Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, grew up in a world vastly different from the one Gen Z knows today. While each generation has its unique challenges, boomers dealt with hardships that younger generations might find incredibly tough to navigate. Here are 18 of those struggles.
Limited career options
Boomers grew up in a time when career paths were more rigid, and opportunities were often confined to traditional roles like factory work, teaching, or clerical jobs. Society placed a strong emphasis on stability, so people were expected to stick with one career for life, even if it didn’t align with their interests. Switching jobs was rare and often frowned upon.
For Gen Z, who value career flexibility and pursuing passions, this lack of choice would feel suffocating.
Manual household chores
Before modern appliances became common, household chores were physically demanding and time-consuming. Tasks like scrubbing laundry by hand, cooking from scratch, and cleaning without advanced tools required significant effort.
There were no robotic vacuums, dishwashers, or instant cooking gadgets to lighten the load.
Boomers learned to work hard and make do with limited tools, showing a level of patience and determination that stands out in today’s fast-paced world.
No instant communication
Back in the day, communication was far from instant like it is now. Boomers relied on landline phones, handwritten letters, or face-to-face meetings, and plans often required careful coordination in advance. If something changed last minute, there was no way to send a quick update.
Gen Z, used to instant messaging, video calls, and real-time updates, would likely find the slow pace of boomer-era communication frustrating.
Limited entertainment options
Boomers didn’t grow up with the endless entertainment choices available today. With only a few TV channels, radio programs, and no internet, leisure activities often had to be self-created.
Kids played outside, read books, or participated in community events for fun.
For Gen Z, raised with streaming services, video games, and social media, the idea of having so few entertainment options might feel restrictive.
Strict gender roles
Traditional gender roles were deeply ingrained in society during the boomer era, dictating how men and women were expected to behave.
Back in the day, women were often pushed toward homemaking, while men were expected to be the sole breadwinners. Challenging these norms was met with significant societal resistance, limiting opportunities for both genders.
Higher physical labor demands
Gen Z is quickly gaining a reputation for avoiding physically demanding jobs, and this generational shift isn’t sitting well with some. Baby boomers grew up believing that hard, physical work was a rite of passage, whether it was factory work, farming, or trade jobs. To them, the willingness to roll up your sleeves symbolized resilience and a strong work ethic.
However, Gen Z often prioritizes jobs with better work-life balance and less physical strain. For many younger people, the goal isn’t just earning a paycheck, it’s about preserving mental and physical health while pursuing fulfilling careers.
Fewer educational opportunities
Higher education was once considered the key to a better life, especially by baby boomers who often sacrificed to send their kids to college. But Gen Z is challenging the necessity of traditional four-year degrees. Many young people are pursuing alternative paths like trade schools, online certifications, or skipping higher education altogether.
Scarcity of consumer goods
For boomers, shopping wasn’t as simple as adding items to a virtual cart. Post-war shortages and limited access to global markets meant that everyday essentials like clothing or fresh produce weren’t always readily available. Repairs and hand-me-downs were common because replacing items was a luxury.
Gen Z, surrounded by same-day delivery and endless product choices, might find this lack of availability tough to navigate.
Greater economic instability
Living through unpredictable economic times wasn’t a choice for boomers. Inflation, recessions, and energy crises shaped their financial outlook. Many had to juggle multiple jobs or live paycheck to paycheck, often without the safety nets younger generations take for granted.
While Gen Z also faces financial hurdles, the boomer-era instability, combined with fewer resources to fall back on, demanded grit and relentless budgeting. Their ability to make do with less became a defining survival skill.
Limited healthcare access
Medical care was far from accessible for many boomers. It wasn’t unusual for families to delay doctor visits due to cost or availability, relying instead on home remedies. Preventative care was rarely emphasized, and treatments for certain conditions were either ineffective or nonexistent.
Gen Z, accustomed to telehealth options and advanced medicine, would likely find it hard to imagine coping without these conveniences.
Harder access to information
For Gen Z, the idea of searching for information without the internet can feel almost unimaginable. Today, if you have a question, search engines like Google or platforms like YouTube offer immediate, tailored answers in seconds.
Contrast that with the boomer era, where gathering information was a slow and deliberate process. A single question might require a trip to the library, searching through shelves for the right book, and spending hours flipping through pages to locate a specific answer.
Living without air conditioning
Many boomers grew up in homes without air conditioning, especially in rural or working-class communities. Staying cool in the summer meant relying on fans, open windows, or shady spots outside. Heatwaves often made daily life uncomfortable, especially for families living in regions with extreme temperatures.
For Gen Z, the idea of living without air conditioning might feel like an unnecessary hardship. Climate control is standard in homes, cars, and workplaces, making it easy to escape extreme temperatures with the push of a button.
Limited transportation options
Transportation for Gen Z is all about convenience and accessibility. Ride-sharing apps, e-scooters, reliable public transit, and affordable cars make getting around effortless for most. For boomers, transportation was often a logistical challenge. Many families shared a single car or had no vehicle at all. Walking, biking, or depending on rides from others was common, and public transit, when available, was far less reliable or comfortable.
Parenting without modern resources
Raising children during the boomer era was a hands-on, often exhausting task. There were no baby monitors, parenting apps, or online forums to provide guidance.
Parenting today benefits from an array of modern tools, from baby monitors and feeding gadgets to online parenting communities and apps that track milestones. For Gen Z parents, these resources make childcare more manageable.
Navigating without GPS
Imagine planning a trip without Google Maps or Waze, Gen Z rarely has to. Today, apps offer real-time directions, traffic updates, and even alternative routes. For boomers, navigating meant using paper maps, jotting down directions, or relying on locals for help
Getting lost wasn’t just inconvenient, it could mean missing important appointments or spending hours finding your way back.
Limited job protections
Workplaces during the boomer era lacked many of the protections and rights that employees have today. Discrimination, harassment, and unsafe working conditions were often overlooked or accepted as part of the job. Minimum wage laws and benefits were less standardized, leaving many workers vulnerable.
Today, Gen Z benefits from workplace rights that many boomers could only dream of. Labor laws protect against all of the above, and minimum wages are regulated.
Fewer dining options
Boomers didn’t have the convenience of fast food chains, diverse restaurants, or meal delivery services. Dining out was a rare treat, and most meals were cooked at home from scratch. Meal preparation often involved stretching ingredients and being resourceful, as processed foods and pre-packaged meals weren’t as common. For Gen Z, who is used to a wide array of cuisines and instant delivery, this lifestyle might feel restrictive and time-consuming.
Living through major social changes
For the Gen Z generation, activism often takes place online, with digital tools like social media, petitions, and crowdfunding amplifying their efforts. Boomers, however, engaged in social change in a more personal and direct way.
They lived through transformative movements such as civil rights, women’s liberation, and LGBTQ+ advocacy, often risking their safety to march, protest, or organize.
These efforts demanded time, courage, and physical presence without the instant communication tools younger generations rely on.