In a political climate ripe with increasing polarization, one can only help but wonder whether this increasing division is sustainable. A variety of political scholars and experts have argued that our nation is facing the most political polarization since the civil war.[1] Others have gone so far as to claim that we actually are on the verge of civil war.[2] If the stakes are this high, it would behoove us to examine the next generation of voters—high school students—where the seeds of political identity are already taking root. By understanding how gender divides political engagement at this formative stage, we might gain insight into just how deep this polarization could run in the years to come.
I’m a student at Whitney High School, a predominantly Asian, middle class school in Southern California. Recently, our school hosted a “mock election,” where the school distributed hundreds of ballots very similar to the general election ballot, meaning that they had the same presidential candidates, most of the same propositions, and the choice to vote for Californa’s senator in the upcoming 2024 election. Throughout the day of mock election, I was switching constantly from voting booth to voting booth just to gauge student engagement and voter turnout. One aspect of this engagement that stood out to me in particular was the huge gender gap between boys and girls who were voting. Boys confidently shouted to each other “Trump 2024,” “Make America Great Again!” and “Trump is the GOAT!” Obviously, not all boys acted this way, but it felt like a majority, or at least strong plurality of them were.
Girls, on the other hand, tended to be much quieter while voting, but in their silent conversations, I overwhelmingly heard “Harris.” The enthusiasm may not have been as outwardly expressed, but the consensus among girls at Whitney was clear. Boys also tended to be much quieter when other girls were nearby, which indicated they were uncomfortable expressing who they were going to vote for.
This trend of gendered voting behavior at Whitney High School mirrors larger national trends. Statistical evidence from various studies shows that men and women often differ significantly in their political preferences. According to exit polls from the 2020 U.S. election, there was a 12-point gender gap in voting, with 57% of women supporting Joe Biden compared to only 45% of men.[3] This trend is most pronounced in younger people, with polls showing that president Biden has a 33 point lead with women between the ages of 18 and 29, compared to only a 6 point lead for men who fall within this age range.[4] Other polls indicate that the plurality of high school boys lean conservative, with a recent study indicating that only 13% of 12th grade boys in high school identify as liberal, and 26% identifying as conservative. This exact opposite trend is shown in high school girls, with 30% identifying as liberal, and only 12% as conservative.[5]
The vast majority of these high school boys were undecided, but this trend is still concerning for those who are increasingly worried about political polarization. This could certainly have a very negative impact for the future of the nation, as this cross-gender polarization could result in increased social stigma and isolation, as young men and women may find themselves siloed into echo chambers that reinforce their political beliefs while marginalizing those who hold opposing views. This could result in each gender stigmatizing the other, with girls labeling all boys as “backwards” or “sexist” just because a plurality of young boys are conservative, with boys believing that girls as “naive” or “overly emotional” because they perceive all girls to be liberal.
When I asked a friend of mine why he voted for Trump in the mock election, his answer was “It already feels like the world is going to end. I might as well vote for the candidate who makes me laugh.” I don’t believe he was referring to climate change specifically, or any other policy issue. He was expressing a broader pessimism for the future that has largely been mirrored by Gen Z, and in a deeper sense, disillusionment with the entire political system. This disillusionment didn’t result in him feeling that Trump was the solution, but rather that Trump was a protest vote against the political establishment.
Another reason that I think highschool boys tend to gravitate towards Trump is because he is viewed as “tough” and “hyper-masculine,” specifically with his brashness and unapologetic confidence. This perception is unique to Donald Trump, and isn’t extended to all Republicans, though it does occur to a notable degree. One trend that stood out as votes were being counted was the huge number of ballots that voted for Trump as president, Adam Schiff (D-CA) for Senate, and then voted Yes on every single liberal proposition. In these cases, Trump was a uniquely popular candidate, even if he didn’t align with the ideological positions of the students who were voting.
The voting patterns seen during Whitney High’s mock election is more than just an interesting data point—it’s a glimpse into the future of America’s political landscape, where young men and women are moving in radically different political directions, ultimately resulting in more political polarization. While this generation’s political future remains uncertain, understanding these divides could offer significant insights into where we are headed as a country.
Sources:
1. https://www.ussc.edu.au/america-more-divided-than-at-any-time-since-civil-war
2. https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781982123215
3. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-younger-voters-will-impact-elections-the-gender-gap/
4. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-growing-gender-gap-among-young-people/
5. https://reason.com/2023/08/03/no-most-high-school-boys-arent-conservative/
