Move Aside, Gen Alpha: Generation Beta Arrives in 2025

 

SAN ANGELO, TX - Starting Jan. 1, 2025, babies born will belong to Generation Beta, a group expected to grow up immersed in artificial intelligence and technology, experts say.

Many members of this generation are predicted to live long enough to see the 22nd century.

Generations are typically defined by societal milestones and characteristics. Gen Beta will follow Gen Alpha, which spans those born between 2010 and 2024. Before that, Gen Z included those born from 1996 to 2010, and millennials ranged from 1981 to 1996.

According to futurist Mark McCrindle, Gen Beta will inherit challenges including climate change, global population shifts, and rapid urbanization. Sustainability, McCrindle said, will not only be preferred but expected.

Jason Dorsey, a generational researcher, predicts Gen Beta will depend on AI and smart devices to solve problems, much like Gen Alpha, but they will also face the immediate realities of climate change and sustainability efforts.

The term “chronically online” has already been associated with Gen Alpha, often called “iPad kids,” for their heavy reliance on digital devices. Experts believe Gen Z parents of Gen Beta may push back against such trends, setting stricter limits on technology use.

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Peeing in the Trashcan: The Feminist Act We Never Knew We Needed

 

Okay, hear us out: peeing in a trashcan. Sounds wild, right? But what if we told you it’s not just an act of convenience or rebellion—it’s a feminist statement. Seriously. In a world that constantly polices women’s bodies and their natural processes, peeing in a trashcan could be the ultimate act of reclaiming autonomy, rejecting shame, and yes, even having a little fun while we’re at it. So, let’s break it down.

 

Reclaiming Our Bodies, One Pee at a Time

 

Let’s start with the basics: women’s pee is more than just waste. It actually contains scent markers that can reveal all sorts of things about our health—things like hormonal cycles, fertility, and overall wellness. These scent clues have been linked to mate attraction throughout history, and they’re a natural part of how our bodies communicate. Yet, society has spent centuries telling us that bodily functions are something to hide, to be ashamed of. Peeing in a trashcan—whether for fun or for protest—is a way to take that power back. It’s a reminder that our bodies and their processes are ours to embrace, not hide.

 

Feminist Protest Tactics: It’s Been Done Before

 

This isn’t the first time women have used their bodies to make a statement. Think about the Free Bleeding movement, where women rejected the shame around menstruation by letting their periods flow naturally. Or the topless protests by FEMEN, which challenged the double standards around nudity. Even more recently, women in India have protested the lack of public restrooms by peeing in public spaces, highlighting the inequities that affect women’s access to basic needs.

Recreational trashcan peeing is in good company with these acts of defiance. It’s not just about convenience—it’s about reclaiming our space, our bodies, and the right to do whatever the hell we want with them. If men can pee wherever they please, why can’t we? Why should we be ashamed of something as natural as urination?

 

Feminist Theory: Taking Back Our Bodies

 

Feminist thinkers like Luce Irigaray and Judith Butler have long argued that women’s bodies are often subject to patriarchal control. Irigaray, in This Sex Which Is Not One, says that women need to reclaim their bodies as sources of power. Peeing in a trashcan, when done intentionally, is a small but powerful act of rebellion. It’s a refusal to conform to the sanitized, controlled spaces that society has designed for us. It’s a way of saying, “This body is mine, and I’m going to do with it what I want.”

Butler’s theory of “gender trouble” also plays into this. She argues that gender is not something inherent, but something we perform. By choosing to pee in a trashcan, women are performing gender in a new, radical way. We’re rejecting the gendered expectations that tell us to be discreet, to be proper, to be clean. Instead, we’re embracing our bodies as they are—unapologetically.

 

Fun, Playful, and Totally Empowering

 

Here’s the thing: peeing in a trashcan doesn’t have to be all serious business. It’s actually kind of fun. It’s a playful act of rebellion that challenges the norms while giving us a little joy. Imagine gathering with your friends in a private space, sharing this quirky ritual, and laughing together as you flip the bird to societal expectations. It’s a way to bond, to empower each other, and to remind ourselves that resistance doesn’t always have to be heavy—it can be lighthearted, too.

 

Conclusion: Peeing in the Trashcan is a Feminist Victory

 

At first glance, peeing in a trashcan might seem like an odd thing to champion. But when you look at it through a feminist lens, it’s actually a bold statement of autonomy, resistance, and self-expression. It’s about rejecting the shame that society tries to impose on women’s bodies and embracing our natural processes as powerful, beautiful parts of who we are. So, the next time you find yourself needing to pee and a trashcan is nearby, maybe think twice before you head to the bathroom. Who knows? You might just be making a feminist statement without even realizing it.

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