Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What The Bare Minimum Looks Like In A Relationship
syedfahadghazanfar | Shutterstock We all know that the bare minimum in a relationship is when someone puts in the least amount of effort into a partnership simply so it limps along instead of flourishing.
What’s interesting is that everyone has wildly different ideas of what that actually looks like in practice. Each generation has its own set of expectations for relationships, which gives the cohorts unique ideas about what it means to do as little as possible.
The idea of the bare minimum has changed because each generation wants something different out of their relationships.
For older generations, a good relationship is about making a commitment and sticking to it. They don’t spend as much time thinking about the obligations of being emotionally connected as younger people do.
Boomers think about the bare minimum in more practical terms than other generations.
If a member of Gen Z traveled back in time to when baby boomers came of age, they would probably be pretty shocked. They lived very different lives that included getting married young and usually having kids as well.
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There are obviously plenty of boomer couples that really do love each other, but marriage and family were also seen as a kind of duty. This gave them the idea that the bare minimum is staying in a committed relationship long-term. Plenty have gotten divorced over the years, though, so it’s not like they felt forced to settle for unhappiness.
Boomers have always been focused on material needs. As long as those are met, everyone should be happy. In other words, if someone has a roof over their head, there’s no need for them to complain about something like not feeling close to their partner. Emotional support isn’t their top concern.
Gen X makes the way they value independence part of their definition of the bare minimum.
For Gen X, the whole idea of being in a relationship feels a bit complicated. This generation was raised to develop a lot of independence very early on, which they still value now. They were also affected by their parents’ high divorce rate, which might have added to the belief that it’s best to only rely on yourself.
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Because of this, Gen X has expressed a negative view of marriage overall. They also think that divorce is a good option when things aren’t working, which some might disagree with. A lot of Gen X couples aren’t in a good place now because they weren’t able to reconcile what society told them to expect with their reality.
This has given Gen X the belief that the bare minimum is generally liking someone and being able to get along with them. Losing their independence is a deal-breaker. They just want someone to respect who they are and the right they have to make their own choices.
Millennials think a bare minimum relationship is one that lacks a deep emotional connection.
Millennials have basically taken the subtle shifts that Gen X started to make in relationships to a new level. A significant chunk of them aren’t married, and those who are didn’t rush into it at a young age.
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Unlike previous generations who prized ideals of commitment and loyalty, millennials are looking for something different from their relationships. They led a revolution to destigmatize mental health, and that’s not something that they think just applies to them individually.
Millennials expect their partners to be there for them on an emotional level. They’re not as easily impressed by someone’s job title or salary. In fact, being a material provider is closer to their definition of the bare minimum. Millennial partners aren’t going above and beyond unless they show up for each other.
Gen Z is interested in traditional values that impact what the bare minimum means to them.
We expect each new generation to be more progressive than the last, but that might not be true for Gen Z. Many of them plan on getting married, and they have a positive view of the commitment that comes with it.
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The return to traditional values doesn’t end there. Recent research has shown that Gen Z men think women should stick to gender norms, including being obedient to their husbands, in larger numbers than boomer men do.
This doesn’t mean that Gen Z is lowering their standards, though. Many members of the generation are single, possibly because of their different approach to dating. They aren’t looking for casual relationships that don’t last long. Their bare minimum is actually finding someone who they want to spend time with, but nothing more.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
