Being a member of the ‘cusper’ generation, I find myself experiencing a whirlwind of feelings towards the younger ones. There’s an undeniable admiration for their innovative mentality and readiness to break barriers, yet some of their approaches leave me feeling bewildered. A similar sentiment seems to be shared by a circle of older women we recently interacted with, who voiced their surprise, confusion, and awe towards certain lifestyle choices of young women of today.
Most noticeable was the critique towards the rampant digital vulnerability of the younger generation. There’s a curiously unsettling trend of filming oneself in emotionally vulnerable states and subjecting them to public opinion online. The fuss of fabricating eyebrows to perfection and the escalating obsession with celebrities to an extreme harmful extent seem to have amplified, leaving older ones feeling quite perturbed.
It is equally startling for them to view videos being made for every insignificant activity like walking about a tourist spot or the obsession of pairing up and settling instead of focusing on self-growth. Also, the desire to publicly document every aspect of life joined by the hefty reliance on social media for validation and problem-solving is another cause for concern among the older women.
However, there’s also a portion of the new-age habits that left the older women admiring them. Increased acceptance and inclusion reflected by the younger age groups, especially towards LGBTQ people, is genuinely commendable. The oblivion towards prejudiced hatred that was rampant three decades ago and the heartwarming openness of the young tots indeed fills one with joy and longing.
Another impressive quality is their unflinching adaptability and indifference towards change. If they are unsatisfied with a work environment, they would promptly search for a new one, an admirable trait they acquired through refusing to compromise their happiness and well-being.
Young women who can manipulate makeup to suit various occasions, a skill attributed to the countless Youtube tutorials available, also managed to charm the older generation. Elaborate makeup for concerts, universities, and family gatherings, and subtle ones for the workplace, photograph beautifully, leaving the onlookers mesmerized.
However, other aesthetic fixations, such as Botox for trapezius muscles for weddings, and incessantly posting children’s pictures on social media, seem to invite more troubles than solutions. Plus, the practice of wearing headphones as fashion accessories, without even them being used for their primary purpose, was another trend that left the older women astounded.
On a positive note, the trend of sharing locations seems generally beneficial in the contemporary world. Packed with potential hazards, a shared tracking system puts friends and families at ease, knowing that they’re just a tap away from reaching out to their loved ones.
In conclusion, the older generation relishes the hope that the younger ones make the world a significantly better place than what’s been handed over to them. Irrespective of the sudden changes and baffling trends, the young women of the day are bound to thrive and usher in an era of radical transformation – their resilience and adaptability proven time and again. But of course, the generations invariably stand to learn from one another, paving the way for a harmonious coexistence and shared wisdom.
