The baby boomer generation is one of the most influential generations in history. This group is credited with many of the advances we take for granted today, including computers, cell phones and satellite television.
But not every innovation that came out of this generation was a positive one. There are several traits that defined this generation that Gen Z would be wise to avoid at all costs. Here are 10 negative things about baby boomers that we can learn from:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Embracing Change: Gen Z’s lack of certain Baby Boomer traits allows them to be more adaptable and open to change, which can lead to innovation and progress. |
| 2. Tech-Savviness: Generation Z’s innate familiarity with technology gives them a competitive edge in the digital age and enables them to navigate the rapidly evolving tech landscape. |
| 3. Diverse and Inclusive Mindset: Gen Z’s more inclusive mindset promotes equality and diversity, fostering a more accepting and tolerant society. |
| 4. Entrepreneurial Spirit: The absence of certain Baby Boomer traits in Gen Z allows them to embrace entrepreneurship, take risks, and pursue their passions from a younger age. |
| 5. Focus on Work-Life Balance: Generation Z places a greater emphasis on achieving a healthy work-life balance, recognizing the importance of well-being and personal fulfillment alongside career success. |
| 6. Social and Environmental Consciousness: Gen Z’s values align with social and environmental causes, driving them to actively seek positive change and contribute to a better world. |
| 7. Adaptive Learning: Generation Z’s ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and learning environments positions them well for continuous learning and acquiring new skills. |
| 8. Global Perspective: Gen Z’s global outlook enables them to connect with diverse cultures, embrace diversity, and collaborate on a global scale. |
| 9. Redefining Success: Gen Z is challenging traditional definitions of success by prioritizing personal happiness, fulfillment, and purpose over societal expectations. |
1. Boomer Trait: A Desire To Work For The Sake Of Working
Working for the sake of working is a boomer trait. Boomers are the most educated generation in history, with 40% earning a bachelor’s degree or higher.
They also contributed to the most productive labor force ever, with 80 million more workers than their parents’ generation. Gen Z will not be so fortunate.
It’s no wonder that boomers were also the most financially successful generation in history: They earned a median income that was double that of their parents when they were young adults (and nearly triple today).
They had access to more capital and financial resources than any previous generation, which gave them greater opportunities for entrepreneurship and investment opportunities Gen Z does not have now as it tries to recover from years of economic stagnation under boomer leadership.
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2. Boomer Trait: A Resistance To Change
You might have noticed that the baby boomers resisted change. They were the generation of “don’t trust anyone over 30,” after all, and if you wanted to be a good parent in the 60s and 70s, you had to teach those kids not to question what authority figures told them.
And then along came Gen X, with their flannel shirts and grunge music they were going to bring about a revolution!
But nope! The millennial generation was supposed to be different from their parents…but they weren’t. They just wanted money, power, and prestige (sound familiar?).
This brings us back to Gen Z—the final generation before retirement. Do they have any unique traits? Are there characteristics that set them apart from previous generations?
Yes! And no one knows this better than a man who has been studying these differences for years: Dr. James Roberts of Baylor University’s department of psychology.
3. Boomer Trait: Unbridled Consumerism/Capitalism
You might think that this list would be full of baby boomer traits, but it’s not. There are only two items on the list that belong exclusively to baby boomers.
And they’re both good things: They were the first generation to be raised in a consumer culture and they were also the first generation to be raised in a capitalist society.
But what does “raised” mean? We all know that baby boomers have been around for years, but when did their childhoods begin?
How much of their upbringing was spent listening to The Beatles and watching TV shows like Leave It To Beaver or I Love Lucy? Did they even have time for such frivolities as schoolwork and extracurricular activities before being absorbed into adult life?
The answer is yes but only because we’ve stopped asking these questions about ourselves and other generations! If you want proof, just look at how different today’s kids are from their parents when it comes to money matters like working hard versus playing hard (or even having fun).
We may think things haven’t changed since our youth until we realize how much better off our children could potentially be than us: Gen Z kids don’t have any concept of money beyond what they see online and yet they still seem happier than ever before!
As we explore the generational differences, it becomes evident that the absence of certain Baby Boomer traits is actually beneficial for Generation Z. Without the burden of these traits, Gen Z is empowered to embrace change and redefine societal norms. Discover the traits that set Gen Z apart in our article on Baby Boomer traits lacking in Gen Z.
4. Boomer Trait: An Aversion To Talking About Money
Talking about money is a taboo subject. I don’t know why, but it’s true. People are uncomfortable talking about money in the workplace, and they’re even more uncomfortable talking about it in relationships, especially with their loved ones.
You might think that’s odd or even strange, but it makes sense: When we were kids growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, our parents didn’t talk to us about money because they were too busy working themselves ragged trying to get ahead (or keep afloat).
So when you hit your 20s and 30s as a Millennial without any experience managing your finances, how could you possibly expect yourself to have these kinds of conversations with family members?
This is one trait Boomers have passed down to Gen Z that I’m grateful for!
5. Boomer Trait: Lack Of Racial Awareness
Boomers have a reputation as the most racially conscious generation, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Many boomers were raised in a time of racial segregation (think “separate but equal”), which meant that for the first eighteen years of their lives they were not taught about the civil rights movement or any other historical moments that sparked change in America’s history.
It’s no surprise then that they grew up without any understanding of what it was like to live through these events and still experience racism in their adult life.
They didn’t know how many accomplishments had been made because they were too busy thinking everything was fine as it was.
