You try again.
"On the whole" inicates a generalization. "American women on the whole have never been as ungrateful and as hard to please as they are right now," and the problem with the current crop in college is likely to get worse.
If you disagree, name a time in the past when, on the whole, American women were more ungrateful than they are right now.
What do you think they are required to be grateful FOR?
This "lack of gratitude' thing isn't part of my life, or my husband's, but it seems to be a big thing for you, so please explain... Exactly what do you offer that all women are increasingly ungrateful for?
Obviously, it is a generalization. Your generalization encompasses a much greater slice of the female population than college girls and Oprah listeners. Hence, your use of the "on the whole". That means the majority, doesn't it?
As to your "name me a time when women were more ungrateful than today", that's just silly. I don't think they ask that question during census taking so there aren't any stats to prove or disprove the point.
You feel that woman are more ungrateful now than ever before. Fine. You are entitled to your opinion, just as I am entitle to mine, which is, you hang around with the wrong women.