Generational assumptions are like a wall dividing all people; trapping us in the narrow confinements of stereotypes. By knocking down these walls, we can see all the unique experiences and depth within humans. Generational assumptions usually occur because of the way people are raised. Someone who was born in 1960 and raised through the 1970s and through the mid-late 1980s won’t act the same as someone born in 2000 and raised through the 2010s and through the mid-late 2020s. This is all because of our social-cultural perspective. The way we were raised, the culture we were born into, the religion we were taught, and the people we are surrounded by, all contribute to a social-cultural perspective. This also means that the outlook we have on people younger or older than us is different. Assumptions made that all Generation X are “Karens”, that all Millennials are “cheugy”, that all Generation Z is “technology-addicted”, and that all Generation Alpha are “iPad Kids” can be harmful and untrue, but how do we fix it?
Understanding the generations is crucial to knowing where you lay among them and how other perspectives may be different from your own. Baby boomers were born between 1946-1964, Generation X was born between 1965-1979, Millennials were born between 1980-1994, Generation Z was born between 1995-2012, and Generation Alpha was born between 2013-2024, each generation has its unique traits. Since these generations spread across eight decades, it is accurate to assume that how people were raised affects how they view others. No two people have the same point of view. Perspectives are the foundation of why we see each other differently. As previously stated, someone raised in the 1970s will view the younger generations differently, they may think this makes the younger generations “immature” or “incapable”. The same goes for the younger generations, people raised in the 2000s may think that the older generations are “too strict” or “too judgemental”. This stems directly from how well a generation can empathize. It is how well we can place ourselves into the “shoes” of others to understand why they may think that way. 
By creating these assumptions, it greatly impacts cross-generational relationships. This means how we interact with our parents, our mentors, our siblings, and any relationship that crosses generations (ex: Gen z and Millennial, Millennials and Gen Alpha, Gen X and Gen Z, etc.) this is harmful because it keeps the walls dividing generations strong. One of the most recent examples of misunderstandings between generations started with Eminem’s newest album. Gen X and millennials grew up with and watched Eminem’s rise to fame. Since Gen X and some Millennials already see Gen Z as “the woke generation” and trying to “cancel Eminem” once this album was released they immediately directed attacks at Gen Z. While Gen X and Millennials were directing their unnecessary jabs at Gen Z, Gen Z was completely blindsided and didn’t know where these allegations came from. This is one of many assumptions a generation can make. Another common assumption Gen Z makes is that all of Gen Alpha is annoying and that they won’t have kids because of the annoyances Gen Alpha has made for Gen Z. Truthfully, Gen Alpha is still growing, and they are a direct outcome of their upbringing.
It isn’t realistic to mend all of the flaws between generations, however, we can certainly stay open-minded and change our negative opinions on such generalized groups of people. Have conversations with those you wouldn’t normally give attention to, learn from other generations, and learn that they aren’t all what you may assume. Suppose we as a society lower our guards and give more people a chance to prove they are more than their generation. In that case, the metaphorical walls between generations will weaken, and allow for better connections to be made across all generations.
