Older Women Were Asked To Share Something That Young Women Do That Puzzles Them, And 30 Didn’t Hold Back
In a post on r/AskReddit, platform user u/IslamicAnime addressed older women: "What is something young women are doing that puzzles you?" and the answers quickly started pouring in, attracting a diverse range of perspectives.
The dialogue that emerged highlighted the generation gap and shed light on contrasting experiences between the two camps, with some older women expressing confusion over the obsession with social media and the constant need for validation while others said they can't understand why 20-something-year-olds get so many beauty procedures.
However, many older women also expressed curiosity and a willingness to learn from their younger counterparts, acknowledging the need for intergenerational connections that benefit both parties.
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I kinda hate the claw like nails that are popular right now.
They are SO good at makeup. I don’t know if it’s because they have better products, the availability of tutorial videos or both but they all look amazing and we were walking around with orange faces and smudged eyeliner. Not gonna lie I’m a little jealous
Edit: so many bitter people in these replies!
Makeup is a hobby. It might not be one that you enjoy but that doesn’t invalidate it.
We should respect and uplift all women and however they choose to express themselves, wether it’s by wearing makeup and miniskirts or carhartts and axel grease.
It's the tutorials! I used to be terrible at make-up, but there are SO many tutorials with step-by-step instructions, including which colours look good on which skin types, how to apply make-up, how to care for your skin, which products to use, which ingredients to look out for... a year after casually watching these tutorials, I think I've gotten pretty good. It makes things so much easier.
The overdone lip injections. I can’t wait for this trend to die.
Voting against their own interests. I know so many young women who are 100% for birth control, abortion, equal pay, maternity leave, etc yet consistently vote Republican because "the economy is the most important issue." Now theyre shocked Roe was overturned. Nothing is more important than your rights/freedom!
A woman voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders.
Not limited to women, but: gender reveal parties. I already have to go to your baby shower, and now you want me to go to another party? Do I have to bring a gift?
Wearing comfy shoes (like sneakers) to the club.... I'm not mad at it, I'm mad my dumbass never did that... lol
Taking pictures of yourself all the time. Even as a younger person I can't imagine doing this.
Blasting pictures of their young children all over social media with 1000 followers.
Having children with men who are basically children themselves. If you're living with a guy and he doesn't do a genuine 50% of the housework, it will be exponentially worse when you have a baby.
Let me fix it for you - not genuine 50%, minimum 50%. As a guy i grew up in a household where my father, his father, my uncle etc were taught that you always, always pick up for yourself. Now, my dad cooks and helps a little, but my mom taught me to always, and i mean always help my gf/future wife with anything with words: She will keep your house a home so pick up your a*s and help her.
Posting non stop content and then caring so much about what strangers say about them online. As if life isn't difficult enough for women without finding new and unnecessary standards to hold yourself up too. It all seems like an exhausting, pointless and mentally draining exercise.
This point! If you share online, I assume you are aware that you will get any type of responses. I think most people post carelessly without thinking first if they are mentally prepared to deal with whatever comes with it. My brother's girlfriend is an example. She likes to post pictures of her naked body (covering breast and crotch areas) for "body positivism". But then she gets very angry and upset when people send her negative feedback or sexual comments. She even posted a video of herself crying on how these comments upset her. I don't know...if the expectation is to only get likes and compliments, then not sure on which planet they are living. Would be nice, yes, but... well... if you have the freedom to post your body another person has the freedom to say "I don't like this".
Sending nudes and trusting the recipient
I work with middle school and high school kiddos. No, your boyfriend does not keep these to himself!
Influencers and those who are influenced by them. It drives me crazy! So many of these influencers are just narcissistic idiots who really don’t know anything but if they are pretty and talk a good game, people follow them and believe in their “brand”. So much focus on body image - it’s no wonder depression is spiking.
Crying on the internet. I’m talking full on snot bubble crying. Maybe it’s my childhood trauma talking but I can’t fathom having an awful thing happen to me and then whipping out my phone to tell my “followers” about it. Maybe bc I have No followers😂 I just bury it deep and slap on a smile like my mom taught me 💗
I am bewildered by women who do not prioritize the ability to support themselves.
Big, fluffy false eyelashes. I tried it once and it felt like caterpillars on my eyelids, they had to come off right away. I don't know how they stand it, but I admire their skill.
(Edit: Just wanna make it clear here, I'm not about s******g on the aesthetics of young people. You do you, my sweet children! It's just not for me.)
Why the need for 5 parties, 2 wedding dresses, B and C lists, and numerous other demands… just to get married.
