If you ask why these privileged college students are bringing their campuses to a halt over an issue that has almost nothing to do with their universities, the answer is likely to expand beyond Gaza into a story of a broader struggle and trauma this generation has endured.

This contention, that Generation Z has grown up in a uniquely difficult time, is widespread. Walking hand in hand with this claim is the assertion that Gen Z has been especially impoverished by capitalism. Most importantly, we are constantly told that Gen Z isn’t having babies “because we can’t afford it.”