Young Women Increasingly Identify as Liberal: Poll

Young women increasingly identify as liberal throughout the U.S., according to new polling data.
On Thursday, new data from Gallup found that “much higher proportions of 18- to 29-year-old women today than women of this age range about a decade ago,” identify as liberal on certain issues.
In recent years, around 40 percent of women aged 18 to 29 have identified as politically liberal. This marks a shift from two decades ago, when only 30% of women in the same age group expressed liberal views.
For a growing number of young women, identifying as liberal goes beyond just adopting a label. Gallup reports that the percentage of young women expressing liberal views on key issues like the environment, abortion, race relations, and gun control has surged by double digits in recent years.
Lydia Saad, the director of U.S. social research at Gallup said that younger women “aren’t just identifying as liberal because they like the term or they’re more comfortable with the term, or someone they respect uses the term.”
“They have actually become much more liberal in their actual viewpoints,” Saad said.
As young women increasingly align on liberal viewpoints, they are becoming a more unified political group, which could significantly boost their influence, according to Saad. While it’s difficult to identify the exact reasons behind this shift, their growing consensus on key issues presents an opportunity for campaigns to engage and mobilize them more effectively.
Recently, young women have historically leaned toward the Democratic Party, with 65 percent of female voters under 30 casting their ballots for Joe Biden in the 2020 election, according to AP VoteCast. However, their turnout has sometimes been inconsistent, making them a less reliable voting bloc despite their political leanings.
The ideological shift among young women began during Barack Obama’s presidency, setting them apart from men in their age group, as well as older men and women. This trend gained momentum with the election of Donald Trump, the rise of the #MeToo movement, and anti-abortion efforts curbing reproductive rights. Simultaneously, more women—predominantly Democrats—were elected to Congress, governorships, and state legislatures, providing young women with increased political representation and role models.
Earlier this week, Taylor Swift, a 14-time Grammy winner, announced her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift posted to Instagram. “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press