SOCIETY TALK: Wokeness will be the end of us

Young generations often use terms or trends without fully being cognisant of their origins. The term woke was actually taken from the phrase stay woke, a slogan used by African Americans in America to indicate alertness to political discrimination and racial inequality. The slogan was used historically throughout the years and generations to remind people to be aware of their political choices as the results would affect the collective.

Over the years, the term woke grew so much in popularity that it was adapted into other social issues that represented inequality, such as sexist issues and LGBTQ agendas. And just like big booties and braids, the term woke was taken over by the white race of America to serve their own agendas. Hence popularising the term to the younger generations.

To be woke means being part of today's society, while to be unwoke means you reject the ideas being shoved down your throat, such as the idea that men claim to be women, which saw one going to women's prisons and ending up assaulting multiple female inmates. To be woke means a young person advocates for their mental health regardless of the rules of an institution. To be woke means accepting ridiculous trends in the name of inclusivity.

Just like in fashion and pop culture, the woke movement has travelled from the far west to the Global South, sweeping up the younger generations. It seems like the tides of time and wokeness have altered some parts of life to enable the needs of the younger generations to be met, whether or not they make sense.

Teachers can no longer overwork kids like they used to. Mentors can no longer give mentees a hard time to enable them to survive in the industry in the long run. Mental health wellness and breaks are things of the present.

While some parts of woke culture have led to the advancement of certain beneficial societal issues, woke culture has also contributed negatively in society. People of the woke culture have become entitled in terms of their needs and wants being met regardless of who it affects. They belive that the rules of society no longer apply to them as their individualistic ideals are what matters the most.

The worst part is when they follow trends that end up negatively affecting their lives for good. You have young women who want to break the record of the most men a woman has had intercourse with in a day. You have young women blowing up their jobs by following trends such as work siren.