Mexico’s youth demand work, safety and housing amid an uncertain future

The straw pirate flag, inspired by the famous Japanese series “One Piece,” fluttered in demonstrations by young people in Mexico who belong to Generation Z, born in the late last millennium. For fans of this work, the flag is not just a cultural symbol, but rather carries connotations related to freedom and justice, which are the two values ​​that this generation in Mexico sees as absent or threatened in its daily reality.

The word “freedom” was mentioned in the conversations of the participants in the demonstration that took place in the Mexican capital, Mexico City, recently, and it was also present in the interviews conducted by the newspaper “El Pais” with 10 young men and women. However, this attachment to freedom raises a basic question: What freedom do these young people seek?

Although meanings differ from one person to another, for most members of this generation in Mexico, freedom is embodied in tangible matters related to work, education, and mental health, in addition to the availability of efficient public transportation, adequate housing, and a real sense of security. These elements combined are what give them a sense of stability and reassurance in their daily lives.

A striking paradox

Within less than a week, Mexico City witnessed two youth demonstrations, one of which was described as more successful than the other, with a focus on targeting the young age group between 15 and 28 years. However, the reality on the ground revealed a striking paradox, as most of the participants were over the age of 30.

According to the last population census conducted in 2020, and with United Nations expectations, the number of members of Generation Z in Mexico is about 38 million people, or approximately a quarter of the population.

To understand the reasons for the protests, El Pais conducted interviews with 10 young people between the ages of 16 and 26, students and workers residing in different areas of Mexico City and the surrounding state of Edomex, to explore their fears and feelings about the country in which they live.

The personal experiences of these young people varied clearly, as some of them are forced to spend up to three hours a day on public transportation, while others suffer from unstable or temporary work. Some people feel anxious and confused when choosing a career path that will satisfy them, while others experience frustration due to their inability to find work in the first place.

Common problems

Despite this disparity, they share a common list of problems that have become characteristic of Mexican youth today, most notably the fragility of the labor market, the impossibility of owning a home, and the lack of a sense of security in a country suffering from high rates of violence, as well as a loss of confidence in politicians.

Limited ideological differences appear between them. The participants in the second demonstration classified themselves in the political center, while those who rejected it described their tendencies as closer to the left, while emphasizing their lack of affiliation to any political party.

At the level of interest in public affairs, some of them, like 17-year-old Bruno Trejo, try to follow the news, while others, like Javier (also 17 years old), admit that their view of the world is shaped almost entirely through the TikTok platform. However, everyone agrees that they are reaching adulthood in more complex and difficult circumstances than previous generations faced.

University degree

About 70% of Mexican youth had higher educational qualifications than their parents, but this percentage continues to decline every two years, according to the Espinosa Iglesias Center for Studies. El Pais’ interviews included university students such as Carla Arroyo (21 years old), Dalai Ledesma (24 years old), Aaron Morales (20 years old), Alec Penlaza (20 years old), and Emilio (20 years old).

They attribute the decline in the value of education to a growing conviction that a university degree no longer guarantees a secure future. Ledesma says with clear sorrow: “I do not see a bright future. We are a generation without opportunities.” As for Morales, he expresses his concern, saying: “I know that my field of study does not generate sufficient income, and I do not know what I will do after graduation.”

unemployment

Despair prevails in these young people’s view of their uncertain professional and economic future in light of the high unemployment rate among young people of working age, especially in the age group between 20 and 29 years, which is the highest compared to the rest of the age groups in Mexico.

Ledesma summarizes this reality by saying: “I will never be able to buy a car or a house. We are thinking about independence, but we cannot imagine a future without a private residence.”

The suffering is not limited only to obtaining a job, but also extends to the working conditions themselves.

Ledesma adds with regret that she suffered from depression while working before studying, and that the pressures of work made her condition worse, because production is required regardless of the psychological state, considering that this reality may continue throughout her life without any hope of retirement.

