According to a Pew Research Center study, compared to older generations, it seems that Millennials–the 18- to 34-year-olds among us–don’t seem to think all that much about themselves. In fact:
- 59% feel they “self-absorbed”
- 49% view themselves as “wasteful”
- 43% call themselves a “greedy” bunch
At the same time, Generation Xers–those between 35 and 50–also said they’re self-absorbed and wasteful. See a pattern here?
Meanwhile and thankfully so, older folks seem to see themselves in a far better light. For instance, among those now between 70- and 87-years-old, the so-called “Silent Generation:”
- 83% say they’re hardworking
- 78% say they’re responsible
- 78% say they’re patriotic
Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, had a similar view with 77% calling themselves “hardworking,” 66% using the term “responsible,” and 52% claiming “patriotic.”
Unfortunately, when it comes to patriotism, only 12% of Millennials and 26% of Generation Xers identify with the term. Moreover, neither consider themselves particularly responsible, 24% and 43% respectively, nor hardworking, 36% and 54% respectively.
So what exactly does that say about them or, for that matter, America’s future?