Old wives' tales

I just finished an article where the writer cited advice she got from her mom, which she filed under the heading of "old-wives' tales." I winced. A friend half my age did not. Is it generational?

I learned that old wives' tales were by definition suspect, unreliable, the kind of stuff old wives made up because I guess they had nothing better to do — and if you doubt the implied dig, ask yourself if you've ever heard someone refer to a silly idea as an old husband's tale. My friend just thought it was funny, which might be progress, or not.

Maybe the mom in question laughed because in that madcap family everyone makes jokes about everyone. Or maybe she's a good sport on the surface who secretly feels belittled — and figures if she spoke up people would just tell her to not be so sensitive.