Can boomers adapt to change?
Are boomers capable of embracing change, or are they forever "stuck" in their ways?
People often associate boomers with traditional beliefs, strict values, and conservative views. But does this make them resistant to change, or are they simply holding on to the principles that have guided them through life and that they hope to pass on to younger generations?
In the 27th episode of PhilSTAR L!fe's Generations podcast, veteran journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdes and content creators Raco Ruiz and Abi Marquez sit down with writer-entrepreneur Wilson Lee Flores to unpack the boomer mindset, explore the values that remain relevant today, and ask whether boomers are truly resistant to change.
"I think most people are used to habits of not changing. People are creatures of habit," Wilson said.
Boomers and ever-changing world
The group then compared how younger generations' attitudes and values differ. For instance, in the workplace, Gen Zs tend to switch jobs more often compared to older generations, who stay in one job for years. Luchi said this could be because boomers are more patient and kinder.
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"Parang sa amin kasi, ['pag] masakit 'yan 'wag mong gagawin...Pero 'yung kids now, they're encouraged to express their feelings and even their thoughts," she explained.
Raco noted that he admires the older generation's commitment and how they don't just give up easily, compared to younger generations who mostly have a shorter attention span.
"[The] boomers are actually very open to learning new technology," Raco added. "Tides are turning."
Wilson and Luchi agreed and said elders are keeping up with fashion and fitness trends.
Raco further pointed out that youngsters have become "screenagers," a portmanteau for someone skilled with technology. Because they grew up with the internet, the younger generations now teach their elders how to navigate it, and spot fake news and scams.
Is resistance to change just a boomer thing?
Wilson, who's an early Gen X, noted that they embrace parts of technology—however, there are times when they're mostly "creatures of habit."
"We don't fully throw ourselves into it," Luchi added. The veteran journalist noted that adapting to change is not always a generational thing, but also depends on one's personality. She, for one, doesn't use TikTok, but likes to watch videos and shop online.
"We're very strict; we live that way. We can be judgmental, too," Luchi admitted, but she said that what people get wrong about them is that they're "stuck up."
Psychologist Lordy Angelo Santos said that being resistant to change is not necessarily a "boomer thing."
"It's easy for most individuals to attribute them to older generations; however, we always have to accept the fact that regardless of a person's generation, individuals are typically resistant to changes that either they don't fully understand, or they refuse to understand," Santos explained in a video message.
"It's actually not that easy to attribute this kind of response to the older generations alone. We always have to understand that even younger people can also express this kind of resistance, or even deliberate refusal of certain changes or the introduction of new concepts," he added.
For instance, Raco prefers the "boomer way" of dating, which entails organically meeting and getting to know people to have that deep connection.
Abi, meanwhile, pointed out boomers tend to be wary of romantic partners met online, often assuming the worst. She emphasized that online connections can lead to meaningful relationships.
"You will see that there's a difference in values there for the younger generation," she said. "This is how we do it now; we're online...there's an additional challenge lang of verifying if this person is real or if they actually care about you."
For Luchi, what matters most before marriage is how well a couple knows each other, regardless of how they met.
"To me, you can't go wrong with at least three years of being in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship," she said. "Anything more is already too long."
While living together before marriage has become more common among young couples, Luchi admitted she's on the more conservative side of the matter.
"That's too much of an investment for something that might not last," she stressed. "In a relationship, you're investing your life, that's what I feel young generation miss out on, and time is something you cannot redeem especially if you're a woman," Luchi said.
Abi raised that some people don't view marriage as something necessary, but stressed that there are pros and cons to that setup.
"It's just important that you have to discuss it with your partner," she said.
The Gen Z content creator added that the younger generations' beliefs are shaped also by information online, unlike the boomers, whose beliefs and values were mainly taught by parents.
Luchi then noted that younger generations tend to set stricter boundaries, while Wilson observed that older generations tend to be more obedient. The group also had differing views on privacy, with Raco saying parents should not snoop through their children's belongings, while Abi argued that some guidance is necessary. Ultimately, they agreed on the importance of creating a safe space where both parents and children can build trust.
With these opposing views, how do older and younger generations go about life? Raco said that it's all about balance.
"I think it only gets hostile when you're like, 'Ako lang kasi tama, ikaw mali,'" he said, emphasizing that it's not always black and white.
Watch the full episode below:
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