• by MaryLeigh Bliss , Columnist, January 13, 2017

We compare young males’ and females’ behavior in every survey we do, and while these generations might be known for their gender-blurring tendencies, there are, of course, major differences in their behavior beyond social media.

For example, the kind of food trends they’re trying differ by gender: About 42% of 13-33-year-olds consider themselves foodies, but females are more likely to try healthy trends like quinoa and spiralized veggies, while young males are more likely to try the crafts beer and beer bar trends.

We dipped into more of our monthly survey data to find three more things that Millennial females are doing more than Millennial males: 

1. Worry about money

In our recent look at young consumers’ personal finances, we asked how 13-33-year-olds feel when they think about money, and females were far more likely to have negative emotions: 37% said they feel worried about money, compared to 18% of males, 39% said they feel overwhelmed compared to 20% of males, and 32% say they feel nervous, compared to 26% of males. Females were also less likely than males to say they feel knowledgeable and confident. Their more negative views are likely due to their higher debt and lower wages: The Wall Street Journal reports that the gender wage gap is a real savings limitation for Millennial women: the median personal income for men was $10,300 higher than their female counterparts, and 54% of Millennial women report having to live paycheck-to-paycheck, compared to 43% of men. 

2. Use an iPhone

Millennials and iPhones go together like bread and butter, right? Well, while over half of 13-33-year-olds overall say they currently have an iPhone, females are the leaders in iPhone ownership: 57% say they own an iPhone, compared to 49% of males. In fact, males’ phone ownership is split nearly 50/50 between Android and iPhone. Millennial females’ prioritization of tech aesthetics could be behind the disparity. 

3. Get tattoos

Like iPhones, tattoos fit right into the stereotypical picture of Millennials—we found that 20% of 18-33-year-olds (28% of 30-33-year-olds) are currently inked. But interestingly, females are more likely to be sporting body art: 26% say they currently have a tattoo, compared to 14% of males. Millennial females without a tattoo are also more likely than males to say they are interested in getting one, and that they think there is less of a stigma towards tattoos than there used to be.