The 2024 election has become a fascinating referendum on gender roles, especially among Gen Z voters. There’s an undeniable trend: young women are breaking for Kamala Harris, while young men are favoring Donald Trump. It’s a divide that tells us a lot about the anxieties, aspirations, and needs of a generation that has been handed an economic and social deck much different from their parents’. Let’s look at why.
A Historic Gender Gap
The gap between young men and women voters in this election is staggering—far larger than in any other generation. Recent polls reveal a 51-point gap between men and women under 30: young women overwhelmingly support Vice President Kamala Harris by 38 points, while young men lean towards Donald Trump by 13 points.
This divide isn’t just about political parties; it’s about diverging views on their place in society, economic security, and how gender roles are evolving.
Why Young Women Are Energized by Harris
For young women, Harris represents hope—a sense of pride and a departure from the status quo. Many of these women were disillusioned by the lackluster choice of Trump vs. Biden in previous elections. The difference this time? Kamala Harris.
As Claire Cain Miller of The New York Times points out, young women feel invigorated by her candidacy in a way that they never did for Biden. They see Harris as a leader who not only champions issues like climate change, reproductive rights, and teacher pay but also embodies their values. As Constance Lancelle from Milwaukee put it, “I feel like politics have been a dream” now that Harris is leading the ticket.
This is a generation of women shaped by movements like #MeToo, the rollback of Roe v. Wade, and climate activism. Harris’s policies speak to those core concerns, and her candidacy taps into the belief that the future can still be written in a progressive, inclusive, and equitable way.
These young women are not naïve optimists; they are hopeful realists. Many of them, like Eloisa Gloria, are voting for the first time with a candidate they genuinely support rather than settling for the lesser of two evils. This shift has energized young female voters who are not only ready to support Harris but are also proud to do so.
Why Young Men See Trump as an Answer
The picture for young men is different. Many feel that their place in American society is under threat. They’ve grown up in an era where traditionally masculine roles—those of provider, worker, protector—are being redefined, and not necessarily in ways that have benefited them. For them, the last few decades have been characterized by economic insecurity, the decline of blue-collar jobs, and a growing feeling that men are being left behind.
As Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life, observes, “Economically they’re getting shafted, politically they’re getting shafted, culturally no one’s looking out for them”. They see Trump as someone who “gets it”—a leader who acknowledges their struggles and speaks to their frustration with unapologetic bravado.
These young men are not necessarily socially conservative. Many support abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, and other progressive social stances. But they feel marginalized in a society that increasingly doesn’t seem to value traditional male roles. To them, Trump is not just a politician but a symbol of strength and unapologetic masculinity. Alec Torres, a 21-year-old retail worker, encapsulates their plight: “We can’t afford to have children, we can barely afford three meals a day… I want to live, not just survive”.
For these men, the economic anxieties of not being able to fulfill traditional roles as providers are a major factor driving their support. The Republican Party, with Trump at its helm, has leaned into this portrayal of masculinity—emphasizing toughness, self-reliance, and resilience, even if at times exaggerated. This “testosterone ticket,” as some have called it, is resonating with young men who feel they have no place in the Democratic vision of America.
Gender Roles and the Future of American Politics
What we see here is more than just a split in political preference. It is a reflection of the deeply gendered expectations still at play, even in one of the most progressive generations yet. The right embraces conventional masculinity, whereas the left is often seen as critical of it, leaving many young men feeling alienated. Conversely, the left celebrates female progress, resonating with young women who are eager to claim their place in a rapidly evolving society.
The challenge for both political parties is clear. For Democrats, the path forward isn’t just about championing progressive values but also addressing the economic and social anxieties of young men who feel left behind. A failure to do so may result in a generation of young men who increasingly feel like there’s no room for them in the modern American left.
For Republicans, the opportunity lies in addressing the economic needs of these young men while avoiding the more toxic elements that have characterized the extremes of their rhetoric. The appeal to masculinity does not need to come at the expense of empathy and social progress.
The 2024 election is exposing a deep gender divide among Gen Z voters that is as much about identity and societal roles as it is about policy and party. Young women are leaning left, excited by the possibilities of progressive change embodied by Kamala Harris. Young men, feeling the sting of economic insecurity and cultural marginalization, are turning to Trump as a beacon of traditional strength.
American politics has always been about the interplay of hope and fear. This year, those emotions are being felt along gender lines more sharply than ever. To build a future that includes everyone, our leaders must acknowledge these divides and work to ensure that young men and women alike see a place for themselves in the American dream.
Cain Miller, C. (2024, August 24). These young women didn’t want to vote for Biden. They’re all in on Harris. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/24/upshot/harris-polling-young-women.html
Cain Miller, C. (2024, August 24). Many Gen Z men feel left behind. Some see Trump as an answer. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/24/upshot/trump-polls-young-men.html
Otis, J. (2024, August 27). The gender gap among Gen Z voters, explained. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/insider/the-gender-gap-among-gen-z-voters-explained.html