Share of Gen Z respondents who believe select social issues are important U.S. 2022
In 2022, 89 percent of surveyed Generation Z said that protecting access to clean water and fresh air was important to the kind of America in which they want to live, followed by 88 percent who advocated for the importance of reducing gun violence and mass shootings in America.
These findings may reflect the fact that Americans have been experiencing a rise in gun-related violence, mass shootings, and climate change concerns in the last few years, at the same time that Gen Z has been aging into adulthood. In addition, Gen Z have had to grow up in midst of political tension following social conflicts such as the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, race-related protests over police brutality, and a ban on abortion recently implemented in many U.S. states, making it unsurprising that the majority of the generation also promoted the importance of preserving individual rights and freedoms, addressing systemic racism, upholding women’s reproductive rights, and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable populations.
Differing from older generations in the U.S., Gen Z were least likely to identify as Republican, to trust in the government, and to say that they are proud to live in the United States, with only 16 percent of Gen Z being proud to live in the U.S. in comparison to 73 percent of Baby Boomers. Gen Z were also found less likely to have a religious upbringing or have participated in religious services when they were growing up. In addition, they were found more likely to identify as part of the LGBTQ community.
A Gen Z perspective
These findings may reflect the fact that Americans have been experiencing a rise in gun-related violence, mass shootings, and climate change concerns in the last few years, at the same time that Gen Z has been aging into adulthood. In addition, Gen Z have had to grow up in midst of political tension following social conflicts such as the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, race-related protests over police brutality, and a ban on abortion recently implemented in many U.S. states, making it unsurprising that the majority of the generation also promoted the importance of preserving individual rights and freedoms, addressing systemic racism, upholding women’s reproductive rights, and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable populations.
Generational differences
Differing from older generations in the U.S., Gen Z were least likely to identify as Republican, to trust in the government, and to say that they are proud to live in the United States, with only 16 percent of Gen Z being proud to live in the U.S. in comparison to 73 percent of Baby Boomers. Gen Z were also found less likely to have a religious upbringing or have participated in religious services when they were growing up. In addition, they were found more likely to identify as part of the LGBTQ community.
