As we grow older, we all run the risk of clinging to outdated viewpoints. While age can bring wisdom, it can also lead to inflexibility.

That’s what this post is all about: looking at some behaviors that folks in their 70s sometimes hold onto, which younger generations today see as old-fashioned or closed-minded.

I’m not trying to put anyone down. In fact, I’m not far from that age bracket myself.

I’ve got friends well into their 70s, and I’m just a hop and skip behind them.

But the truth is, culture changes faster than a lot of us expect, and it can be tricky to keep up—especially when decades of life experience tell you you’ve got it all figured out.

In this article, I’ll walk through six of the most common behaviors that younger folks find outdated. 

Let’s jump right in.

1. Being dismissive of mental health issues

When I was young, mental health wasn’t exactly the hottest topic at the dinner table.

Plenty of people from older generations grew up hearing phrases like, “Just toughen up,” or, “Stop being so emotional.”

By the time they reached their 70s, they carried that tough-it-out perspective everywhere they went.

Younger generations, though, place a much bigger emphasis on talking openly about feelings, anxiety, or depression.

They see therapy as an important self-care tool, not a sign of weakness.

Meanwhile, some folks in their 70s might still believe that discussing mental health is a bit taboo or that you should just push on through without help. It’s understandable—stigma was rampant back in the day.

But the tides have changed, and mental health resources are recognized now as vital for everyone.

 Maintaining this dismissive attitude toward therapy and mental health concerns can push younger people away, making them feel that older individuals are out of touch or lacking empathy.

If you happen to recognize some of that “tough it out” spirit in yourself, consider trying a gentle conversation with someone younger.

Ask them how they feel about counseling, support groups, or even meditation.

You might be surprised at how open they are and how beneficial these resources can be for everyone involved.

2. Insisting on “tried-and-true” ways instead of embracing innovation

Change is a constant.

But for some folks in their 70s, the idea of embracing brand-new gadgets, apps, or techniques can feel overwhelming.

After all, if something has worked fine for fifty years, why replace it with something that feels less familiar?

The trouble is that a flat-out refusal to explore new ideas—especially around technology—can come across as closed-minded.

I remember joking with one of my relatives about smartphones, which they saw as mere “toys for the young.”

Then, my granddaughter started FaceTiming them regularly, and they realized that technology wasn’t just a gimmick—it was building a meaningful bridge between generations.

3. Clinging to traditional gender roles and expectations

Here’s a topic that can spark plenty of debate: the roles we expect men and women to play.

Many people in their 70s were raised with a pretty strict sense of who does     what in the home, how men should act, how women should act, and so on.

But younger folks have challenged those lines quite aggressively.

The modern world often sees partnerships where both parties share tasks equally, or there’s no traditional hierarchy at all.

Nowadays, it’s normal for men to stay home with the kids and for women to be the main breadwinners.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal to the younger set, but for some older individuals, it can be a tough pill to swallow.

When someone in their 70s makes comments like, “Well, that’s women’s work,” or “A man shouldn’t be cooking dinner every night,” younger people may roll their eyes and think, “Get with the times.”

My father would never have changed a diaper because he considered it “unmanly.”

My mother did just about everything in the house—her choice or not.

Looking back, I see how that dynamic put a ton of weight on her shoulders while limiting his involvement.

Younger families today prefer to share those responsibilities.

If you’re still holding on to some of these beliefs, you might take a step back and ask whether they really serve you, or the younger folks around you.

Often, letting people define their roles based on personal strengths and interests (rather than outdated expectations) can lead to more balanced and happy relationships for everyone.

4. Avoiding open, vulnerable communication

For a lot of people in their 70s, discussing emotions, struggles, or personal issues is something you simply don’t do.

Maybe you hint at it or speak about it indirectly, but you avoid direct confrontation of deeper feelings.

Many older parents I know rarely told their children, “I love you,” not because they didn’t love them, but because they believed actions spoke louder than words.

But younger generations usually place a premium on direct communication—sometimes to the point of oversharing, I’ll admit.

They want to talk things through, label emotions, and be vulnerable in a way that can seem alien to older folks.

So if someone in their 70s continues to keep walls up, or sees vulnerability as weakness, younger people might decide it’s not worth the effort.

5. Judging new forms of self-expression (fashion, music, lifestyles)

Let’s be honest—every older generation has grumbled about “kids these days” at some point.

But the world is moving more quickly than ever, and new trends pop up faster than you can blink.

Whether it’s music you’ve never heard of, unique fashion that confuses you, or lifestyles that used to be taboo, you can bet someone under 30 is embracing it.

Older generations might see certain tattoos, piercings, or alternative lifestyles and immediately think, “That’s just a phase,” or, “They’ll regret it later.”

Some might criticize social media influencers, drag shows, or any form of creative or personal expression they don’t understand.

But here’s the truth: just because something is new or foreign doesn’t automatically make it bad.

Younger people often feel stifled when older individuals impose their own definitions of normality on them.

Meanwhile, the older crowd might lose out on learning something fascinating about the changing world.

One way to bridge that gap is simple curiosity.

Ask questions rather than passing judgment.

If your grandson comes home wearing something you find odd, instead of saying, “You look ridiculous,” try asking, “That’s an interesting shirt—where did you find it?”

This doesn’t mean you have to like everything that’s new, but an open-minded attitude tells younger folks that you respect their choices.

6. Expecting unwavering respect and obedience simply due to age

“Because I said so.” That phrase might ring a bell if you were raised in a time when age automatically demanded respect.

In many cultures, older individuals were (and still are) seen as authority figures whose words shouldn’t be questioned.

Obedience was expected, period.

The catch is that younger generations now often feel that respect is something you earn, no matter how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

If someone in their 70s expects younger folks to bow to every whim or request simply because of generational seniority, it usually doesn’t go over well.

Age alone no longer guarantees respect in today’s society—you have to show that you’re willing to treat others with dignity and openness, too.

One more for the road, and it’s pretty darn important: it’s normal to want respect for the life you’ve lived and the experiences you’ve had.

And younger folks can absolutely benefit from your wisdom.

But you might consider stepping away from the “I’m older, so I’m right” mindset.

Engage in conversations on equal footing, or at least welcome the younger perspective. In doing so, you’ll probably find that they respect you more, not less.

Final thoughts

That’s all for now.

If anything resonated, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on how these changing perspectives can actually enhance your relationships with people of all ages.

We might not all be tech experts or therapy enthusiasts, but we can learn an awful lot from one another if we’re willing to try.

And who knows—by staying curious, we older folks might just discover a few secrets to aging more gracefully, all while bridging the generation gap.

Keep the dialogue going, and until next time, stay open to all the new possibilities life has to offer.