The lowest income

Members of Generation Z are considered to have the lowest income among the labor force in Mexico, as their salaries range between 3,000 pesos (about 163 dollars) and 9,000 pesos (about 490 dollars). Although the legal age for work begins at 15 years, informal work contributes to bringing children and adolescents into the labor market, while women and girls of all ages receive lower wages than men.

Angelica Ochoa, 26 years old, confirms this bleak picture through her personal experience. Despite having a degree in international relations, she has been searching for work for months. She says: “I am saving money to pursue higher studies, otherwise I will never be able to work.”

For his part, university student Emilio Villalba, who lives in the city of Chalco, expresses his concern about the long time he wastes every day commuting, as it takes two and sometimes three hours to reach his university, and he spends about 60 pesos daily on transportation, which makes him fear losing a large part of his life on the roads.

Taken together, these testimonies present a picture of a generation growing up amidst long school days, exhausting commutes, low wages, and a digital world that constitutes its primary window to knowledge and reality, where social networking sites constitute their main source of information about what is happening inside and outside Mexico. Despite their different experiences and contradictory positions, the young people agree on one fact: “Achieving adulthood in Mexico today means living in a country where the promise of stability seems an unattainable dream.” About “El Pais”

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disappointment

Most young people voted for President Claudia Sheinbaum. E.B.A

Members of Generation Z in Mexico feel disappointment and a state of clear frustration towards the political scene, as indicators confirm that year after year they are increasingly leaning towards leftist movements, with this trend being more pronounced among young women compared to young men. However, none of the young people interviewed by El Pais declared their support for any Mexican political party, including those who actually participated in the protests.

Carla Arroyo, a 21-year-old university student residing in Mexico City, expressed this general feeling of staying away from political parties, even though she describes herself as having a leftist orientation. She explained that it is wrong to summarize her position by saying: “I am with the Morena Party,” the ruling party, stressing that the so-called “political blocs” do not pay real attention to the interests of their generation, and that there is a state of dissatisfaction and bitterness toward political leaders.

Although most of these young people had voted for the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and still show a tangible interest in national political affairs, some of the young people interviewed by El Pais, who actually participated in voting during the past year, had all their votes cancelled.

These young men assert that they will be keen to exercise their right to vote when the opportunity arises, but at the same time they admit that politics seems to them far from their reality, its paths can be predicted, and it does not lead to positive or encouraging results. The young men confirmed that they do not have accurate and reliable information about what is going on, as Javier, who is 17 years old, said: “I do not know how to differentiate between true news and fake news. I only listen, and that is all.”

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A disturbing psychological reality

Young people in Mexico have a remarkable and active presence on various social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram, although they do not limit their interaction to one platform, but rather use most of the digital means available to them. Social media platforms usually block data related to underage users, as part of their efforts to protect their privacy and ensure their safety.

However, the patterns and behaviors of young people, aged between 18 and 28 years, which is the age group that represents the majority within this range, are well understood and studied, and some studies indicate that a number of digital networks, such as “Twitch” and “Discord”, are not included in this research, but specialized sources, such as the “Resource Sera” website, show that users of the “Discord” platform around the world spend on average between three to four hours a week on this platform, and the data also shows that A large percentage of Discord users are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old, reaching about 41%.

Interviews conducted by El Pais newspaper with 10 young men revealed a disturbing psychological reality, as nine of them reported that they were suffering from feelings of anxiety or depression.

For some of them, this suffering is the greatest concern in their daily lives. One young woman says: “Mental health is what worries me most compared to anything else. The Internet is gradually distancing us from reality, and I hope to witness a real reform of the social security system, ensuring that all individuals have access to comprehensive and guaranteed psychological and health care.”

. Some young people feel anxious when choosing a career path that satisfies them, while others experience frustration due to their inability to find work.

. A decline in the proportion of young Mexicans who have higher educational qualifications than those of their parents.