People Raised In The 60s, 70s & 80s Usually Apologize For 9 Things Younger Generations Have No Problem Doing
Dean Drobot | Shutterstock If you're over 40, chances are you've felt the need to apologize for behaviors that young people today think are totally normal, like taking a sick day.
What sets the older generations apart is that they were expected to be agreeable children. People with high agreeableness are often kind and sympathetic. This might prevent them from saying no to others. The younger generations are not afraid to put themselves first. Gen Z’s ability to say no is part of the cultural change driven by new ideas. While boomers, Gen X, and elder millennials struggle to turn something down without feeling guilty, Gen Z makes it look easy.
Things older folks still apologize for that younger generations have no problem with:
1. Taking time off work
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As a kid, I remember my dad going into work no matter what. Whether he was sick or grieving, he felt it was his responsibility to show up and earn his paycheck. Of course, this made me worry about him. I don’t think he ever fully processed what was going on and instead filled his time with work.
Whether it’s a way to distract from their personal lives or the expectation that they show up every day, older generations feel they can’t call in sick or take a vacation day.
Younger generations, however, have a different outlook on vacation days. Some are not using them and are still skipping out on work. It’s called quiet vacationing, and a survey found that 4 in 10 millennials are sneaking off on a vacation and working from their phones. They feel no guilt in pushing boundaries in the workplace, unlike their parents’ generation.
2. Canceling plans
I’ll be honest, canceling plans often gives me a rush. In my defense, I’m not the only one. It turns out many young people feel relief when plans are canceled. We prefer to have flexibility in our lives. If we don’t want to do something, we’ll unapologetically choose not to.
Older generations may feel they have to fall in line with authority. If they commit to something, they feel like they have to follow through or they’ll let other people down. This is something they criticize young people for. They feel they lack respect, and it shows when they don’t follow through with something they agreed to.
3. Saying no without explanation
Gen Z is good at setting boundaries. They are capable of being assertive in situations older generations may not be. Whether it’s at work or in their personal lives, saying no without having to explain themselves feels natural. They were taught to be individuals and make their own decisions growing up, which could be why they are unapologetically themselves.
Older generations, like Gen X, are stuck in a cycle. They’re called the sandwich generation because they often have parents and children who rely on them. Research has found that they give more resources to others than any generation prior. 75% of them feel it’s their responsibility to care for their aging parents financially, as they do for their children. This can prevent them from saying no because they feel too many people depend on them, and if they do, they have to have a good reason.
4. Having strong opinions
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Younger generations are becoming more comfortable talking about complicated things like politics without fear of being judged. They are open to posting their thoughts online for the world to see, making them the most flexible generation when it comes to sharing their opinions. While it’s more common to feel comfortable sharing things when their ideas align with the majority, Gen Z is breaking that mold.
People who were raised before the 1990s may have a different outlook. I know my older relatives have a no-politics rule. They don’t want to share their thoughts to avoid conflict, which leaves younger generations feeling dismissed. Research has found that younger generations are more open to sharing their strong opinions than older generations.
5. Asking for things when in need
It’s not surprising that the group known as latchkey kids are more independent than others. Being left alone to their devices during childhood created self-reliant adults. They may not realize, however, that this lack of supervision and support during their formative years has led them to avoid social connections and distance themselves from others when they need them most.
Asking for help is a challenge for a lot of people, but younger generations may find it easier. They feel there is less stigma attached to their mental health, and if they are going through something, they’ll be more likely to talk to others than their older counterparts. They even seek therapy more than other generations do, working through their problems with the help of a licensed professional.
6. Quitting a job
Finding a job isn’t easy right now, but younger generations might have a different outlook on their careers. Toxic workplaces are becoming more common, and Gen Z and younger millennials are less likely to put up with it. They will avoid situations that make them feel uncomfortable or where work doesn’t matter. This often confuses older generations.
They have put less emphasis on working for passion and happiness. To them, a paycheck is just that, a means of income. A study found that younger people would rather be unemployed and happy than employed and miserable. Older folks might not be willing to take a risk like that and put their happiness before their livelihood.
7. Not answering the phone quickly enough
Gen Z does something older folks, especially boomers, may find completely unreasonable. They keep their phones on Do Not Disturb. This is often because they are more anxious about talking on the phone. Communication in general isn't really their strong suit because they haven't really had to do it. With digital communication, they can skip calling and jump straight into the conversation through texting.
This is a foreign concept for older generations. 53% of those surveyed for Pew Research said they’d much rather talk on the phone than receive a text. It might be because they grew up glued to the landline phone, waiting for their friends to call them at random.
8. Making people wait on them
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Older generations were forced to handle things on their own. They were on top of their needs because they couldn’t rely on anyone else. Plus, their parents were likely less patient with them. If they didn’t act quickly, they were punished. Estranged parenting could make them fearful of how their families would respond to their behavior.
The younger generations are stereotyped as being entitled. They don’t mind making people wait for them, showing up late when it suits them. Older people see them as taking more than they give, which could make them more comfortable taking advantage of someone’s time and energy.
9. Backstabbing others
Younger generations aren’t afraid to end relationships. They will cut off people, even their own families, if they are causing them more harm than good. With this behavior comes a reputation for backstabbing. It’s not only seen in how they interact with their families, but also with their colleagues at work. They are more likely to sabotage others for their own gain.
A study found that people become more empathetic as they age. This means people in their 40s, 50s, or 60s may be more apologetic to someone now than they would have been in their 20s and 30s, rather than looking to backstab them for selfish reasons.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities, living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
