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By the numbers

Embracing social changes

Today’s youth—those born after 1996—are much more likely than their older cohorts to endorse societal shifts like same-sex marriage and to accept people who identify their gender as nonbinary

APA Style leaf logo Cite This Article in APA Style
DeAngelis, T. (2021, October 1). By the numbers: Embracing social changes. Monitor on Psychology, 52(7). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/10/numbers-social-changes

young woman with short pink hair wearing headphones

How teens and young adults feel

48% said that legalizing same-sex marriage is good for society, according to recent data from the Pew Research Center. That compares with 47% of adults born between 1981 and 1996, 33% of adults born between 1965 and 1980, 27% of adults born between 1946 and 1964, and 18% of adults born between 1928 and 1945.

35% said they personally know someone who goes by gender-neutral pronouns. That compares with 25% of adults born between 1981 and 1996, 16% of adults born between 1965 and 1980, 12% of adults born between 1946 and 1964, and 7% of adults born between 1928 and 1945.

50% don’t think society is sufficiently accepting of people who identify their gender as nonbinary. That compares with 47% of adults born between 1981 and 1996, 39% of adults born between 1965 and 1980, 36% of adults born between 1946 and 1964, and 32% of adults born between 1928 and 1945.

59% say that standardized forms or online profiles should include options other than “man” and “woman” when asking about gender. That compares with 50% of adults born between 1981 and 1996, 40% of adults born between 1965 and 1980, 37% of adults born between 1946 and 1964, and 32% of adults born between 1928 and 1945.

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