While it’s true that every generation faces its own challenges, there’s just no denying that the Baby Boomers lived through a world with hardships that Gen Z could never understand.
Therefore, we’re here today to celebrate the difficult realities that Boomers endured, each of which is incomprehensible to Gen Z.
No Internet or Smartphones
Starting things off with an obvious difference, Boomers grew up without the internet or smartphones, two things Gen Z simply can’t seem to live happily without, which is concerning. Researching anything meant heading to the library, flipping through encyclopedias, or relying on someone who knew the answer. Meanwhile, communicating with friends required landline calls, handwritten letters, or face-to-face conversations.
Strict School Dress Codes
These days, American kids can wear what they want at school, but that was rarely the case for boomers. School dress codes were much stricter during the Boomer years than they are today, with girls often required to wear dresses or skirts, which had to meet specific length requirements. Meanwhile, boys had to keep their hair short, and certain styles or colors were completely off-limits.
Violating these rules could result in being sent home, detention, or even corporal punishment, which is pretty unimaginable these days.
Corporal Punishment in Schools
Moving on from the last point, for Boomers, corporal punishment was a normal part of school life. Teachers and principals could use paddles, rulers, or even their hands to discipline students who broke the rules. This often happened publicly, serving as a warning to others, which is definitely a part of boomer life that we’re glad is gone for good.
Smoking Everywhere
In the Boomer era, smoking wasn’t just common—it was everywhere. People smoked in offices, restaurants, airplanes, and even hospitals, which is pretty insane. Non-smokers had little choice but to inhale secondhand smoke, as any public space was filled with a thick haze. Worse still, smoking was glamorized in movies and advertising, with little awareness of its health risks.
Limited Career Opportunities for Women
For Boomer women, career opportunities were often limited by societal norms and expectations. Teaching, nursing, and secretarial work were among the few roles considered acceptable for women while higher-paying or leadership positions were completely often out of reach. Instead, most women were expected to prioritize marriage and motherhood over personal ambitions, which is a far cry from how things are these days. Again, we’re very happy about this change!
Watching TV in Black and White
For Gen Z, it’s incomprehensible how Boomers grew up in an era when black-and-white television sets were the standard, yet even those were considered a luxury in some households! Families gathered around small screens to watch limited programming, often with only a handful of channels available. Can you imagine reverting back to that today!?
Polio Epidemics
Sadly, before the widespread availability of the vaccine in the 1950s, polio outbreaks caused widespread fear among Boomers and their families. The disease could lead to paralysis or even death, and many children were confined to iron lungs to help them breathe.
Because of this epidemic, public swimming pools and playgrounds were often avoided during outbreaks, as the disease spread quickly. Eventually, the introduction of the vaccine was a major breakthrough, but the fear of contracting polio still left a lasting impact on many Boomers.
Expensive Long-Distance Calls
Another harsh reality that boomers lived through was how making a long-distance phone call was incredibly expensive. Families carefully timed their calls to keep them short, and international calls were reserved for emergencies or special occasions. Today’s phone plans with unlimited minutes and free video chats were inconceivable at the time, and long-distance relationships were borderline impossible.
Waiting in Gas Lines
Throughout the 1970s oil crisis, Boomers experienced severe gas shortages that led to very long lines at gas stations. Because of this, some stations actually implemented rationing systems, such as only serving cars with certain license plate numbers on specific days. Thankfully, it has been a very long time since anyone has had to deal with such trouble in the U.S.
Segregation and Civil Rights Struggles
Unfortunately, a lot of Boomers grew up during a time when racial segregation was still legal in parts of the U.S. Schools, buses, restaurants, and public spaces were divided by race, enforcing systemic inequality that’s shocking to imagine today.
Over time, the Civil Rights Movement, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., brought about significant change, but it didn’t erase the struggles many Boomers faced, which is certainly something that Gen Z should be aware of.
Unsafe Cars and Roads
Back in the old days, seat belts weren’t required, airbags didn’t exist, and overall, cars lacked many of the safety features we take for granted today. Ultimately, Boomers grew up in an era when car safety was not a priority, and as a result, traffic accidents often had devastating consequences. Worse still, roads were less regulated, and child car seats were rare.
Draft for the Vietnam War
In the U.S., Boomer men faced the harsh reality of the Vietnam War draft, which required young men to serve in the military. Many were forced to leave their families and risk their lives in a controversial conflict, often unwillingly. In contrast, Gen Z has not experienced a draft, as military service is now voluntary, making this a uniquely difficult challenge faced by Boomers.
Limited Access to Higher Education
While it’s true that college was more affordable for Boomers compared to today, access was still limited for many due to factors like race, gender, and geography. Scholarships and financial aid were not as widely available, and social expectations often discouraged women and minorities from pursuing higher education.
Today, Gen Z has greater opportunities to attend college, which is undeniably a positive step forward. Yes, rising costs remain a serious challenge, but at least the opportunity is there–even if it does come at the cost of lifelong debt.
Cooking Without Convenience Foods
Most Boomers grew up in households where meals were made from scratch, as convenience foods like pre-packaged meals, microwaves, and fast food were either unavailable or considered a luxury. Due to this reason, preparing meals required more time and effort, often involving peeling, chopping, and baking everything by hand. This isn’t so common for Gen Z today, but honestly, we’re not so sure that’s a good thing.
No Central Air Conditioning
If you’re a Gen Zer, this will be hard to comprehend, but for many Boomers, central air conditioning was a rare luxury. Instead, homes relied on fans, open windows, or swamp coolers to stay cool during hot summers, none of which tended to cut the mustard.
Gender Roles Dictated Daily Life
As you’re no doubt aware, traditional gender roles were deeply ingrained in Boomer households, with men being expected to be breadwinners, and women being tasked with running the home and raising children. These societal expectations limited personal choices and opportunities, creating rigid structures that many Boomers had to navigate.
Phone Privacy Was Nonexistent
During Boomer times, landlines were the only way to make calls, and this meant that families often shared a single phone. Naturally, this also meant no privacy, as anyone could pick up another extension to listen in. Personal conversations were rare, and scheduling phone time often involved negotiating with other household members. Honestly, we highly doubt that Gen Z could handle that!
Limited Entertainment Options
Obviously, Boomers didn’t have video games, streaming services, or endless TV channels; instead, entertainment was limited to board games, books, or outdoor play. Saturday morning cartoons were a highlight of the week, but options were far fewer than what Gen Z enjoys today.
Mail Took Forever
Last but not least, Gen Z should be grateful for the rapid communication networks that they enjoy today, because before email and instant messaging, communication relied on letters, which could take days or even weeks to reach their destination. Sending a message was a slower, more deliberate process, and while this had its pros, the cons were definitely more prevalent.