Engaging the Younger Generation in Globalizing Taiwan

Christie Yuling Chang

Generation M3 is the term I use to characterize the younger generation in Taiwan today. The first "M" stands for "Me", because these young people share attributes with the so-called "Generation Me", characterized by Jean M. Twenge as living in a highly anxious "M-Type society". The second "M" stands for "M-type society", a term coined by Ohmae Kenichi to describe a society in which the gap between rich and poor is ever-increasing. The third "M" stands for "Martian", a local form of language that mixes a variety of linguistic and non-linguistic elements, which is popular among Taiwanese youth today, especially in cyberspace. How do we engage Generation M3, a generation that is becoming more and more different from our own?

Generally speaking, this generation centers on "me", that is, individualism is emphasized or even praised. Young people of this generation are anxious to join the wealthy rungs of society and speak a language with elements that are sometimes way beyond ordinary comprehension. In the various roles I play, I have had extensive experience encountering Generation M3 as my students, colleagues, and volunteers. Wearing multiple hats as a teacher and supervisor of Taiwanese students and program director for international students, some of my attempts to understand this generation have been successful and my experiences agreeable, but some have been rather unsuccessful and even discouraging or disheartening. From a Buddhist perspective, of course, both successes and failures are equally enlightening.

In this paper, I will share my experiences of engaging Generation M3 youth in Taiwan. I will reflect upon both successful and not-so-successful cases, analyze the causes and conditions for success or failure, and offer suggestions on how to engage this generation. Finally, I will reflect on how to share Dharmic wisdom with young people of this generation.