Recent Gallup analysis, examining over two decades of polling data, reveals a significant shift towards liberalism among young women today. Gallup’s study indicates a marked increase in the number of young women, ages 18 to 29, who classify themselves as liberals. Currently, around four out of ten young women in this age group identify with liberalism, an increase from two decades ago, when the figure stood at about three out of ten.
The liberal stance of many young women today extends beyond mere political labeling. A notable rise in liberal viewpoints among young women on key issues such as the environment, abortion, race relations, and gun control has been documented. “They have actually become much more liberal in their actual viewpoints,” stated Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of U.S. social research.
This growing alignment on liberal issues among young women could enhance their impact as a political demographic. Saad posits that the reasons behind this shift towards liberalism are varied, but the unified stance on multiple issues could significantly influence political campaigns aimed at engaging this demographic.
Historically, young women have shown a tendency to support the Democratic party – with 65% of female voters under 30 voting for Joe Biden in the 2020 election, according to AP VoteCast data. However, their voting turnout has sometimes lagged behind.
The divergence in political ideology among young women from other demographics, including men in their age group and both men and women over 30, became pronounced during Barack Obama’s presidency. This trend seemed to accelerate following the election of Donald Trump, amid the rise of the #MeToo movement and efforts to limit abortion access. The increased election of women, predominantly Democrats, to governmental roles has provided young women with new political role models and representation.
Gallup’s research indicates that the shift in political identity among young women is widespread, rather than being driven by specific subgroups. The political shift among young women was highlighted by Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in the last presidential election. Swift, on Instagram, lauded Harris and her running mate for their stance on reproductive rights. Since the Obama era, support for broad abortion rights among young women has increased nearly 20 percentage points, according to Gallup, alongside a similar rise in those prioritizing environmental protection over economic growth and advocating for stricter gun laws.
Now, according to Saad, a significant majority of young women hold liberal views on these key issues, accompanied by dissatisfaction and concern over the country’s direction in these areas. This cohesion and concern are seen as factors that could drive higher voter turnout. “You’ve got supermajorities of women holding these views,” Saad explained, emphasizing their readiness to vote based on these issues.
