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Students who said their lives will be better than their parents' lives cite many
reasons for this optimism (Exhibit 10.6). Nearly one-quarter (23%) emphasize edu-
cation, second only to better jobs (29%).
Exhibit 10.6
Life Will Be Better Than Parents' Lives
Q517 You seem to feel that overall, your life will be better than your parents' lives. Why do
you feel that way?
Base: Life will be better than parents' lives, Internet respondents
Total
Base: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1319
%
Better jobs/income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Better/more education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
More/better opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Better/happier lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Happier family structure/values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Learned from their mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Life is easier now/parents had hard life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Advances in society/technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
More self esteem/goal oriented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Happier than my parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Parents have worked hard/helped me/learned from them . . . . . . . . . . .4
Smarter than my parents/wiser decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Life has changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Work harder/more responsible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Hoping/I want a better life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Not marry/not have kids/not immediately . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Want to be successful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Don't like parents/don't respect them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
I am different than my parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*
Parents are divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*
Not have a lot of children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Don't know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
No answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*
None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*
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