What is ‘liquid adulthood?’ One expert explains

U of M professor Lori Wilkinson talks about the term liquid adulthood, what it means, and how it applies to Gen Z.

A new term circulating online is putting a name to how the younger generation is defining adulthood.

It’s called “liquid adulthood,” and it’s being used to describe how Gen Z is experiencing delayed or less traditional milestones when it comes to careers, home ownership and relationships.

“It comes from a term called ‘liquid modernity,’ which actually refers to that fact that our institutions are unstable,” said University of Manitoba sociology professor Lori Wilkinson in an interview with Your Morning Winnipeg on Tuesday.

“So, think about today -- we have economic insecurity, world conflict, we political instability, environmental instability and that’s where this term comes from.”

Wilkinson explained that because younger generations are entering adulthood in these uncertain times, it’s making it more difficult for them to reach certain milestones like buying a house or having kids.

As for who’s at fault for the instability, Wilkinson said it’s unfair to blame young adults for the “conditions human society can easily change.”

“We’ve created all of these institutions,” she said.

“Yet we’re unwilling to make changes to accommodate the entrance of newcomers and so it becomes easier to blame people for their failures.”

Wilkinson said older generations can’t expect young people to follow the same path they did and should let go of age expectations and “best before dates.”

• With files from CTV’s Katherine Dow