Why Young Grandmas of Gen Z are Emerging and the Societal Implications of such a Trend
It’s 8 pm on a Friday. Dinner of spaghetti and meatballs has been cooked, served, and put away; the kitchen has been cleaned. I have showered and moisturized and settled down on the couch with my crocheted blanket and black and white cat named Maple. With a cup of mint tea in hand, made with my blue tea kettle and locally harvested honey, I eagerly turn on PBS to watch my favorite show: Antiques Roadshow. At the ripe age of 20 years old, I embody the routine of my mother and grandmother. Instead of spending nights socializing at a bar or a club, my nights are filled with comfort and nostalgia in the comfort of my own home. And there are so many others just like me.
All across the country, Gen Z are turning to the rituals and lifestyles of their parents and grandparents. Know as the “grandma” trend, it is the phenomenon where young adults utilize tendencies, memories, or hobbies that represent motherly figures in their lives and use them at a young age, instead of socializing with others their age. Instead of bar hopping or drinking until 2 in the morning, they prioritize self-care, relaxation, and nostalgic rituals in their lives. From inner cities to rural college campuses, the newly named “grandma lifestyle” has been adopted by many thanks to social media, with people tapping into the nostalgic lifestyles of their parents and grandparents to bring them joy and comfort. This phenomenon is not just a random occurrence, but rather a change in lifestyle that Gen Z, including college students and young post-grads around the Philadelphia area. But why has this phenomenon emerged? What factors have turned Gen Zers from cars and bars to couches and beds?
It is no secret that inflation and money have become a problem for many following the COVID-19 pandemic. $4 carton of eggs, $6 gallons of gas, and the average college tuition costing a whopping $26,027 yearly are only some of the astounding prices that follow the 3.40 percent inflation rate spike since just November of 2023. This very same reason is why young adults are shifting from going out to embodying the grandma lifestyle at home. The cost of bar cover fees, tabs, clothes to go out, and Ubers to get home rack up a considerable amount week after week. Many people are skipping these experiences to not only save time but also save money. As Anna Gamble, a sophomore speech pathology student at Lebanon Valley University stated, “ I love the grandma trend because it is enjoyable, safe, and cheap”. College students and young adults alike would rather save money purchasing a new coloring book or a pint of ice cream to enjoy on the couch rather than hundreds of dollars every weekend on drinks, bar cover feed, and social experiences that fade into the wee hours of the night.
However, money is not the only reason that the grandma lifestyle has begun to emerge. Many young adults are expressing that they feel a lack of community, particularly a lack of a third place in their lives. A 3rd place is a gathering place for someone that is not home or work, tending to be a public space or a community-filled establishment that people visit or attend regularly. In the past, places like the library, board rooms, community parks, rec centers, and gardens. Other third places could include churches, community centers, and the gym. However, many of these spaces come with a membership fee these days. Not only this, but people are living farther away from areas where third places are accessible due to increased rent and home prices. In addition, many people feel a sense of anxiety when it comes to creating new relationships and attending gatherings that are not needed in their schedule. As Zoey Ritter, a public health student at Arcadia University stated, “I don’t want to go anywhere where I am not required to be by school, work, or softball. Everything costs money the second I leave the house.” Many young adults feel the same way as Zoey, with nowhere to go outside of school, work, or organized sports that do not require a downpayment. Insert the grandma lifestyle, which does not require any membership fee or downpayment, but yet a comfy living space at home and the social imagination of a 70–80-year-old grandmother. This has become the “ideal night” for many.
“I just don’t have the energy to go out anymore. I prefer a nice night in with a hot cup of tea and a show that reminds me of home,” said Molly Klose, a speech pathology student at Lebanon Valley College. Just like Molly, many members of Gen Z agree that society has drained them from wanting any additional social interactions than necessary. From work to school, to endless contact and communication through phones and social media, people cannot catch a break from one another. Therefore, the grandma lifestyle becomes a huge attractive factor for many. Instead of getting ready to spend a night out wasting away talking to people you would probably never see again, people prioritize self-care and filling back up their social battery by recharging at home. “My grandmother spent a lot of time at home cooking cleaning, and reading. This is how she recharged and now I am doing the same thing today,” said Taylor Migliore, an education major at Arcadia University. Just like our phones, we have to recharge our batteries to tackle everyday life. The grandma lifestyle is the perfect opportunity for this.
But what are the exact activities that Young Grandmas in the Gen Z community like to do on their ideal evenings? I interviewed multiple self-identifying young grandmas and asked them what a perfect evening for them would consist of. These activities, shows, and hobbies are just some of the many that thrill young grandmas during their nostalgic evenings in.
- Antiques Roadshow
- Full House
- Crotchequing
- Knitting
- Wheel of Fortune
- The Young and the Restless
- Jeopardy
- Old Rom Coms
- Wheel of Fortune
- Wordle and Connections
- Stitching and Needle Point Crafts
If you are here reading this and thinking to yourself “Man, these people are losers,” I’d ask you to try one night being a grandma. Save yourself some money and a whole lot of social battery by staying in. Turn on your favorite nostalgic TV show, pick up a hobby that reminds you of your grandma, and settle in for the night. It might just end up that you love the grandma life, just as much as I do when I settle down on the couch on a Friday night with my crochet blanket and my dear cat Maple, waiting to hear those precious words: “This is Antiques Roadshow.”
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