What Makes A Life Well Lived? 38 Million Obituaries Reveal America's Answer
Your final 175 words capture cultural values. Researchers analyzed 38 million obituaries spanning 30 years to reveal what American society collectively values about a meaningful life, and how major crises like 9/11 and COVID-19 shifted those values.
Religion and caring dominate American obituaries. Tradition (particularly religious faith) appeared in 80% of obituaries, while benevolence (caring for others) appeared in 76%, far more than achievement, power, or pleasure.
Researchers analyzed 38 million obituaries spanning 30 years to reveal what American society collectively values about a meaningful life. Tradition, particularly religious faith, and benevolence, or caring for others, dominate obituaries. Major cultural events like 9/11 and COVID-19 have shifted how Americans remember the dead. Gender stereotypes persist in obituaries, with men remembered for achievement and women for caring. The study highlights how obituaries serve as cultural time capsules, reflecting evolving societal values.
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