The Harvard Youth Ballot, the longest working survey of youth attitudes (18-29) associated to politics and public service, was launched on Thursday. By and enormous, the outcomes present an engaged younger citizens involved in regards to the state of affairs within the U.S. and aligned on problems with financial and gender equality.
Listed below are a few of our high takeaways.
1. Younger folks—particularly younger girls—say they may assist Biden’s reelection.
Roughly half (53 p.c) of younger People point out they may “undoubtedly be voting” within the 2024 normal election for president. This quantity is about the identical because it was within the spring of 2020, a really excessive youth turnout 12 months.
Amongst all People beneath age 30, assist for President Joe Biden is up 24 share factors over former President Donald Trump.
First coined by Ellie Smeal, writer of Ms. and president of the Feminist Majority Basis, the “gender hole” in voting refers to the distinction in the best way men and women vote. With regards to the Biden versus Trump rematch, the gender hole is pronounced: President Biden’s lead amongst younger males is 6 factors; amongst younger girls his lead is 33 factors, in keeping with the Harvard ballot.
2. Financial issues and reproductive freedom are high points for younger voters.
In an open-ended query about which nationwide subject involved them most, 27 p.c of younger People volunteered one thing associated to the economic system. From there, pollsters recognized 16 outstanding areas of concern and, in a sequence of randomized match-ups, requested survey respondents to determine which of the 2 points was extra necessary to them. Inflation gained each time—besides when paired with girls’s reproductive rights, the place it was thought-about the extra necessary subject: 57 p.c to 43 p.c.
Amongst younger girls, girls’s reproductive rights are amongst their high 4 points.
3. Younger persons are involved in regards to the state of U.S. democracy.
Forty-six p.c of respondents referred to as the U.S. “a democracy in hassle.”
“Younger People are rising from a pandemic that has examined our belief in democratic establishments and the bonds that unite us,” stated Anil Cacodcar, pupil chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Undertaking. “Regardless of this, younger People are extra prepared than ever to have interaction with these establishments to push for the change we need to see on the earth.”
4. Younger persons are more and more rejecting gender stereotypes, besides amongst younger Republicans.
Total, most youth reject gender-based stereotypes. However amongst younger Republicans, conventional beliefs nonetheless stay.
- Twenty-six p.c of Republican respondents say girls ought to prioritize kids over becoming a member of the workforce; simply 7 p.c of Democrats agree.
- Thirty-three p.c of Republicans suppose girls’s feelings make it more difficult to steer; 6 p.c of Democrats agree.
- Nearly half—46 p.c—of Republicans say girls are too promiscuous nowadays, and 14 p.c of Democrats agree. Separating the outcomes by gender doesn’t change the outcomes: Almost equivalent numbers of younger Republican males (46 p.c) and younger Republican girls (47 p.c) agree. However separating the promiscuity query by occasion does: Solely 18 p.c of Democratic younger males and 11 p.c of Democratic girls agree.
Up subsequent:
U.S. democracy is at a harmful inflection level—from the demise of abortion rights, to a scarcity of pay fairness and parental go away, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and assaults on trans well being. Left unchecked, these crises will result in wider gaps in political participation and illustration. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Modification, and centering the tales of these most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we’re redoubling our dedication for the subsequent 50 years. In flip, we want your assist, Assist Ms. at the moment with a donation—any quantity that’s significant to you. For as little as $5 every month, you’ll obtain the print journal together with our e-newsletters, motion alerts, and invites to Ms. Studios occasions and podcasts. We’re grateful on your loyalty and ferocity.
