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An anthropologist uses spelling bees as a lens to examine the unique and diverse traits of Generation Z--and why they are destined for successAt first glance, Generation Z (youth born after 1997) seems to be made up of anxious overachievers, hounded by Tiger Moms and constantly tracked on social media. One would think that competitors in the National Spelling Bee-the most popular brain sport in America--would be the worst off. Counterintuitively, anthropologist Shalini Shankar argues that, far from being simply overstressed and overscheduled, Gen Z spelling bee competitors are learning crucial twenty-first-century skills from their high-powered lives, displaying a sophisticated understanding of self-promotion, self-direction, and social mobility. Drawing on original ethnographic research, including interviews with participants, judges, and parents, Shankar examines the outsize impact of immigrant parents and explains why Gen Z kids are on a path to success.



About the Author

Shalini Shankar

Shalini Shankar is Professor of Anthropology and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. Trained as a cultural and linguistic anthropologist, her interests include youth, language, media, race & ethnicity, immigration, and generation. She has authored two other books: Desi Land (Duke, 2008) and Advertising Diversity (Duke, 2015) ; and co-edited Language and Materiality (Cambridge, 2017) with Jillian Cavanaugh. Her new book Beeline: What Spelling Bees Reveal about Generation Z's New Path to Success will be released on April 30, 2019 with Basic Books. Twitter: @shalini_shankarInstagram: shalini.shankarWebsite: shalinishankar.net



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