178
needed” and the number of divorces in the Czech Republic is relatively high (al-
though in recent years it has been systematically declining). It may mean that
Generation Y is turning against trends set by Genera-
tion X. This tendency can also be observed in the re-
sponses of young Poles, as they have a different world-
view to the one of earlier generations.
Nevertheless, young people do see the need for
change. Almost half of millennials in the Czech Republic
and Poland recognise that their own country has an
issue with gender equality, which includes the gender
pay gap. Ninety per cent of Czechs and 80 per cent
of Poles do not think workplaces should be reserved
mainly for men in times of high unemployment, ac-
cording to the survey. Research on wage inequality by
the Global Gender Gap Report, which encompassed
144 countries, ranked Poland 124th (the lower the rank, the bigger the problem),
while the Czech Republic was ranked 81.
A statistical young Czech (just like a Pole) sees Europe either as a “necessary
evil” or only as a continent. It does not change the fact, however, that the vast ma-
jority define themselves as European. According to Generation What, the majori-
ty of Czechs worry about the increase in nationalist tendencies in Europe, seeing
it as something negative (their Polish peers, in general, view this trend as some-
thing positive). Therefore, the fact that over a half of respondents would not like
the Czech Republic to leave the EU does not come as a surprise; what is more, they
claim that Europe should accept refugees and educated people from other countries.
Over half of Czechs think that immigrants enrich their culture, while the same is
true for 43 per cent of Poles, 29 per cent of Hungarians, and 50 per cent of Slovaks.Not identicalYoung Czechs feel part of the European community, united by common values,
such as freedom and democracy. They see the EU as a place where there is a free
flow of people, open markets and capital. They believe that the economic crisis
which struck Europe has not affected them to the same extent as other places –
the majority claim the problem will soon become irrelevant and they assess their
material situation as good. Over 60 per cent state their happiness does not depend
on their material wealth (in contrast to 60 per cent of Poles who said happiness
does depend on their material wealth).Almost half of
millennials in the
Czech Republic and
Poland recognise
their own country
has an issue with
gender equality,
including the
gender pay gap.Poles and Czechs across generations Millennials versus statistics, Kinga Motyka