But even though they didn’t realize how much progress has been made toward equality until later on in life, millennials still face challenges with race relations today and those challenges come from within our community!
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6. Boomer Trait: A Resistance To Technology
As a Baby Boomer, I’ve always been a little wary of technology.
It’s not that I’m opposed to it or that I don’t want to make use of it; quite the opposite. But there’s something about it that makes me hesitate and you know what? That’s okay. That’s good!
The younger generations have this tendency to look at older generations as being behind the times and resistant to change, but we’re not:
We just come from an era where technology was new and unfamiliar and so there was a whole lot more uncertainty around it than there is now which means there was more room for doubt in its usefulness and purpose.
For example, when social media first came around (i.e., MySpace) people were like “Why would anyone want their personal information on the internet?” Well, guess what? Now everyone has their entire life online (and if they don’t then they should).
So even though many people were unsure about putting themselves out there online initially, they did because they wanted access to other people in a way they hadn’t before and ultimately found value in doing so!
7. Boomer Trait: Inability To Understand The Human Cost Of Voting For War
You can’t blame Baby Boomers for not understanding the human cost of war. They haven’t had to pay for it.
For them, war was about patriotism and pride; to be a soldier was a coveted role one that men could use as a way out of poverty and into the American Dream. And if you were drafted? Well, then you just had to take your lumps like every other guy.
In their lives, there were no consequences outside of the ones they experienced personally (or maybe their family’s).
In our lives today, however, even if we haven’t served in combat ourselves (and most people haven’t), we have friends and family members who have been affected by war in some way or another: whether they fought overseas themselves or came back with PTSD;
Whether they lost someone close to them during wartime service or are still working through trauma years later because they served on the home front as well; whether they’re still actively deployed overseas right now…
8. Boomer Trait: Disdain For Youth Culture, And “Kids Today” In General
Generation Z is a newer generation than the Baby Boomers, who are typically considered to be those born between 1946 and 1964. Generation Z has been labeled as the “iGeneration” due to their dependence on technology and social media.
They’re also known for being “digital natives,” having grown up with computers around them at a much younger age than other generational groups.
Baby boomers were not necessarily raised in an ideal environment there were plenty of economic challenges during the ’60s and ’70s but they had more access to higher education opportunities than Gen Z does today.
When college tuition has skyrocketed and many students can’t afford it at all. This is one reason why there’s so much anxiety surrounding Generation Y’s future:
The gap between rich and poor is growing wider, which means that fewer people have access to opportunities like college degrees or stable employment (which used to be available through unions).
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9. Boomer Trait: Undermining The Need For Education After High School
We’re living in a world where the majority of people have high school diplomas. At the same time, it is also a world where a college degree is not a guarantee of success.
This generation has learned that education is more than just getting good grades and finishing your studies with honors; it’s about learning how to learn.
The ability to think critically, analyze information and solve problems are skills that will benefit us throughout our lifespans whether we end up working in an office or on our own from home.
Gen Z might not be as educated as their parents’ generation was at this age (the average millennial has one year less formal schooling than Gen Xers or boomers), but they aren’t necessarily any less intelligent either:
According to Pew Research Center data from 2016, millennials had higher rates of “demonstrated competencies” than previous generations did when they were young adults:
80 percent had gone on class field trips vs 76 percent for Gen Xers and 59 percent for baby boomers; 63 percent had taken part in science experiments outside of school compared to 56 percent of Gen Xers.
And 43 percent of baby boomers; 85 percent had read aloud at home vs 81 percent for Gen Xers and 68% for baby boomers; 83% said they use technology at home frequently vs 75% among Gen Xers and 57% among baby boomers
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Conclusion
We’re not saying that every single baby boomer fits all of these descriptions perfectly (it’s hard, to sum up, a whole generation in just ten points), but we’re optimistic that our generation can make some major improvements.
After all, many boomers are welcoming our initiative, and act as mentors and allies for Gen Z kids who want to help make the world a better place. We can also learn from their mistakes, which we hope will make us smarter and more aware than they ever were at our age.
As we reach adulthood ourselves, it’s clear that we are the next generation of leaders who will guide society into its future and hopefully one day, the traits listed here won’t be seen as exclusively “boomer traits” anymore.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on related topics:
Baby Boomers – Britannica: Learn more about the Baby Boomer generation, their characteristics, and their impact on society.
Gen Z’s Lack of Tech Literacy Is a Business Risk – Raconteur: Explore the potential business risks associated with Generation Z’s lack of tech literacy and the importance of bridging the digital skills gap.
Understanding Generation Z and Their Traits – Journal Article: Delve into an academic study that provides insights into the characteristics and traits of Generation Z.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the topic:
What are the key traits of Generation Z?
Generation Z is characterized by traits such as technological fluency, a global perspective, a focus on social justice, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
How does Generation Z differ from previous generations?
Generation Z differs from previous generations in terms of their digital native status, diverse and inclusive values, and their approach to work-life balance.
What challenges does Generation Z face in the modern world?
Generation Z faces challenges such as the rapid pace of technological advancements, the impact of social media on mental health, and the uncertainty of navigating a changing job market.
How can businesses adapt to cater to Generation Z?
Businesses can adapt to cater to Generation Z by embracing technology, fostering inclusivity and diversity, and aligning their values with those of Gen Z.
What opportunities does Generation Z bring to the workforce?
Generation Z brings opportunities such as fresh perspectives, innovative problem-solving skills, and a drive for social and environmental change to the workforce.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
