To wonder why up to 35 is now considered young

[thedaywewillremeber]

I’ve just seen an article where young people are referred to as being up to 35. Aibu to wonder why this is when it used to be 25 maximum that was viewed as a young person.

[DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult]

Because all the once young people are getting older, but still feel young 😂😂

[whatisthenewnormal]

Only if the categories are young & old!
35 is approaching middle age with a life expectancy of 82

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Where did you read that?

[Nottherealslimshady]

We live longer, spend more time in education, get married later, have children later, buy houses later, parents live longer.
Juliet was 14 (I think) and they were talking about how her father was waiting too long to marry her off.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

Good god, am I old now then?

[FuzzyPuffling]

Because when you see the attitude to older people in society, and often exampled on MN, you can see why no one wants to be considered old.

[Pepperwort]

It changed with my generation, last bit of generation x. Basically it now refers to the absolute last age we can call people young without laughing or having to face the fact that work no longer covers living costs.

[EugeniaGrace]

Because somewhere between 35-40 you become middleaged and could possibly have adult children.

But 33 is still, thankfully, considered young.

[AgeLikeWine]

Because society has changed.

When I was growing up I the 1980s, the overwhelming majority of people left school at 16 and got jobs, apprenticeships or joined government schemes, eg YTS. Some went straight onto the dole. Only a small minority went to university.

Now, all young people remain in full time education or some sort of training until 18, and half of all young people go to university.

This deferment of the start of adult life has a knock-on effect. People marry, buy houses and start families significantly later now than they did before 1990.

[MatildaTheCat]

I would say because very many young people now are in education longer, get married/ partnered later and have children later. Plus obviously, get on the housing ladder later. So whereas it was normal a few decades ago to be married with DC, mortgage and well established careers by the age of 30 many people are only just getting started.

Plus health is better overall and life expectancy longer.

[thedaywewillremeber]

It’s not old or middle aged in my view but not really young either.

[ParcelFarce]

Because youth is increasingly venerated/fetishised and nobody wants to let go of it...

Also because for my generation (millennial), at 35 many of us still have insecure jobs, no chance of ever owning our own home, rely on parents, etc, so still feel “young” in the sense that we’re very different to how our parents were at 35 in this respect. Not true for all millennials, obviously, but a sizeable proportion.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

I’m 32, married, child on the way. I feel pretty young!

[Mountainpika]

I see references to old people in their 70s. Then I realise, "That's me."
I don't feel old at all. Things have changed so much within my lifetime. Health care is better. My grandmother died when I was a baby, from cancer. That cancer could now be treated. My mother died of cancer in 1980 aged 65. Again, now she might well survive. There are more opportunities for people of all ages, including we oldies.

Life can still be good when you get 'old'. Don't be afraid of being 'old'. Think yourself old and you will be old whatever age you are.

[Ethelfleda]

Ah shit, I turned 36 this year.

[IdblowJonSnow]

I didnt graduate til mid 20s then was lucky enough to travel for a few years (working at intervals).
Didnt settle down until 30ish. Definitely still felt young at that point.
Maybe people feel younger these days as many people do things later? And live longer of course.

[likeafishneedsabike]

Life expectancy is longer so it stands to reason that youth is longer.

[TrainspottingWelsh]

Because the average person under 35 is probably a minimum of 40yrs away from retirement?

[GiantPinesAhem]

Wahoo!!! I'm...

Oh...

36...😭

[TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum]

It makes sense. Home ownership / comfortable retirement is a pipe dream for many under 40. Life expectancy will continue to grow as medical advances continue.

[LibrariesGiveUsPower]

According to my 87 year old Nan 40 is young. I’ll happily take her word on it.

[TableFlowerss]

Just googled it

Up to 35 young adult
36-55 middle aged (although pretty sure the majority of under 40’s wouldn’t consider themselves middle aged 😳 technically yes but not really😂

55+ older adults.

I suppose there’s a similar difference between 18-35 as there is to 56- 75 year old.

[Angelina82]

I’m 54 and as far as I know a 35 has always been considered as a youngish adults Nowadays though sometimes these young adults are still living at home and being infantized by their parents to such an extreme that they will still be babies well into their 50’s

[EveryDayIsADuvetDay]

Because its younger than I am
I am still young, ergo.....

[Noconceptofnormal]

I think the issue is that there's no word for between young and middle aged. I would describe someone of between 50-69 as middle aged and 70+ as old.

I am 38 and suppose have to accept that I'm not young in the true sense of the word, but I definitely would not describe myself as middle aged. So I guess I'd still have to use the word young.

Maybe a new word is needed. 🤷‍♀️