Gen Z's Understated Grievances Regarding Their Upbringing: Unspoken Irritations from Their Past

Unfiltered Take: 11 Secrets Gen Z Holds Against Their Childhood

Welcome to the raw, unedited version of a Generation Z's (Gen Z) perspective! Growing up in the digital era, these post-millennials have a unique set of experiences that shaped their lives, for better or for worse. Here are eleven things Gen Z secretly resents about their childhood but often keeps to themselves.

The Social Media Trap Generations Zed grew up with smartphones and social media just a click away, offering a world of fun and connection. But it also opened doors to challenges, including decreased privacy and an impact on self-worth. Surprisingly, a Harris Poll survey showed that about half of them wish social media didn't exist at all!

Related: 11 Modern Habits That Boomers Quietly Think Are Making Us Soft

Toxic Food Relationships The old-school attitude towards beauty ideals, diet culture, and food-related habits has followed Generation Z. Although many are actively working to unlearn these toxic ideas, they still bear the scars on self-esteem, identity, and relationships.

Related: 5 Daily Habits Of People Who Rarely Lose Their Cool, According To Psychology

Lacking Privacy and Independence Raised primarily by Gen X parents, Gen Z experienced helicopter parenting, which is characterized by overstepping privacy boundaries and solving problems for their kids. This lack of autonomy is a source of resentment that mainly surfaces in adulthood.

Related: 12 Common Gen X Childhood Experiences That Parents Today Don't Think Are Normal At All

** feeling Pressured to attend College** Gen Z was often promised a rosy adult life, but the same traditional paths failed to materialize the promises. These pressured routes have left many with unmanageable student loan debts and a sense of guilt.

Related: 11 Phrases Gen Z Will Never Use With Their Own Children

Ignoring Mental Health Growing up in an environment that discouraged mental health discussions, Gen Z's parents struggled with openly expressing emotions and seeking help for their mental health struggles. Although Gen Z is more open to discussing mental health concerns, they still feel resentment towards this restrictive upbringing.

Related: 10 Things That Used To Be Considered A Personality Trait But Are Now Labeled A Mental Illness

Being Overscheduled The packed schedules of Gen Z were designed to foster productivity, but they also led to burnout and a distorted perception of work-life balance. These poor time-management skills follow Gen Zers into adulthood.

Related: 11 Things Only People Who've Never Had A Real Job Think Are Hard Work

Being Labeled 'Lazy' In the eyes of older generations, Gen Z's focus on work-life balance and prioritizing well-being is often mistakenly labeled as laziness, causing tension in their intergenerational relationships.

Related: Parents Who Raised Gen Z Kids Are Finally Starting To Have These 11 Regrets

Lack of Safe Spaces for Emotional Conversations Communication gaps between Gen Z and their parents are common, as they struggle to discuss sensitive topics and childhood traumas. This disconnect is a significant source of resentment.

Related: 6 Childhood Moments A Trauma Therapist Wishes She Could Bottle Up For Every Kid

Unresolved Childhood Trauma Access to open conversations about mental health has allowed many Gen Z adults to unpack unresolved trauma from their pasts. However, the lack of support and understanding from their parents plays a part in perpetuating the ongoing struggle with these emotional scars.

Related: How To Build The Relationship You've Always Wanted (Without Losing Yourself)

Choosing A Career Path As A Child While some found their passions early and pursued them successfully, others were crushed under the weight of expectations and the pressure to follow traditional pathways. This tug-of-war between societal norms and individual aspirations can breed resentment.

Related: 11 Reasons Millennials & Gen Z Don't Care About Work

Being Dismissed: 'It's Just A Phase' Gen Z is breaking free from societal norms in relation to identity, self-expression, and non-traditional lifestyles, but older generations often dismiss these changes as "phases." This lack of understanding and support contributes to feelings of resentment.

Related: 11 Things Gen Z Thinks Are Beneath Them That Are Just Part Of Normal Life

Zayda Slabbekoorn is a staff writer with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies, focusing on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.

11 Things Boomers Find Absurd About The Way Gen Z Was Raised 11 Things That Feel Like Rejection To Gen Z, Even When They're NotMom Worried Her Introverted Daughter Is 'Missing Out On So Much' Because She Prioritizes Learning Over Making Friends

For many Gen Z individuals, the pressure to attend college and the resulting unmanageable student loan debts have led to feelings of resentment towards traditional paths that promised a rosy adult life but failed to deliver.
Growing up in an environment that discouraged mental health discussions, Gen Z has carried the burden of unresolved mental health struggles from their childhood into adulthood.
The lack of safe spaces for emotional conversations and the subsequent disconnect between Gen Z and their parents is a significant source of resentment for many.
In their relationships with older generations, Gen Z faces a lack of understanding and support due to the misinterpretation of their focus on work-life balance as laziness.
The impact of toxic food-related habits, beauty ideals, and diet culture on Gen Z's self-esteem, identity, and relationships continues to surface as a source of resentment in adulthood.
The importance of body positivity, mental health discussions, and personal growth are central themes in the stories of education-and-self-development that Zayda Slabbekoorn, a staff writer, shares, providing advice and encouragement for the Gen Z audience.