I am a young person and I am political. This should not surprise you. Read more: Baffled by the UK general election 2017? Not sure who to vote for? These online tools will help
At 22, I am a figure of both intense hope and disenchantment in the political sphere. For as much as we are sought after by political parties, young people are all too often cast as figures of derision — addicted to avocado toast, too glued to our phones to walk into a polling booth. But it would be remiss to overlook the political power we hold and in case you have forgotten, let me remind you: it's a lot.
Since Theresa May called the General Election in April, more than 1 million 18-24 year-olds have registered to vote — a large enough amount to drastically influence the sway of Britain's future. Some political critics have blamed young people for not having a greater influence on the Brexit decision; originally, it was thought only 36 per cent of young people voted. This was false. Some 64 per cent of 18-24 year-olds voted on Brexit, a large majority voting remain, compared to a 90 per cent turnout of voters over 65. To discredit young people as lacking political initiative is disconcerting at best, dangerous at worst. But it outlines a significant flaw in our perception of young voters.
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Millennial humour is self-deprecating - quietly philosophical and rich with meme-worthy anxiety. From Kermit sipping 'truth' tea to the many Trump memes circulating the internet, young people are actively engaged in analysing the world around them, as well as our relation to it. There is a focus on transparency, on being "woke" and socially conscious, with an undeniable need for expression. The cultural fabric of young voters is varied, but the pop-politics of social networks reflects both a need to understand the world and, in turn, to be understood.
It is often too easy to fall into the trap of viewing millennials as if ants through a magnifying glass — news headlines that young people are killing the art of conversation, are flying in the face of modesty or manners. This casual derision shouldn't be mistaken for satire; to belittle the voices of young people is simply to criticise their thoughts and modes of expression. To equate youth with misunderstanding is a fallacy. Young people are, in fact, people, and should be treated as such in politics. Our concerns are varied. We care about job prospects, free movement and debt, mental health and social care. These will either be to our burden or benefit in years to come.
In an age of fake news, political narratives have the tendency to twist into entirely different forms online. But the very system that allows these narratives to sprawl into unfamiliarity is the one that has moulded millennials into one of the most open generations the world has ever seen. As young people, our access to knowledge is second to none. But it has left us with an interesting dilemma: in a world of multi-strand narratives, and a boundless online network, how do we know who or what to trust? You can start by trusting yourself.
Our access to the world is radically different from generations that came before us. We have the internet to access other people's voices and stories and can, for a brief moment, experience the world through someone else's eyes, absorbing their views and their problems. This kind of education is rare and fundamentally overlooked — and it belongs to young people.
Read more: How to vote in the UK general election 2017 and watch the results online
Politics has historically been an exclusive club in the UK. Only in the last century have we seen significant steps to change that. Our Parliamentary elections in the UK stretch back to 1265, when only a select group of Aristocrats could vote on Parliamentary seats. Since then, its restrictions have slowly been chipped away, opening to extend the vote in light of race, gender and personal economy. But these allowances weren't given — they were fought for.
In 1911, suffragette Emily Wilding Davison died in service of her cause. In 1914, Britain joined the largest war the world had ever seen. It would change the face of domestic and international politics and would end or irrevocably alter millions of lives; in the peace that followed, the 1918 Representation of the People Act was created. Votes were given to 40 per cent of women — property owners over 30. It wasn't until 1928 that equal suffrage was achieved for both men and women over the age of 21, with no property restrictions. But even in 1928, this was not equality and was not entirely representative of the population of the United Kingdom. It was only in 1969 that the voting age was lowered to 18.
If you feel that you don't understand, or can't change anything in today's world, look back on the past 100 years. It is barely a generation — by no means the distant past. But it exemplifies that change comes whether we call for it or not. With nationalism and populism on the rise, the decisions lie in the hands of young voters whether to strive for connection or submit to disenfranchisement. You may have fallen out of love with politics, or never loved it at all, but remember that you aren't voting for a party. You're voting for yourself; for your hopes and needs as individuals.
In 2017, we are faced with a strained healthcare system, tense political alliances and new threats in the form of cybersecurity and misinformation. The economic bridge between aspiration and reality feels more unsteady to young people, in the wake of the Great Recession. Grappling with unemployment and a tumultuous housing market, 'Generation Inflation' has a different set of needs to Baby Boomers and the only way to produce a more equitable society is to meet these needs by turning them into a reality. We can't reverse the tide, but we can change direction.
I am not writing this as the voice of a generation but to encourage you to speak for yourselves. You are individuals with varied needs and hopes for the country and the choice of who you vote for is your own. It is a decision that belongs only to you — that is its beauty. There are many ways in which we have no control over the future, but the democratic system of voting allows for one way to take control and create active change. If you feel that you aren't informed about the election, there are online resources and tools to help you make your decision. You already know what is important to you, now is the time to fight for it.
Do not be forced from your own narrative. Existence is an inherently political act — vote for the simple fact that you can.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
