Gen Z open up about what frustrates them about Boomers

The generational divide that never been wider in Australia. Now Gen Z have revealed how they want Boomers to change.

Throughout history, the generations have always been at war with one another — or at least, that’s how the picture has been painted.

As a Millennial, I’ve always felt this very deeply — as we’ve weathered avocado toast jokes and generational hate from all sides — simply because we’re the first generation to face an economy that was against us.

Even my very supportive Boomer parents got nervous when they realised I wasn’t looking for their white-picket fence dream (the fact that it wasn’t possible for me was irrelevant).

newsChat panellists Angus, Rachael, Jahin, Nich, Amaani and Eelemarni. Picture: supplied.

The thing is, Gen Z want to end this war

“Not every old person is problematic, just like not every young person is progressive,” says Rachael — a panellist onnews.com.au’s newsChat initiative with the Judith Neilson Institute.

“Just like straight men can be incredible allies to the feminist movement, and not every white person agrees with Pauline Hanson, older generations can have immense [positive] influence on the way that we change the world.

“We are where we are because of the people before us.”

Angus agrees, wishing that all the generations would focus on working together and embracing change.

'You don’t have to be resentful. You can join it'.

“I see a lot of people my age (Gen Z) and Millennials complaining quite frequently about Boomers,” he explained.

“I think it’s important to understand that every generation is more progressive than the one before it — that’s just how it works … It doesn’t mean we can’t help educate and all get along with one another.”

“Having said that, [understanding] goes both ways,” he clarified.

Allyship can only happen when older generations get on board to a larger scale

“The conversations we’re having now — whether it’s in First Nations justice, climate justice, mental health — is because of the work that [the generations before us have] done,” says Rachael.

However, she does wish older people would embrace the taboos they lifted for Gen Z, instead of being shocked by them.

“I know there’s a lot of talk around ‘back in my day we didn’t have conversations around trauma’,” she continued. “I just hope there’s a point for those people who are quite guarded, to understand that it’s safe now to talk about.”

A good example can be seen in the way many reacted to Grace Tame daring not to smile and pretend everything was OK in front of the Prime Minister.

“We have a safer world because of the advocacy that came before us, and the advocacy that we do. … Older people are more than welcome to be in that space — just because it wasn’t safe before, you don’t have to be resentful. You can join it.”

Gen Z asks that, before you judge them, you look at the facts.

The same can be said for flippant reactions to a generation that embraces the full spectrum of sexuality.

“In the last 15 years there’s been a huge increase in the number of people coming out as LGBTQIA+,” muses Angus.

“There’s this prevailing attitude that it’s a new thing — kind of a trend. I would argue it’s because there’s a much more supportive and encouraging atmosphere for people to come out and be openly who they are. People have been queer for as long as humans have existed.”

Older generations fought so hard for Gen Z to be able to be so open now, so they should feel proud and excited for this new world they’ve created, not judgmental.

Gen Z have had it with the wilful blindness, though

Of course, there are some things that older generations just keep on fighting, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary — like referring to an almost constant barrage of global natural disasters as a weather anomaly, rather than admitting to climate change.

“I wish older generations would understand the urgency of climate change,” begs Jahin. “It’s often seen [by policymakers] as an issue for the future, or tokenistic actions are taken to win the election.

“The reality is — and we’ve seen this again with the floods [in Sydney and Queensland] — climate change needs action now … The urgency of climate change is more than ever before.”

'The urgency of climate change is more than ever before'.

The same frustrations can be seen for the often-repeated rhetoric that Gen Z can’t afford the same things as people in decades past, because they’re ‘lazy’.

“I have, by no means, a glamorous job, but in the 1950s I would have been able to buy a house on my wage,” Angus shared. “Now, I’m lucky I live in the country because if I lived … in the city, I’d barely be able to afford rent.”

“It’s important for people to remember, before they say these kinds of things, that there is a much bigger disparity between how much stuff costs, and how much people are earning than there ever has been before.”

He’s not wrong. It’s one thing to be proud of what you’ve achieved, it’s quite another to ignore the straight up facts that prove it’s impossible for a young person now, following the exact same footsteps, to achieve the same results.

Wages simply aren’t rising anywhere near as quickly as the price of everything else, and younger generations are simply priced out. It’s an issue that’s not just facing young people, as this survey shows, but if it’s hard for people who’ve had time to buy a house and establish their careers, just imagine what it’s like to be at the start of you adult life.

Originally published as Gen Z open up about what frustrates them about Boomers