who are deemed overly emotionally vulnerable when facing challenges. This term is quite popular in universities, forums, and is often used in a derogatory sense.
The Resilience of Today’s Youth Compared to Decades Ago
Studies show that today’s younger generation has twice the awareness of psychological issues compared to those born 40-60 years ago, yet they fall far short in controlling their own behavior.
In the 1960s, students were content with receiving a C grade on their exams, as that was the average score back then. Nowadays, the average grade must be an A. Although it is understood that later generations will have more advancements and developments compared to previous ones, this is evidence that educational institutions are lowering their standards. The reason being that parents believe their children “cannot accept” a C on their record, as it would bring them shame.
In 2015, the University Chronicles published an article titled “The Epidemic of Fragility,” which reported that a quarter of students suffer from psychological syndromes, with most of them stemming from stress and pressure. The number of those with suicidal thoughts was three times higher than in the 1960s.
The report highlights that students fear failure, are unwilling to face reality, and that low grades are not in their vocabulary. Thus, educators need to raise awareness of this mentality and find solutions.
According to Academic Claire Fox, principal of the ThinkTank Academy, today’s youth are “overly aggressive” about their rights. They are excessively sensitive when faced with opposition, viewing all opinions contrary to their own as completely wrong, while believing they are always right.
This psychological trend was even tested and implemented in the workplace in 2017, where a company in the U.S. incorporated a vulnerability test into their interview process.
Why Has This “Snowflake Generation” Emerged?
Firstly, parenting styles are believed to be one of the main reasons why today’s youth have fragile psyches. Modern parents tend to overly pamper their children, catering to their every need from A to Z from a young age.
They often boost their children’s self-esteem, allowing them to do whatever they think is right, but they do not teach them the skills to achieve those desires on their own.
Parents usually do not train their children in the necessary skills to solve problems, but instead, they do things “for their children,” thinking they are too young and fragile, thus creating a dependence in the child.
Psychologist Martin Scheepers, working in Johannesburg, South Africa, shared his educational approach: “I teach my children that failure is the mother of success. Achievements and successes don’t come naturally but require effort, perseverance, and other sacrifices.”
Secondly, society also plays a crucial role in shaping this vulnerable mindset in young people. The current generation bears the brunt of many societal, economic, and political issues such as inflation, pandemics, high unemployment rates, and fierce competition. According to statistics, the world lost approximately 81 million jobs in 2020.
Many young people today rely on monthly allowances from their parents. They often cannot afford certain living expenses, such as rent, utilities, etc., or they live with their parents even when they are of an age where they should be independent.
Thirdly, the previous generation also contributes to this toxic psychological trend. British writer Fay Weldon suggested that the older generation should stop mocking this “fragile Snowflake generation.” Moreover, the older generation should not instill thoughts like “when you grow up, you’ll have a good job, a high income, or a comfortable life.” These are unrealistic expectations.
So who is to blame for the fragile psyche of these “delicate snowflakes”?
