1/18/2025 (Sat.) Strawberry/Fragile generation？(Host: Jane)

[jane]

Hi, I’m Jane.

Recently, I read an article discussing the traits of Gen Z, which reminded me of an interesting book, The Coddling of the American Mind. This book also examines the characteristics of young people in the U.S.
From my perspective, I see some connections and similarities between the phenomena described in Taiwan and the U.S. However, I am curious to hear your thoughts and perspectives. Therefore, I would like to invite all of you to join this discussion.

Below are a video discussing the book and an article related to Taiwan.

“The Strawberry Generation In Taiwan: Innovators Or Fragile?”
https://www.wokewaves.com/posts/strawbe ... -in-taiwan

The term "Strawberry Generation" is a Taiwanese neologism describing individuals born from the 1990s onwards, perceived as delicate and unable to withstand social pressure or hard work, akin to easily bruised strawberries.
Positive Traits:
• Creativity and Innovation: This generation significantly contributes to Taiwan's cultural and entrepreneurial landscape, fostering vibrant urban hubs through unique ideas and ventures.
• Technological Proficiency: Being tech-savvy, they adeptly navigate digital tools, driving advancements in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, and digital media.
• Pursuit of Meaningful Work: Prioritizing personal fulfillment, they seek careers aligning with their passions and values, influencing the rise of purpose-driven businesses in Taiwan.
Negative Traits:
• Perceived Fragility: Critics argue they lack resilience, tending to give up when faced with challenges, contrasting with the endurance of previous generations.
• Job-Hopping Tendencies: A propensity for frequently changing jobs in pursuit of ideal positions may be viewed as a lack of commitment or perseverance.

“The Coddling of the American Mind: A First Principles Conversation with Dr. Jonathan Haidt” Key Points Discussed
• The Rise of Overprotection
Helicopter Parenting and Safetyism:
Dr. Haidt critiques the pervasive culture of "safetyism," where parents and educators prioritize shielding children from all forms of discomfort or adversity.
This overprotection leads to "learned helplessness," where young people become less equipped to handle even minor challenges.
• Social Media’s Harmful Impact
Increase in Anxiety and Depression:
Social media amplifies social comparison, cyberbullying, and the pressure to curate a perfect online persona.
Developmental Vulnerabilities:
Adolescents are particularly sensitive to peer validation and rejection, making them more susceptible to the negative impacts of platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
• The Decline of Free Play and Autonomy
Loss of Unstructured Childhood Experiences:
Without these experiences, children miss out on opportunities to negotiate conflicts, take risks, and learn self-regulation.
• Generational Changes in Emotional Resilience
Dr. Haidt describes how younger generations often struggle more with ambiguity, disagreement, or failure.
He attributes this in part to the emphasis on "emotional safety," where avoidance of distressing topics or experiences is prioritized over engagement and growth.

Proposed Solutions
• Building Resilience through Exposure
Encourage children and teens to engage in activities that involve manageable risks, such as playing outside unsupervised or taking on age-appropriate responsibilities.
• Reforming Social Media Use
Delay access to social media for young people, particularly before their emotional and cognitive maturity has developed.
• Restoring Free Play and Autonomy
Promote policies and programs that make communities safer for children to explore and play freely.
• Fostering Critical Thinking
Teach young people how to think critically, question ideas, and engage in constructive disagreement rather than avoiding opposing viewpoints.
• Shifting Cultural Norms in Schools and Families
Schools should balance protecting students with exposing them to diverse perspectives and encouraging intellectual resilience.

Questions

Session 1: Exploring the Concept of a Fragile Generation
1. Both articles discuss the idea of a "fragile generation" in different cultural contexts. Do you agree that this is a shared phenomenon across the U.S. and Taiwan? Why or why not?
2. Do you think the traits described as positive (e.g., creativity, pursuit of meaningful work) and negative (e.g., fragility, job-hopping) are accurate? Why or why not?
3. The articles suggest that "safetyism" and a lack of risk-taking have contributed to this phenomenon. Do you believe societies have become too focused on safety? What are the potential consequences of this mindset?
4. Could the idea of a "fragile generation" be an oversimplification or even a myth? If so, what alternative explanations could account for these perceived traits?

Session 2: Addressing and Adapting to Generational Traits
1. If we assume that the phenomenon of a "fragile generation" is real, do you think it needs to be changed? Why or why not?
2. What steps can individuals, families, or societies take to address the challenges associated with generational fragility?
3. Have you personally interacted with people from this "fragile generation"? Based on your experiences, what strategies do you think could foster resilience in such individuals?

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Agenda:
3:45 ~ 4:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
4:00 ~ 4:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
4:10 ~ 4:50pm Discussion Session (40 mins)
4:50 ~ 5:10pm Summarization (20 mins)
5:10 ~ 5:20pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Short Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
5:20 ~ 6:00pm Discussion Session (40 mins)
6:00 ~ 6:20pm Summarization (20 mins)
6:20 ~ 6:30pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements

Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
Address: 台北市濟南路三段25號[MAP]-捷運忠孝新生站3號出口步行3分鐘

Important Notes:
1. We advise participants to print out the discussion questions and bring them to the meeting for reference. As for the supporting articles, feel free to print them out, as well, according to your preference.
2. We suggest that participants read the articles and think about the questions in advance.
3. Newcomers should prepare a two-to-three-minute self-introduction in English to deliver when called upon by the host before the start of the discussion. The host may also ask you to give brief feedback about the meeting after the meeting.
4. We conduct the entire meeting in English. All participants should have at least moderate English-conversation skills and be able to articulate their ideas for each discussion question.
5. We welcome newcomers and other guests to attend the meetings and join the discussion freely twice (including on-site and online meetings). After that, we hope you will consider becoming a YoYo English Club member. We charge a NT$1,500 (NT$1,000 for students) lifetime membership fee.

[Luis Ko]

Guess they are not fragile, or not like strawberry at all. They are actually a generation with bravery.

[Rock]

I am interested in the website, the woke wave, mentioned by our good host. I don't know what "woke" means, so I googled it. According to wiki, woke means:

Progressive or left-wing attitudes or practices, esp. those opposing social injustice or discrimination, that are viewed as doctrinaire, self-righteous, pernicious, or insincere.

Now I want to be careful because to me, left or right seems like a generalization that causes conflict. But there are also some Gen Z subtitles on the website. Are people proud of being at that age group? What does Gen Z have to do with woke?

Is it not "cool" if you are Gen Z and you are not "woke".

[Luis Ko]

guess that's so called 覺青. there are definitely some people proud of being one, thinking the ideas to which they wake up are exactly right things to do. those who don't agree, or don't follow suit, are simply wrong.

[Georgia]

I believe the correct term should be snowflake. There's no such term as strawberry fragile.