Silence about salary: This is how Germany talks at summer parties!

Silence about salary: This is how Germany talks at summer parties!

A summer party in a German suburb clearly shows how deeply rooted the taboo about personal finance is in society. With warm temperatures and new visitors from the neighborhood, the conversation initially develops around light-hearted topics such as where to live and outfit. But when the topic turns to merit, an engaging silence falls. Coughing and bashful laughter dominate this moment, underscoring society's uncertainty about income and financial situations. This observation confirms that while exchanges about the job are commonplace, the conversation about money remains a sensitive topic, as well sueddeutsche.de reported.

Current social circumstances also seem to shape the conversation culture of younger generations. Generation Z in particular is coping with numerous uncertainties caused by crises and the influence of social media. Experts note that genuine exchanges are decreasing and opinions are being expressed increasingly cautiously. Graduate psychologist Frank Quiring describes this behavior as a “stealth strategy,” in which young adults primarily present themselves with the expected opinions. This is a protective behavior that is attributed to social upheavals and fears for the future. The uncertainty leads many to retreat into familiar groups in order to find security.

A change in the discussion

The way discussions are conducted is changing noticeably. Experts observe that conversations often become emotional and judgmental, which promotes the impression of threat and makes dialogue more difficult. Conflict researcher Andreas Zick also emphasizes that in a functioning democracy, dispute is necessary in order to find solutions. Nevertheless, tolerance for different perspectives is decreasing among Generation Z, which in turn creates tensions.

Frank Quiring calls for more spaces to be created in which people feel safe and can enable real communication. These could take the form of football clubs, voluntary projects and open cultural spaces. Such initiatives are crucial to promote exchange and understanding between different views. It's about listening and accepting differences in order to ultimately find common ground.

Resources for young people

There are various local contact points available for young people who suffer from fear of speaking or feelings of withdrawal. These range from youth centers to open discussion groups, debate clubs, sports and cultural clubs and university pastoral care. There are also online and telephone advice services such as the Youth Life Line or the number against grief (Tel. 116 111) to provide support.

Overall, it shows that despite the challenges and uncertainties that exist in both financial issues and communication, the potential for more togetherness among Generation Z is greater than it often seems. Initiatives to promote open conversations could be instrumental in overcoming these hurdles, such as zdfheute.de shows.