it took me way too long to realize that i can tell my boss to eat shit.

I think the difference in upbringing you're describing is a huge part of it.

Millennials went through spending our entire early adult lives being gaslit about how all the ways we were being abused were ultimately somehow our fault because our parents refused to recognize the systemic issues we were facing.

We may have come to the realization late, but we can certainly make sure younger generations know that they can and should call bullshit when they see it.