A Growing Political Divide Between Young Men and Women
The gender gap in American politics is nothing new—but among Gen Z, it’s widening into a full-on chasm. A new NBC News/SurveyMonkey “Stay Tuned” poll reveals that Gen Z women and men are not only divided on President Trump, but on Elon Musk, immigration, abortion, and the very direction of the country.
The numbers speak for themselves. Just 24% of Gen Z women approve of Trump’s job performance, compared to 45% of Gen Z men—a 21-point split. That’s the widest gender difference in any age group surveyed. And when it comes to immigration and Trump’s handling of key policy issues, Gen Z women consistently lean more progressive than their male counterparts.
Gen Z Women Are Driving the Democratic Base
Gen Z women are leading the charge toward the left. Over half (52%) identify as Democrats—the largest share of any gender and age group across the poll. In contrast, only a third of Gen Z men say the same, while 38% of them identify as Republicans—nearly double the number of Republican-leaning women in the same age range.
This political imbalance is already redefining partisan engagement. Gen Z women are not just more liberal, they’re also more critical of the current state of the country—only 20% think the U.S. is on the right track, compared to 37% of Gen Z men.
Culture Wars Cut Deeper With Gen Z
The gap goes beyond political parties. Gen Z men and women are clashing on cultural identity, national pride, and values. For instance, only 18% of Gen Z women say they’re “extremely proud” to be American, half the rate of young men. A significant 22% of Gen Z women say they’re “not at all proud,” compared to just 13% of Gen Z men.
This divide extends to how they consume information. Twice as many Gen Z women say TikTok is their favorite news source, while Gen Z men prefer YouTube by the same margin.
Different Priorities, Different Americas
Their issue priorities don’t match either. Gen Z men are most concerned about the economy (31%), while Gen Z women are more worried about threats to democracy (22%) and abortion access (16%)—an issue only 4% of young men flagged as their top concern.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs are also a dividing line. A solid 85% of Gen Z women support DEI efforts, compared to 63% of young men. While majorities of both disapprove of Trump’s handling of DEI, women (78%) are much more opposed than men (54%).
Gender Identity and Roles Are Flashpoints
When it comes to gender identity and traditional roles, Gen Z is split sharply down the middle. Nearly 70% of Gen Z men agree there are only two genders, compared to just over half of Gen Z women. And 72% of Gen Z men believe transgender women should not compete in female sports, while only 56% of women feel the same.
Even on traditional gender roles like homemaking, there’s a values gap: three-quarters of Gen Z women reject the idea that the country would be stronger if women stayed in traditional roles, while only 58% of Gen Z men strongly disagree.
A Political Generation at a Crossroads
The takeaway? Gen Z is not just politically engaged—it’s politically fractured by gender in ways not seen in previous generations. As younger voters continue to grow into the electorate, these deep divisions could shape not just election cycles, but the very culture of American democracy for years to come.
