Adults Have All The Say. Or Do They?

Writers’ Club member Eve discusses why you don’t have to be an adult to make an impact…

Young people have always flown under the radar when it comes to having a voice. We campaign and speak up about having a lack of influence (specifically in terms of people in power, often older adults, not listening to them), which is true and this outcry should continue. However, we also have a greater reach in society than many people in power, who have found themselves disassociated from everyday people. The youth of today who speak out about issues and topics are more relatable to the everyday person, and therefore often hold more power in their language than those in actual ‘power’. 

Take the School Strikes for the Climate for example. People in wider society resonated and related to the speeches made by children as young as ten years old. Media coverage was seen around the globe and even if the impact wasn’t as great in terms of making governmental changes or changes to the law, the impact that was seen by wider society was greater than any new law. It made the everyday person stop and think and now everyone (pretty much) knows about the climate strikes led by school children. Not only this, but it made a worldwide impact in the sense that it educated millions of people on climate change and opened so many people’s eyes to the reality, whether they were old or young.

Not every word has to change the world. Not every speech, or every stand, not every time a young person speaks on the news or children are asked their opinions. As long as young people aren’t being ignored overall, progress is being made. Recently, young people have been campaigning in the UK for the legal voting age to be lowered from 18 years old to 16. Personally, I can see both sides of this argument. Many 16 and 17 year olds don’t care about politics and would simply put a cross in any box without even thinking about it (and who’s to say there are adults who don’t also do this). However, a vast amount of young people are aware and up-to-date on current affairs and deserve the right to have their say. Maybe we should have a more influential and meaningful youth vote, or votes in schools and colleges? Maybe we can think of a system to give those aware young people a say and weed out those who simply don’t care? Is that then defiling democracy though?

Young people’s voices are valid and important. We speak for the generation who will be affected by the laws, votes and decisions that are made now. We are building the future and simply not getting a say in it. I myself lie on the line between young person and adult and I see the effects of both being a young person and not being listened to, and being an adult and suddenly having all this power, choice and independence. I also see the divide between older generations and younger ones, even when we are all adults just the same. Older generations are respected and given more power in many situations, whereas younger generations aren’t warped by ideologies and hierarchies, but simply lack the power dynamic to have a real impact in an older generations’ world. Either way, this second divide still exists.
Older generations need to realise the impact that they are having on the future of our planet, our species and our younger counterparts. Youth voice can only shout so loud until it is so unbearable, it is no longer listened to. However, if we are being ignored or no action is occurring from our words to those in power, what is the alternative? We need an alternative to create change. Otherwise, power needs to be given to the youth instead.

Young people need to realise the power that our voices hold, even when it feels like we aren’t being listened to. Until then, our voices need to keep powering on. On the other hand, adults and those in power need to give young people a chance and let them write their futures. For too long have bright, intelligent young people had to wait for their 18th, 19th, 20th birthdays for them to have any kind of impact. Now, we need to get the power that the adults hold.