Millennial and Gen Z women face an increasing risk of homicide and suicide compared to previous generations, despite being more educated, earning higher incomes, and being less likely to go to prison, according to a new report released Thursday.
Key Facts
The suicide rate among Millennial women aged 25 to 34 is seven deaths per 100,000 women, compared to four deaths per 100,000 women in the same age group from Generation X, according to an annual report from the Population Reference Bureau that heavily relies on federal data.
Teen suicide is more common among Gen Z girls compared to previous generations: the suicide rate for girls aged 15 to 19 in Gen Z is 5.1 per 100,000, compared to 3.1 per 100,000 for Millennials and 3.9 per 100,000 for Generation X.
The overall mortality rate among women aged 25 to 34 rose by nearly 40% (from 79 deaths to 109 deaths per 100,000) between 2019 and 2021, attributed to an increase in violent crime, according to the report.
From 2019 to 2021, the homicide mortality rate among young women rose from 3.4 to 5.4 per 100,000, with 2020 witnessing the largest annual increase in national homicides in recent history (30%), according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The maternal mortality rate for women aged 25 to 34 rose to 30.4 deaths per 100,000 between 2019 and 2021 from 19.2 deaths per 100,000 for women in the same age group between 2013 and 2015.
The report defines Gen Z as those born in 2000 or later, Millennials as those born between 1981 and 1999, Generation X as those born between 1965 and 1980, Baby Boomers as those born between 1946 and 1964, and the Silent Generation as those born between 1928 and 1945.
Main Background
The report attributes this rise in health and safety risks to several factors. Some young women came of age during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating gender disparities in health, social justice, and the economy. The American Psychological Association reported that Gen Z recorded the highest stress levels (6.1) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 5.6 for Millennials and 5.2 for Generation X. The Population Reference Bureau expects the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – which led to abortion bans or severe restrictions in many states – will increase maternal mortality rates among Millennials and Gen Z, with a demographic study estimating that maternal mortality rates could rise by more than 20% if there is a total abortion ban. Frequent use of social media also plays a role in these risks by contributing to increased suicide and self-harm cases among young women due to low self-esteem, poor body image, and worsened mental health, according to the Population Reference Bureau report.
Contradiction
Although the health and safety of Millennial women are facing increasing risks, they have made greater economic progress and are more educated compared to previous generations, according to the report. Millennial women hold nearly four times as many college degrees compared to Silent Generation women and one and a half times as many college degrees compared to Generation X. Their earnings as a percentage of men’s earnings have also increased, earning 89.7 cents for every dollar earned by men compared to 82.4 cents for Generation X women during their youth. A 2017 report from the Population Reference Bureau showed that every cohort of young women after the Silent Generation experienced increased incarceration rates. However, incarceration rates have decreased to 69.7 women in prison per 100,000 between 2019 and 2021 compared to 86 per 100,000 when Generation X women were young between 1999 and 2001.
Note
Side Effects
Increased race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy are risk factors for the health and safety of young women, according to a report by the Population Review Office. The homicide rate among Black millennial women is particularly concerning: there were 14 deaths per 100,000 women between 2019 and 2021, compared to nine deaths per 100,000 between 1999 and 2001 – an estimated increase of nearly 60%. Suicide rates among young white women have decreased, but they have risen among young women of other races, specifically Native American and Alaska Native women (26.9 suicides per 100,000). Women with bisexual orientations are nearly eight times more likely to experience disasters compared to straight women, while lesbian women are more than twice as likely to experience disasters compared to straight women, according to a 2022 analysis by the Federal Justice Office statistics. Women suffering from gender identity disorder are over three times more likely to experience violent crimes compared to peers whose gender identity matches their biological sex, according to a report from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Pregnant women and women postpartum are at increased risk of homicide, with homicide being the leading cause of death among this group of women.
Surprising Fact
Generation Z has been included for the first time in the Population Review Office’s annual report, but much of the data – such as maternal mortality rates and homicide rates – were unavailable for inclusion. However, the report showed that as Generation Z approaches adulthood, there are ten times the number of women in legislative positions in state congresses compared to the Silent Generation at the same age, and one and four times the number of women compared to millennials in 2016. They are also nearly 4% less likely to drop out of high school compared to millennials when they were teenagers, and the teenage birth rate for Generation Z is one-third of what it was for millennials.
Further Reading
Losing More Ground: Rethinking the Well-Being of Young Women Across Generations (Population Review Office)
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
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