Older Adults Are Sharing The Parts Of Society That Have Actually Changed For The Better In Their Lifetime, And It's Giving Me Hope

These days, it's easy to view the world as one big dumpster fire (because, well, it kind of is), but it's also easy to forget all the progress we've made as a society. Recently, I decided to ask older adults in the BuzzFeed Community to share the things they believe have gotten better in their lifetime. Here are just a few of the responses that seriously gave me hope.

1."The fact that society as a whole no longer prescribes certain life and career paths to attain happiness or success. People no longer HAVE to marry someone of the opposite sex, have 2.3 kids, and buy a house in the suburbs to be 'normal.' People can get married or not, have children or not, climb the corporate ladder or not. As long as you're happy and not obviously hurting anyone, people are much more likely to be happy for you."

—baobaopanda

2."When I worked for the government more than 50 years ago, women were not permitted to wear pants, and when I was in school in the '60s, we could not wear pants, only dresses or skirts. This was so ridiculous, and I was glad when the rules changed. I remember going to school in a snowstorm with my snow pants on and immediately being made to remove them before going to class. We've come a long way."

3."I'm almost 42. I've found that globalization and the internet have improved things (definitely not everything) in the sense that we have more access to communities and information that helps people figure out themselves, whether it's gender identity, sexuality, mental health, or even just knowing your employment rights. There are definitely downsides (huge ones), but these things have helped me unlearn all kinds of toxic behaviors and thinking. Not to mention open up my understanding of my mental health. It took me 30-plus years to recognize that I'm ace, non-binary, and have borderline personality disorder (BPD) and that just because I think I know something doesn't mean it's true."

—ginnistanton

4."Birth control options. I started out in high school on a shitty pill that gave me side effects. Now I have a copper IUD, and it's wonderful. I'm sure it existed back then, but it wasn't nearly as promoted by doctors. Mine never told me about it, and I don't think my insurance covered it back then."

5."Young women don't put up with the sexual harassment and body-shaming we have put up with for decades, if not centuries. They will call it as they see it the minute it happens, and I am here for it! Props to them! Young people also won't sacrifice their lives for a company or corporation that has no loyalty for them. If you want extra work and responsibilities from them, pay for it!"

—Anonymous, 61, Illinois

6."I'm 44 years old. As the boomers retire from my workplace, it's becoming a much better place to work. The boomer and hyper-capitalist mentality with unreasonable expectations and demands is being replaced with doable goals and efficiency. I should mention that I work in public service, so it's already ridiculous to have capitalist-type expectations in a not-for-profit-based service."

7."You don't need to go to the bank for hardly anything. I can't even remember the last time I went to the bank for most things most people would think of, like deposits and withdrawals. My last couple of times were for notary publics and for taking care of wiring mortgage money. Those aren't common for most of us. It's nice to just wire a friend money if you don't have cash or deposit a check if you get a rebate in the mail and not need to make a whole separate trip."

—redtoaster17

8."Bike helmets and seatbelts — better laws and design! It's a wonder we all survived childhood and teen years."

9."Weed getting legalized. Back in the '70s, we figured it would happen the next decade and didn't realize it would take 50 years. None of us are potheads anymore, and most of our partying days are behind us, but it's nice to be able to go to a store, pick up some herb, and partake without having to worry about breaking the law."

—edgycat84

10."Pet care. I lost a beloved dog to heartworm simply due to a lack of education about it. I don't even know what treatments were available in the '60s and '70s."

11."Everywhere I go, I see young dads pulling their weight with their kids. I can't go anywhere in public without seeing a dad pushing a stroller or wearing a baby. I feel like younger dads do a better job being equal partners in raising kids than previous generations."

—bringbackclippy

12."I am an early childhood educator, and I think I speak for ALL ECE teachers about how grateful we are for the Internet. Back in the day, we used resource books to complete lesson plans, and it was a challenge to find enough activities and new activities to keep little ones from getting bored. The Internet, along with Pinterest, has been a game changer. I can find activities, art projects, and pre-select library books, plus I can take workshops online if I'm pressed for time. As I enter my 26th year of teaching, I think of how much teaching has changed, complete with the use of technology for teachers, and we'd be lost today if it didn't exist."

13."I was just thinking today about how cool it is that sobriety is celebrated. People are more open about their sobriety milestones and wins, and I love that for us as a society."

—bringbackclippy

14."Mental health! I've got 15- and 17-year-old boys, and they talk about mental health with their friends, with me (mostly because I'm a therapist), and with their teachers — it amazes me. They talk about things that adults have a difficult time expressing. It would have saved me so much heartache if this line of conversation had been a thing when I was a teenager and in my early 20s. I absolutely love it."

15."I'm 50. Acceptance of LGBTQ folks. Well, more than what I grew up with. WAY more. I am proudly an ally."

—jrbowen

16."The ability to document events or memories has improved significantly from the early 2000s and before then to now. Phones can now take different photos and videos and even use different settings to make pictures look different in color or edit out certain things. Before, you often had to use a disposable camera, take the photos you wanted, and then take them to a store to get them developed. Still, you usually did not get many opportunities to take a picture because space was limited, and you couldn't even see it until it was finally ready for pickup. For videos, you usually had a tape or CD made and had to have a DVD or cassette player present to show these memories, just like you needed a photo album to show the photos. Now, anybody can easily see your pictures and videos."

17."Drinking and driving was semi-acceptable back when I was young. I got hit head-on by a drunk driver on July 4, 1980, by a 66-year-old man. He had a Ford F150 pickup truck. The only reason I survived was because I was driving my parent's Chevy Suburban. It was his third or fourth alcohol offense. At least now, people seem to have a better idea about being responsible."

—jealousaardvark36

18."Cancer treatment has come SO far. When I was a kid in the '80s, a cancer diagnosis was nearly a death sentence, but with today's early detection and advanced treatment methods, I now can think of more cancer survivors that I know than people who have died from cancer."

19."I had my first crush on a boy at 11. First crush on a girl at 12. I spent YEARS trying to figure out what this meant, struggling with internalized biphobia and not wanting to come out for fear of how everyone would treat me. I never did end up out with my family since I married a male-presenting person who doesn't think their non-binary identity is anyone's business, so we just let people assume we're a hetero-straight couple. My niece came out as lesbian at 11 years old with a passing comment, and her mom (my sister) accepted her just as casually."

"She has her first girlfriend now, at 12. No one cares other than friendly ribbing about her first relationship. My sister has been researching safe sex resources, so she's prepared to support my niece when she's ready to take that step in the future. It's just SO different from me at that same age.

I confess to being a bit jealous, but mostly just SO HAPPY for my niece and that she does not have to go through the years of struggle that I did."

—Anonymous, 42, Canada

20."Finding and pursuing hobbies and activities is MUCH better nowadays than in the '80s. When I was about 13, I wanted to take piano lessons. Since we didn't have the internet back then, my mom searched and searched, including scouring the yellow pages of the phone book and the bulletin boards at the grocery store, but had no luck. My backup interest was dance, and we found a tiny music shop that offered dance lessons in a small studio at the back of the store. I enrolled in weekly ballet lessons in a studio that barely fit me and four other students."

21."Fashionable choices for people in different size ranges. Growing up there was very little available in mid and plus sizes at the local mall that didn't feel frumpy (and pretty much nothing for older kids and tweens aside from a small corner in the back of department stores). Now, there are so many options online for people to express their personal sense of style at a range of prices. I love getting to see people show up in clothes they actually enjoy wearing!"

—glittergator

What parts of society do you believe have improved in your lifetime? Let us know in the comments, or fill out this anonymous form!