Why Are We Moving Backward?

I’ve always believed that each generation is supposed to leave the world better than they found it. To me, that’s what progress is—building on what came before, learning from past mistakes, and making life easier for the people who come after us. If you told someone 100 years ago that we’d have smartphones, electric cars, or even the ability to connect with people across the world in seconds, they probably wouldn’t believe you. The world keeps changing, adapting, and improving.

So my question is, why does it feel like, instead of pushing forward, we’re being dragged backward? Why have so many people constantly fighting for equality, climate action, and basic human rights, only for policies to erase that progress? It’s frustrating to watch, and as part of Gen Z, I can’t help but feel like we’re inheriting a mess we didn’t create—but one we’ll have to fix.

Photo by: Evan Vucci On The New Yorker

Climate Change: A Crisis Ignored

For us, climate change isn’t a distant threat—it’s happening right now. We’ve grown up seeing the effects of rising temperatures, wildfires, and hurricanes. We understand the science, and we know we’re running out of time. Yet, Trump’s administration chose to ignore the warnings, rolled back environmental protections, and even pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement for the second time.

If we want our kids to grow up in a world with clean air, safe water, and a stable climate, we need real change now. We do all we can with recycling and paper straws, but unfortunately, our efforts can’t save the planet if governments and corporations refuse to take responsibility.

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Women’s Reproductive Rights: A Step Back in Time

It’s hard to believe that, in 2025, we’re still debating whether women should have control over their own bodies. The overturning of Roe v. Wade, made possible by Trump’s Supreme Court appointments, felt like a punch to the gut. It wasn’t just about abortion rights—it was about autonomy, healthcare, and basic freedoms.

It terrifies me to think that my generation might have fewer rights than our mothers and grandmothers. We should be moving forward, making healthcare more accessible, not stripping away choices and forcing people into impossible situations.

Photo by: Matt Rourke on AP News

LGBTQ+ Rights: Progress Undone

Gen Z is known for being one of the most accepting and inclusive generations. For us, love is love, gender is personal, and people should be free to be themselves. So watching Trump’s administration roll back LGBTQ+ protections felt personal.

From banning transgender people in the military to allowing discrimination in healthcare and workplaces, it was clear that these policies weren’t about anything other than pushing people back into the shadows. To me, the fact that these rights are even up for debate in the first place is exhausting. We’re tired of fighting for things that should be basic human rights.

Picture by: Jose Luis Mangana on HRW

The Economy: A System That Works Against Us

Trump’s economic policies may have helped the wealthy, but have done little for young people like me. Wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living, student debt is still crushing, and wealth inequality has only worsened. His tax cuts mostly benefited the rich, while the rest of us are left wondering how we’ll ever afford a home or financial stability.

It’s frustrating to know that the system isn’t built for us to succeed—it’s built to keep power in the hands of the few. If we want a future where we can thrive, we need policies that support education, affordable housing, and fair wages, not just tax breaks for billionaires.

We Won’t Stay Silent

I refuse to accept that everything we’ve fought for can just be undone by a few policies. If history has taught us anything, it’s that people fight back. My generation isn’t afraid to speak up, protest, and demand better. We’re watching, and we won’t sit by while leaders try to take us backward.

Photo By: Mike Stewart On KGNS