The “snowflakes” of modern society: a qualitative investigation of female university students' anxiety about adulting
Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
ISSN: 2050-7003
Article publication date: 24 January 2023
Issue publication date: 22 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to explore the anxiety of university students. The authors note that the rhetoric of the snowflake is frequently invoked in lay discourse to characterise a generation of young people as overly sensitive. This misleading conceptualisation is potentially stigmatising.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were conducted with tweleve young women (18–25 years) about anxiety during their transition through university and into adulthood.
Findings
The authors identified three themes: (1) students in a modern world, (2) gendered demands and (3) anxiety of adulting. Analysis demonstrated numerous, transecting and discourse-informed anxieties about modern life.
Practical implications
University professionals may benefit from understanding the gendered dimensions of anxiety associated with transitions to adulthood, including the increased pressures to succeed and achieve.
Originality/value
The arguably pejorative label of “snowflake” could negatively impact the social progress made in recognising the importance of taking care of mental health and help-seeking. This is especially concerning for females, as they have higher prevalence of anxiety conditions than males.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the participants for giving up their time to help us with this study.
Study funding: No funding.
Ethics statement reference: 19466-at392-s/mc: sociology; University of Leicester Ethics approval. Provided April 2019 – conformed to all BSA ethical standards and the university research code of conduct.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have declared they have no competing conflicts of interest.
Citation
Talbot, A., O'Reilly, M. and Dogra, N. (2023), "The “snowflakes” of modern society: a qualitative investigation of female university students' anxiety about adulting", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 15 No. 5, pp. 1675-1687. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-08-2022-0276
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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