Other generations, especially the younger ones, don’t tend to be that fond of the boomer generation. They feel that boomers are responsible for many things that haven’t gone well in society. Here are 18 reasons why so many feel resentment towards boomers.
Generational Wealth Gap
According to USA Today, “baby boomers own 52.8% of all wealth in the U.S., compared to 5.7% of millennials, according to the Federal Reserve.” It’s often said that boomers benefit from economic prosperity and have accumulated wealth through real estate. This is arguably more difficult for younger generations to do today and they often envy boomers.
Environmental Impact
Some people resent boomers due to their environmental impact. The boomer generation played a key role in industrial expansion, which has been linked to environmental degradation. Many also feel boomers could have taken earlier action on climate change to benefit future generations.
Resistance to Change
Younger generations feel boomers are stuck in their ways and resistant to change. They view this resistance as a barrier to making progress in society. Some feel they don’t embrace change when it comes to diversity, technology, or gender equality, which can see other generations struggle to build relationships with boomers.
Workforce Competition
Boomers are a generation that has always worked hard and enjoyed their work, so much so that many are staying in working roles past retirement. Younger generations resent this as they feel they’re being given fewer working opportunities as roles are occupied by boomers in retirement age.
Cultural Divide
Many believe boomers don’t have the right views when it comes to different cultures in society and local communities. This can divide boomers and other generations. From a boomer’s perspective, there can be a sense of alienation and misunderstanding by other generations that has led them to resent boomers.
Healthcare Costs
One thing boomers are often harshly disliked for is healthcare costs. The older generation is likely to require more healthcare support than the younger generation due to its aging population. Younger people have concerns over the resources available to support the healthcare industry.
Perceived Entitlement
Some people have the perception that boomers have a sense of entitlement, especially when it comes to younger people. They feel there are inequalities in opportunities and resources that make people resent the generation. They become frustrated with boomers’ expectations of certain living standards.
Influence on Education System
Baby Boomers reports, “The difference between today’s educational process is in technology and teaching methods. Boomers witnessed a traditional classroom with limited technological access. In contrast, students today have access to various digital platforms.” However, people feel educational policies set during the boomer era are still in place, making education outdated.
Views on Work Ethics
Boomers often view younger generations as lazy and aren’t afraid to let them know. This has seen boomers become disliked by many younger people. Boomers have always worked hard, and it’s caused many generational conflicts when they don’t think others are pulling their weight.
Technological Disconnect
HuffPost tells us that, compared to today’s standards, technology was introduced at a slower rate in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. This can be why so many boomers struggle with it today. This has led to conflicts with different generations in workplaces, leading to boomers not being liked.
Views on Mental Health
If you grew up as a boomer, you would’ve never really heard of the term mental health until more recent years. Boomers took the approach of getting on with it, and unfortunately, some still have that old-fashioned view. They struggle to have empathy for the younger generations and any mental health issues.
Social Media Clash
Some boomers struggle to see the positive in social media and how it’s captivated younger generations. They often express their opinion to users that it’s a waste of time. This can make people feel resentment for boomers, as they don’t accept their differing views.
Economic Crises Blame
Many feel resentment toward boomers when it comes to previous economic crises. Some view boomers as being irresponsible with financial management, while others believe the crisis was caused by their lack of action and poor decisions, whose effects are still around today. Baby Boomers and Generational Conflict says that “we can see the articulation of a clear set of claims that the Baby Boomers… bear a generational responsibility for the global financial crisis that began around 2007 and became more widely apparent the following year.”
Legacy Expectations
Boomers can sometimes be forceful in getting younger generations to carry on legacies and family traditions. This can make younger generations feel pressure to conform to boomers’ expectations. This ultimately leads them to feel resentful towards boomers, as they haven’t recognized or heard the wishes of the younger people.
Lack of Investment in Public Infrastructure
Many cities and towns lack public infrastructure, which is blamed on the boomer generation. People feel that they’ve neglected important investments in public infrastructure, such as transportation and healthcare facilities. This makes people feel resentment towards them, as the public now has to suffer with inadequate services.
Material Wealth
It’s viewed by many that the importance of having material wealth was spread by boomers. Business Insider says that millennials show this through their health and wellness, experiences, and investments. Many people today feel the pressure to conform to society and have material things. This pressure can become overwhelming and unnecessary in today’s world.
Political Influence
Boomers can be disliked due to their political views and ways of voting. Many feel boomers vote for older politicians who have more traditional views that don’t fit society today. They also feel that when boomers vote, they’re thinking more about the short term and disregarding the future for younger generations.
Retirement Resources
Many younger generations have become jealous of boomers’ retirement resources. They feel boomers had better opportunities during their working careers to set them up for a healthy retirement. Younger generations worry about what age they’ll be working until and whether conditions will improve to secure a more comfortable retirement.
Up Next: 17 Things Most People Forget After Someone Dies
When a person dies, it’s easy for their partner or family members to overlook things while they process shock and grief. Despite the pain of losing a loved family member, it’s important to remember to organize these 17 things to prevent problems later on.
17 Things Most People Forget After Someone Dies
17 Phrases Confident People Use to Stand Up For Themselves
Confidence is a healthy and attractive trait that helps us stand firm in our values and set healthy boundaries. We can always become more confident, and learning the right ways to stand up for yourself is a great way to start. Here are 17 phrases you can use to do so.
17 Phrases Confident People Use to Stand Up For Themselves
20 Signs Someone Is Only Pretending to Care
Whether it’s to avoid hurting your feelings or if it’s part of a more elaborate plan to deceive you for benefits, people pretend for many reasons. The main theme with them, though, is that their actions never match the sugar-coated words that come out of their mouths. So that you don’t fall for someone like this, we’ve compiled 20 signs for you to look out for.