Every generation has its frustrations, but some complaints are louder—and less fair—than others.
There’s no denying the generational tension that bubbles up between Gen Z, Millennials, and their Boomer parents. Rising costs, climate anxiety, and a shifting job landscape have left younger generations asking hard questions about the systems they’ve inherited. But in the middle of those conversations, some of the blame gets personal. And while it’s easy to point fingers at the people closest to you, not every gripe holds up under closer inspection.
Many Boomers did what they could with what they had. They weren’t all pulling strings behind the scenes or voting for policies with long-term fallout in mind. Some worked hard, lived within their means, and genuinely tried to raise kids with more opportunities. These 11 accusations might feel valid in the moment, but they’re not always rooted in the full story—and understanding that might just open the door to better conversations and fewer generational landmines.
1. They ruined the housing market on purpose to keep younger buyers out.
The housing crisis is real—skyrocketing prices, stagnant wages, and out-of-reach down payments have made homeownership feel impossible for many Millennials and Gen Zers, according to Ben Carlson at A Wealth of Commonsense. But accusing Boomers of intentionally wrecking the system or hoarding real estate often ignores the bigger picture. Most Boomers bought when interest rates were high, not low, and home values weren’t always a guaranteed win.
Blaming them for the entire market oversimplifies decades of policy, inflation, zoning laws, and global economics. It’s fair to be angry at a broken system. But assuming your parents engineered it to lock you out of homeownership doesn’t hold up. Most just bought when it was their turn, and now they’re equally shocked at how fast things have shifted.
2. They didn’t teach good financial habits because they didn’t care.
Many younger adults feel they were never taught how to budget, invest, or understand credit—and they’re not wrong to feel frustrated, as reported by Daniel Lobato at Joint SDG Fund. But accusing Boomer parents of neglecting financial education often overlooks that they didn’t have much guidance either. Money conversations were often taboo, and many learned through trial, error, and hard knocks.
It’s not that they didn’t care—it’s that they didn’t always know how to teach something they were still figuring out themselves. Plus, the financial world changed dramatically with the rise of digital banking, credit card culture, and economic instability. Blame won’t fix that, but open conversations about what they did learn might.
3. They told us to follow our dreams and then mocked our career choices.
It stings to be encouraged to “do what you love,” only to hear jokes about your liberal arts degree or freelance career. But some of that contradiction comes from a generation that saw work as survival, not self-expression, as stated by Melissa Kirk at Psychology Today. They wanted better for their kids, even if they didn’t always understand what that looked like in practice.
What sounds like judgment might be fear—worrying you won’t have stability or that they led you down the wrong path. It doesn’t excuse the hypocrisy, but it offers context. Many Boomers wanted you to aim higher, even if they didn’t realize how different the job market had become or how much harder that dream would be to fund.
4. They wrecked the planet and left us to deal with the fallout.
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it’s easy to point to the decades when pollution, deforestation, and emissions went unchecked. But not every Boomer was a careless consumer or oil industry exec. Many didn’t fully grasp the long-term consequences until it was too late—and some have spent years advocating for sustainability.
Yes, progress was slow. Yes, more could have been done. But the responsibility doesn’t fall on every parent who used plastic bags or drove a gas-powered car. Today’s environmental fight needs allies across generations, not blame that alienates potential support. Collaboration gets more done than condemnation ever could.
5. They raised us to believe life was fair, then left us unprepared.
Boomers often passed down values like hard work, fairness, and playing by the rules. When younger generations hit adulthood and found the rules had changed—or never existed at all—it felt like a betrayal. But it wasn’t malicious. They raised us based on what had worked for them, not realizing how much the game was shifting.
They weren’t setting us up to fail. They genuinely believed in the values they taught, even if those values don’t match the realities we face now. The challenge is adapting, not blaming. And helping them understand what’s different today might just lead to the support and empathy we wish we’d had earlier.
6. They voted for policies that hurt younger generations on purpose.
Boomers are often accused of supporting political decisions that widened the wealth gap, hurt the climate, or weakened public services. But while some votes definitely contributed to those outcomes, assuming every Boomer did so knowingly—or with intent to harm—isn’t fair. Many were voting on issues like family values, job security, or faith, not long-term policy effects.
It’s fair to challenge those votes and their consequences. But assuming bad intent across an entire generation erases complexity and prevents real dialogue. Change happens through understanding what drives people’s choices—not just yelling at them for making the wrong ones.
7. They don’t understand mental health because they didn’t have to deal with it.
Mental health has finally become a more open conversation, especially for younger generations. But dismissing Boomers as emotionally repressed or uncaring misses the mark. Many did struggle—with anxiety, depression, or trauma—just without the language or resources to deal with it properly.
They were raised to “tough it out,” not talk it through. That doesn’t excuse invalidating comments or outdated views, but it helps explain them. Instead of blaming them for not understanding, invite them into the conversation. Their generation didn’t choose silence—it was taught. And unlearning it takes time, just like it did for us.
8. They hoarded opportunities and now refuse to make room.
It’s frustrating to see Boomers in leadership roles, holding onto jobs, property, or influence while younger people hustle just to get noticed. But assuming they’re doing this out of greed or spite misses a key truth: many are working longer because retirement feels risky, not because they want to block anyone’s path.
They’re dealing with rising costs, healthcare concerns, and fears of outliving their savings. Yes, some could step aside. But most aren’t trying to steal the spotlight—they’re just trying to stay afloat. Creating space for new voices isn’t about forcing someone out. It’s about building systems that allow multiple generations to thrive at once.
9. They made social media the villain for problems they helped create.
Boomers love to blame phones and the internet for everything from loneliness to laziness. But younger generations push back, pointing out that social media is often a coping mechanism—not the root problem. They forget who built the systems that caused the stress we’re scrolling to escape.
Still, blaming them for not understanding digital life doesn’t fix the divide. They didn’t grow up with it. Their fear or skepticism is rooted in unfamiliarity, not evil intent. Explaining how it connects us—or where it truly falls short—starts a better conversation than accusing them of being out of touch.
10. They got lucky and now pretend it was hard work alone.
It’s true—many Boomers bought homes cheap, went to college without massive loans, and started careers in a much more stable economy. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t work hard. The mistake is pretending their success came only from effort, without acknowledging the timing and opportunity that made it possible.
The unfairness isn’t in their wins—it’s in how those wins are framed as universally replicable. Instead of resenting their luck, call out the myth that effort alone guarantees success. The goal isn’t to take away their story. It’s to reshape the narrative so future generations don’t feel like failures for falling short of an outdated ideal.
11. They refused to evolve with the times and expect us to follow suit.
Younger people often feel like they’re dragging their parents into the present—teaching them about gender identity, tech, remote work, or shifting values. When Boomers resist, it feels like willful ignorance. But sometimes, it’s just discomfort. Change is hard, especially when it challenges the foundation of what you were taught to believe.
They’re not always trying to push back. Sometimes, they’re trying to catch up. Dismissing their confusion as stubbornness shuts down growth. Patience doesn’t mean accepting outdated views—it means creating space for learning. And that’s often how real understanding begins, no matter what year you were born.