The Boomer generation — a wellspring of wisdom, or so they often claim
Hey, Boomers, let’s talk about those well-worn clichés. While your nuggets of wisdom might have been perfectly suited for an era when higher education didn’t demand a mortgage-sized investment, the world has undeniably shifted.
To be clear, some classic advice remains eternally valuable. Yet, other tidbits are as antiquated as a rotary phone. Here are nine pieces of advice frequently offered by the Baby Boomer generation that, while well-intentioned, have become so cliché they’re likely to elicit a significant eye-roll.
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‘Pull yourself up by your bootstraps’
Ah, yes, the myth of the self-made success. Because the economy is exactly how you remember it, right? We get it, it’s a classic American idiom that suggests individual self-reliance. However, given the economic inequalities today, those boots often don’t even have straps anymore.
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‘Just buy a house’
And would you like that with a side of crippling student loan debt or unaffordable healthcare?
Boomers enjoyed a housing market that was far more accessible than it is today. This advice neglects to consider the skyrocketing home prices, unaffordable down payments, and stagnant wages that millennials and Gen Z are grappling with.
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‘Respect your elders’
Yes, but respect is a two-way street. How about we all respect good ideas, no matter the age of the person who has them? A timeless piece of advice rooted in the notion of wisdom with age. Yet respect should be universal, not solely age-dependent.
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‘Don’t talk about money, it’s tacky’
Sure, let’s not discuss the very thing that’s a cornerstone of most modern anxieties. This etiquette rule comes from a time when discussing finances was seen as gauche. Today, not talking about money perpetuates financial illiteracy and prevents younger generations from learning how to navigate an increasingly complex economic landscape.
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‘You can be anything you want’
Except debt-free, apparently. Boomers were fed this idea during a time of American ascendance and optimism. It’s a more complex reality for younger generations facing systemic barriers, from race to socioeconomic status.
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‘Follow your passion’
A product of the ‘you can do anything’ era, ignoring that passions often don’t align with financial security. Will passion pay the bills, the student loans, and put food on the table?
Boomers were the first generation to widely espouse this idea that work should fulfill us emotionally as well as financially. For younger generations, though, passion often doesn’t pay off in a world where job markets are highly competitive.
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‘You should settle down and start a family’
The Boomer ideal often included a nuclear family and a house in the suburbs. However, many younger people are delaying or forgoing these milestones due to economic constraints or lifestyle choices.
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‘Hard work always pays off’
Boomers entered the workforce during times of economic growth and stability. While a good work ethic is undoubtedly crucial, this adage doesn’t account for the freelancers and gig workers today who put in the hours but don’t see a guaranteed payoff.
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‘Save money and you’ll be fine’
Financial security was easier to attain for Boomers who faced fewer student loans and had access to better job benefits. This ignores the financial instability many younger people face, not to mention the costs of healthcare and retirement that are far more daunting now.
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This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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