Pemaknaan Label Strawberry generation pada Mahasiswa Generasi Z: Studi Fenomenologi

Abstract

The term Strawberry Generation is increasingly used in public discourse to describe young people as emotionally vulnerable, easily stressed, and less resilient in facing academic and social challenges. However, little attention has been given to how university students themselves experience and interpret this label. This study aimed to explore the subjective meanings attached to the Strawberry Generation label among Generation Z university students and to understand how they respond to it within their academic and social lives. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed involving five Generation Z university students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that students did not passively accept the label but actively negotiated its meaning based on their lived experiences. The label was associated with emotional vulnerability, academic and social pressures, emotional impacts, and the influence of social media, while also serving as a source of self-reflection and personal growth. The findings suggest that Strawberry Generation should not be understood merely as an individual characteristic but as a social construction shaped by everyday pressures, media discourse, and students’ subjective experiences. This study contributes to psychological research by highlighting students’ active role in interpreting and responding to generational labeling.