Actually, Gen Z Does Want Kids — But Not on Your Terms. 

Project Description

This article was born out of an anthropological desire to examine how the digital natives of Gen Z, on the cusp of adulthood, would mother—if the American systems allowed them to mother in any way they imagine.

It blossomed into a story about a distinctive fear shared by the Gen Z-Ers I spoke with—that of becoming bad moms. Their thoughtful introspection regarding generational cycles of matriarchal trauma reflects a growing conversation about the complicated role of social media in fostering a space for maternal community and self-reflection. Especially in a nation that does not value maternal labor.

Through individual stories and digital deep dives, I aim to interrogate the evolving trope of mother blaming and shaming in 21st-century American narratives, and ultimately create space to ask the questions:

Why, with more rampant discourse regarding personal choice than ever before, are Americans still obsessed with critiquing other peoples’ mothering? And how, with more access to unfettered social media visualizations than ever before, are Gen Z-Ers going to change the vision of a good mother?

Who was supporting you in your work?

Assistant Professor of Journalism and Design, Anjali Khosla. Anjali was my Journalism & Design capstone Professor. She continually offered unwavering support during a personally tumultuous semester.

Anjali has a keenly empathic editing eye and it reflects in her collaborative pedagogy.

Project Themes:

Research

How has this project has been impactful or transformative?

My own mother and her accompanying mother wound are woven, intrinsically, throughout this story. My future motherhood and my accompanying mother wound pervade my quotidien in sensitive, challenging, beautiful ways.

It is a near-impossible task to reconcile with maternal trauma in the moments of its happening, even more so to find genuine joy in the future of motherhood amidst familial disruption. But it gives me hope to hear my contemporaries imagine a world where they have the support to be the best mothers they can be.

I hope that this project shows the imaginative potential of Gen Z.

What would you do differently? 

Put it all down first, and edit later. You aren't going to publish a 30-page feature article, but abundance is inevitable for the capstone perimeters.

“You remember too much, my mother said to me recently. Why hold onto all that? And I said, Where can I put it down?” — Anne Carson, Glass, Irony and God.

Capstone is where you can, temporarily, lay to rest all the research, interviews, and sticky note mazes on the wall.

Short summary of your experience:

The capstone grant was worthwhile for my project as it allowed me to focus on shaping my article rather than worrying about funding it. I have no criticisms.