Like, just get married. It’s not that complicated. Save the money (and more importantly, your guests’ and bridal party’s money) for something that will actually mean something - charity, home down payment, personal enrichment in classes or travel… whatever, the sky is the limit. Spare yourself the time and stress of going overboard to follow the new cultural norms.
*Traditional, generational customs need not apply… though maybe they should be questioned and re-examined.
I spent the money on a marriage license.... Gifted our preacher....wore a dress I owned..... But I married the most perfect man for me and we are deliciously happy..... Why all the extras?
I know a few 17-18y/old girls who have decided not to learn to drive or get licensed because their boyfriends always have cars; not to finish school because they don't enjoy it; and don't ever want to vote because that stuff's boring.
They have these precious rights to be free, to be educated, to be heard, and they don't care!
(Regarding the car thing - we're in a semi-rural area with limited transport options.)
Incredibly long nails and over the top false eyelashes.
I think long nails look pretty and some have really good artwork done, but my god they're so impractical/unhygienic
Creating new body shaming trends like tight gap, nose gap, size of waist etc. Things men don’t even know exist, so it’s purely and solely women creating absolute nightmare of beauty standards for other woman. Growing up in the 00s it was traumatic and I wished newer generations would have stopped
I'm 33 so I don't consider myself old yet, but I've seen young girls living through Snapchat & other apps, vehemently photographing themselves and everything around them. To me, it seems as if they care more about how they portray themselves online towards others (they don't even know), instead of enjoying the actual experiences.
Putting up with b******t you know isn't ok. We all do this but as 40 something it's painful to watch young women continue to just stay in abusive or even just frustrating imbalanced relationships. Realize your worth ladies..sooner than later.
This isn't something new. Women have endured this generation after f*****g generation. But it's true that we keep hoping the new generation will be stronger.
Glorifying submissive misogynistic gender roles, trying to codify it into law, and shaming others who exercise and defend their rights to choose something else for their life.
Wait, what submissive misogynistic gender roles are young women trying to get codified into law?
Van life.
The whole "Van life is so glamorous, look at me sipping my coffee sitting in the back of my van in front of the sunrise" thing is WAY overrated and very, very fake. Van life or camper life can be fun and an adventure at times, yes - but it comes with a LOT of work, expense and risk that people don't tell you about.
I think people glamorize van-life because it's what they can afford. If I couldn't afford to own or rent a house/apartment, I'd be living in my car. If I could afford an upgrade, I'd buy a van. Van-life is popular because it's an affordable alternative to renting an apartment.
Focusing on their social media appearance. The lighting, the posing…it’s all for likes.
Posting where they are. Where they go.
The complete transparency over their location floors me after being told not to tell people that stuff online.
I worry that a lot of young people are too aware of their social media standing and appearance and aesthetic and are forgetting to find and love themselves for who they are.
Botox in their early 20s. There's nothing there. What wrinkles are you trying to fix?
Buccal fat removal surgery.
I never heard it of it, so googled, wish I didn't as I shouted WHYYY??? and woke my cat up
Low-rise jeans.
Don’t do it, kids! Learn from our mistakes!
I like it TBH. I hate highrises, they make you look like you have a huge a*s and a fat stomach.
I am annoyed by the 90s high-water jeans paired with the ugliest sneakers ever. I have never understood fashion because I come from a poor family and I wore what my parents could afford to buy me. This included jeans that eventually were too short for me. I was bullied for my short pants.
But now everyone wants mom jeans. They are hideous and unflattering.
Note: this post originally had 58 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Why do we pit one group of women against another like this? We don't have articles about why younger men think older men are horrible, do we?
I think you may be reading this wrong. Most of these posts that weren't light-hearted were people worrying about the younger women, not criticizing or judging them.
Load More Replies... each generation has its thing. Internalised misogyny is a thing. Stop hating women for doing what they want to do. As long as they are not voluntarily submitting themselves to Republicans/Taliban/Gender Based Violence, it's fine.
I couldn't stand the whole post. A lot of these comments are rude, misogynistic and feel a little angry
Why do we pit one group of women against another like this? We don't have articles about why younger men think older men are horrible, do we?
I think you may be reading this wrong. Most of these posts that weren't light-hearted were people worrying about the younger women, not criticizing or judging them.
Load More Replies... each generation has its thing. Internalised misogyny is a thing. Stop hating women for doing what they want to do. As long as they are not voluntarily submitting themselves to Republicans/Taliban/Gender Based Violence, it's fine.
I couldn't stand the whole post. A lot of these comments are rude, misogynistic and feel a little angry
