16 “Woke” Concepts That Have Boomers Shaking Their Heads
With the change in society, quite a number of new ideas and movements challenge the beliefs and traditions in place. One part where this change can easily be noticed is the emerging “woke” concepts that oppose the views held by the older generation.
For most baby boomers, these concepts are mixed up and perhaps a little daunting. Ideas such as activism on social media, gender-neutral bathrooms, and digital nomadism are very different compared to the traditional values they are used to.
In this article, we’ll cover some of the “woke” concepts that make baby boomers shake their heads. Let’s unwrap these changing views to see if we can clarify the generational gap and understand how these new perspectives reshape our world.
1. Gender Fluidity
Gender fluidity characterizes a broader range of views where your gender is not fixed as being either male or female. You might identify as being gender fluid and feel that gender identity may change over time or don’t fit into just one category.
For boomers, this might be hard to understand, for they were brought up with a fixed concept of gender. To better understand gender fluidity, you have to understand that a person’s sense of gender identity is a private experience and can be different from person to person.
While that fluidity feels quite normal to the younger generation, it feels foreign to many boomers, who are more accustomed to traditional views.
2. Pronoun Usage
The use of preferred pronouns like “they/them” is part of respectful communication when referring to someone who identifies as non-binary. It’s important to call people by their right pronouns to show that you care. If you were brought up only using the pronouns “he” and “she,” then this can be a very confusing shift.
But for young people, using the right pronouns means realizing and respecting people for who they are. This might take some time for certain boomers to get used to, but it’s surely possible.
3. Microaggressions
Microaggressions are minor comments or actions that unconsciously could be done to hurt a marginalized group. They can also be subtle and intentional insults based on gender, race, sexuality, and more. To you and your peers, they may seem harmless, but they have certain negative implications.
Younger people are more aware of these subtle issues and are really working on them. By being more mindful of our words and actions, we can create a less harmful environment and make it more supportive for all people.
4. Cancel Culture
You may have come across the term “cancel culture.” It’s basically when you call someone out for a problematic behavior or statement and then boycott them. For example, comedian Dave Chappelle received a lot of criticism over his jokes about transgender people in his stand-up special.
Many called for boycotts of his work, which became a sort of hallmark of how younger generations are wielding cancel culture as a tool for accountability and change. Cancel culture is just that: a movement to correct harmful actions and encourage better behavior.
5. Plant-Based Diet
Over the last couple of decades, there has been a trend toward plant-based diets. While this trend comes from health, animal welfare, and environmental concerns, it can still be puzzling to many baby boomers. Dinner for the older generation was built around a centerpiece of meat and potatoes.
To most of this generation, veganism and vegetarianism probably appear as radical or experimental choices against the beliefs they were brought up with. The current emphasis that young people put on health and sustainability seems to run against these very norms.
6. Work-Life Balance
The young generation is more concerned about work-life balance. They now value their personal time and their mental health more than ruthless career ambition, which sharply contrasts with the baby boomer ethos of long hours and dedication to work.
Millennials and Gen Z are looking for flexible-hour jobs that offer remote work and generous vacation time so that they can manage their professional and personal lives. This shift represents a wider cultural shift in values away from just financial success to well-being and flexibility.
7. Minimalism
Minimalism can be defined as a way of living in which you focus on reducing consumption and living intentionally. Minimalism is actually the opposite philosophy of the consumer-driven culture in which most older generations were raised.
To many young people, the idea means cleaning up life and remaining focused on what is important — freedom and simplicity. But how confusing this can all be to an older person who grew up thinking in terms of collecting things and holding on to them.
Minimalism is part of a far greater cultural shift. It’s a move away from stuff and toward activities and experiences that bring meaning.
8. Body Positivity
Body positivity is about the acceptance and celebration of all body types, promoting self-love and confidence irrespective of size, shape, or appearance. For many boomers, this may be a difficult concept to comprehend with the ever-growing exposure to plus-sized people.
They break the beauty norms to which boomers were used. Some see this as a positive development toward greater inclusiveness, while others are unable to accept the broader definition of beauty being advocated by body positivity.
9. Influencer Culture
Influencer culture is based on people building careers around the promotion of products, lifestyles, or ideas on social media. For many boomers, the concept of making a living by simply taking pictures or videos and then sharing them online is baffling — it’s too far removed from the traditional paradigm of a career.
To some, it’s a new type of entrepreneurship; others find it hard to understand or take seriously. However, the influence that influencer culture holds is proving to be a stronger driver in marketing and promotion, reshaping how businesses reach their consumers.
10. Cryptocurrency
With the rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, many people who were used to regular money and banks are confused. Unlike traditional ways of saving and investing, these digital currencies work differently and can be very unpredictable.
For someone who grew up with conventional finance, digital money and its big value changes can be a bit unsettling. This is indicative of how far digital finance is straying away from traditional methods.
11. Online Dating
While it may be true that online dating has reinvented the way people get into relationships, most boomers still yearn for the old style of meeting in person. To them, these dating apps and websites are impersonal and sometimes even intimidating.
To a lot of boomers, these digital ways lack a personal touch. As such, they often feel nostalgic about those yesteryear genuine connections.
12. Non-Traditional Families
Non-traditional families are becoming prevalent in society in the form of single-parent households, blended families, and same-sex couples with kids. To many boomers, these family setups can be quite unfamiliar in comparison with the traditional family structure in which they grew up.
They often have in mind a different idea of what a family should look like, so adapting to these new family types can sometimes prove difficult. On the other hand, it shows that the conception of society is changing towards the term “family.”
13. Mental Health Awareness
Mental health awareness has grown to great lengths, with many people openly talking about issues like anxiety and depression. With boomers not having spoken so much about mental health in the past, this might sound surprising or unfamiliar to them.
They may be used to keeping struggles strictly to themselves or not recognize them as important. This change mirrors the openness of today’s society in terms of mental health and working toward better, more supported, understandable lives for everyone.
14. Gender Neutral Bathrooms
Gender-neutral bathrooms are a “woke” concept that has left many boomers uncomfortable or concerned. Although these bathrooms are meant to include everyone, this seems too much to the older generation.
The young regard them as a step toward far greater inclusiveness and respect. This argument is definitely not yet settled, as heated discussions over its implications and benefits are ongoing.
15. Digital Nomad Lifestyle
The concept of digital nomadism is puzzling to a lot of boomers. Basically, it means working online from different places in the world. It gives people the freedom to travel and live wherever they wish while keeping their jobs.
For older generations, this way of working will seem odd and unstable compared to traditional 9-to-5 jobs. To many young people, though, this is an exciting way to mix work and adventure that is changing the way they look at careers.
16. Activism Through Social Media
The concept of activism via social media seems to elude many boomers. For young people, speaking out on issues and organizing movements takes place on Twitter and Instagram.
This new form of activism seems less serious to older generations compared to traditional methods like protests or letter-writing campaigns. For many young people, social media is a strong instrument for making change and raising awareness.
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