Gen Z Rep. Justin J. Pearson on Gun Violence, Activism and Being a Young Legislator

Generation Z—born between the mid 1990s and the early 2010s—is the most diverse generation in American history, with nearly half of the Gen Z electorate in 2024 identifying as people of color. Gen Z has also come of age during the rise of school shootings, the COVID-19 pandemic and the first Trump presidency’s legislative attacks on reproductive freedom.

While 41 million Gen Z members voted in the Nov. 5 election, some Gen Z voters are old enough now to run for office themselves. In The Z Factor’s second episode, Chander interviewed 29-year-old Tennessee State House Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who serves Memphis. In 2023, he was the second youngest person to serve in the Tennessee legislature. Since then, he’s advocated for climate and racial justice and gun violence prevention, introducing more than a dozen gun safety bills over the last year.

Activist Olivia Julianna Talks Repro Rights and Young Women’s Futures on Ms. Magazine’s New Gen Z Podcast

A fair amount of news coverage this election cycle has focused on the Gen Z vote, and for good reason. Besides being the most diverse generation in American history, Generation Z—born between the mid 1990s and the early 2010s—has grown up in a turbulent time in this country, from the rise of school shootings to the COVID-19 pandemic to the first (and soon to be second) Trump presidency and legislative attacks on reproductive freedom.

In The Z Factor’s third episode, host Anoushka Chander interviewed 21-year-old Olivia Julianna, who has advocated for abortion in her home state of Texas. On the podcast, she and Chander delved into the unique worries of young women in America right now and Julianna’s own advocacy work.

‘Gen Z Is Ready to Act’: Ms. Launches New Podcast ‘The Z Factor’ Uplifting Youth Voices

This week, Ms. magazine launched a brand-new limited series podcast, The Z Factor: Gen Z’s Voice and Vote.

I’m Anoushka Chander—a senior at Harvard, an activist and host of The Z Factor. My generation, Gen Z, grew up amid a global pandemic, rapid climate change, rampant gun violence, democratic backsliding, and movements for women’s rights and racial justice. We were born between the mid 1990s and early 2010s, so we are between the ages of 12 and 27. As we reach the cusp of adulthood, many young people are wondering: What comes next?

In the opening episode, I welcome Anil Cacodcar, student chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project, which conducts the leading biannual poll of young Americans. In the episode, we discuss the role of social media in the 2024 election, how youth voter enthusiasm has skyrocketed, and youth concerns about finding affordable housing and a fair-paying job in this economy.

Creators and Media Educating, Activating and Organizing Gen Z in 2024

We’ve rounded up some incredible content creators and media outlets that are leading the charge and are educating, activating and organizing young voters ahead of the election. 

(This essay is part of a Women & Democracy multimedia package focused on Gen Z and student voters. The future envisioned by young leaders is bright—it’s built on reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, sustainability, freedom from violence and economic opportunity. Explore essays, a brand-new podcast, videos and more from some of your most loved [or soon to be!] influencers and writers, brought to you by Ms., DoSomething, the nonprofit that helps make volunteerism “cool,” and The Anthem Awards, the social impact arm of The Webbys.)

Gen Z’s Fight to Secure the ERA in the Constitution

Women are still fighting for the ERA and constitutional gender equality. It’s astonishing that in 2024, women are not legally considered equal to their male counterparts.

For Gen Z, a generation that prides itself on embracing diversity, inclusion and equality, this discrimination cannot stand. We are in a unique position to support gender equality, demanding that it becomes a constitutional right.

Gen Z and the ERA: The Importance of a Generational Fight for Equal Rights

The Equal Rights Amendment has been in the works for almost 100 years. In 1972, the amendment passed in Congress. Now 50 years later, the required 38 states have voted to ratify the ERA—but it hasn’t yet been added to the U.S. Constitution after the Trump administration blocked the national archivist from certifying and publishing the ERA as the 28th Amendment. But no one is taking that as final.

I’m 20 years old and a senior at Long Island University Global. In conversation with other Gen Zers, here’s why the ERA is important to us and how we see our role in the fight today.