Women prob have less disposable income too based on income inequality as well as family first responsibilities (thank god cause we are louches).
I actually read somewhere that, although men (on average) earn more money, women spend the most of it
the one constant theme is that the middle class just doesn't have the expendable income it once had...
I personally think economy is a huge piece of why the younger generation is not collecting as much. My classmates from university who were able to get jobs had to move to big cities. We're talking tiny studio apartments. They don't have basements or attics to store things in, let along a closet to keep holiday decorations for every season of the year. The few (top one percent) who become corporate execs move to affluent suburbs and get cavernous McMansions with blank, white walls. That minimalistic look is really en vogue right now. I reckon it complements the vaulted ceilings. Oh, and did I mention the hours? If you are working a "professional" position, I am always told to expect a salary (not hourly pay) so they can make you work 80 hours a week without overtime. I cannot imagine finding the time or energy for a hobby with those kind of hours (not easily, anyway!). Tait, you bring up some really interesting cultural reasons, too.