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A graphic including five women of different races and a hand holding a sign that says march for our lives. One woman is holding a pride flag.

THE PRIORITIES OF YOUNG WOMEN IN 2024

The participation of young women has been consequential to every election outcome and subsequent policy shift since 2016. At the same time, young women know that our current political system isn’t working.

Bottom line, young women need to participate in our political process to ensure they can see meaningful change on our nation’s most critical issues—but there needs to be investment in the things that matter most to get them engaged.

1. YOUNG WOMEN ARE FED UP WITH POLITICS.

Young Women Feel Frustrated and Hopeless When They Think About Voting.

Overwhelmingly, young women are tired of politics. The leading emotions they share when asked about voting are frustrated and hopeless.

38%

FRUSTRATED

31%

HOPELESS

19%

HOPEFUL

19%

ANGRY

18%

INDIFFERENT

18%

SAD

7%

EXCITED

A Plurality Think Their Vote Has Little to No Power to Make Change.

Young women’s frustration comes from the belief that their vote holds little to no power to make change on the things that matter most.

A LOT OR SOME POWER

39%

NEUTRAL

13%

LITTLE OR NO POWER AT ALL

48%

“I live in Georgia. I feel like my vote doesn’t count much. I’m Black. I’m a single parent. There’s a lot of people that look like me. When we vote for governor, we still get whatever, so it doesn’t matter.”

– DISCOURAGED REALIST

2. BUT YOUNG WOMEN WILL TAKE ACTION FOR OUR FUTURE.

They Are Cynical But Hopeful About Our Government.

While they’re clear eyed about our government’s problems, young women do believe that our political system could work effectively in the future.

7%Agree with Statement A
57%Agree with Statement B
30%Agree with Statement C
6%Don’t know
statement A

Our government and political system work effectively to provide solutions for the issues facing American people.

statement B

Our government and political system do not work effectively now to provide solutions for the issues facing American people, but could in the future.

statement C

Our government and political system will likely never work effectively to provide solutions for the issues facing American people.

Young Women Believe We Can Make Change Together and That This Election Is a Choice Between Two Futures.

Young women believe in collective power. More than 80% agree that if we come together, we can push for meaningful change. They also understand that our freedoms are at stake in 2024, and more than three quarters of women believe this election is a choice between two futures.

When women come together and use our collective power, we can make a real change with our country and our government.
39%
44%
10%
7%
This election is a choice between two futures: one where we protect our freedoms or one where politicians try to control our lives.
37%
39%
14%
10%
  • Strongly Agree
  • Somewhat Agree
  • Somewhat Disagree
  • Strongly Disagree

“It’s up to us to make change. We’ve got to do it ourselves.”

– DISCOURAGED REALIST

3. PROJECT 2025 CLARIFIES WHAT IS AT STAKE.

Young Women Are Very Concerned About What the Project 2025 Agenda Means For the Future.

When Project 2025 is described to young women, they feel strongly that it is the wrong direction for our country. Overall, 80% of young women expressed concern for the agenda.

DEMOCRATS
60%
31%
9%
INDEPENDENTS
48%
35%
17%
REPUBLICANS
39%
25%
36%
  • VERY CONCERNED
  • SOMEWHAT CONCERNED
  • NOT CONCERNED AT ALL / DON’T KNOW

They Believe the Project 2025 Agenda Could Become Reality, But Not Strongly.

Young women understand that Project 2025 could become a reality, but they are not very convinced. Democratic women feel the most strongly about its potential with more than 70% expressing belief the playbook could become a reality.

DEMOCRATS
30%
44%
26%
INDEPENDENTS
25%
36%
39%
REPUBLICANS
17%
30%
53%
  • VERY LIKELY
  • SOMEWHAT LIKELY
  • UNLIKELY / DON’T KNOW

“A lot of people didn’t believe Roe v. Wade could be overturned, and that happened. If we don’t do our civic duty in order to protect these things, they could be taken away. I don’t doubt it.”

– IDEALIST

4. LIKE EVERYONE, YOUNG WOMEN ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING.

Cost of Living is Above and Beyond Their Top Issue, Just Like Most Other Voters.

By a large margin, the most pressing concern for young women is the cost of living. Not only is this a top issue for them, but it’s something they want to see our leaders take action on.

COST OF LIVING

48%

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE,
INCLUDING ABORTION

17%

ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT

17%

HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY

13%

IMMIGRATION

11%

TAXES

11%

GUN VIOLENCE

9%

EDUCATION

9%

Young Women Don’t Think They Can Meet the Same Economic Milestones as Generations Before.

Rising costs are a concern for young women now, but they also shape how they think about the future. They face a harsh reality, with a large majority (76%) believing they cannot meet the same milestones as their parents and grandparents.

76%

AGREE

18%

DISAGREE

5%

DON’T KNOW

“I feel frustrated. I have a good job, I have a graduate degree, I work at a hospital, and still I have to have a second job to cover all of my bills, and so do almost off of my co-workers.”

– IDEALIST

5. YOUNG WOMEN WANT TO SEE YOUNG, DIVERSE LEADERSHIP.

They Believe Old White Men in Leadership Are Causing Most of the Problems That We Face Today.

Young women are clear-eyed about who is to blame for the problems we face—old white men who hold power.  When asked, a strong majority agree that “older white men running wealthy corporations and running the country are causing most of the problems we face today.”

76%

AGREE

18%

DISAGREE

6%

DON’T KNOW

We Want Young, Diverse Leaders Who Can Provide a Fresh Perspective to Decision-Making.

Young women also know how to address the problems they face—with new leaders who can provide diverse perspectives. We are specifically looking to women of color to help make this change. An overwhelming near 80% majority agree that “having more diverse leadership in wealthy corporations and in the government, such as more women of color, could provide a fresh perspective to decision-making and could address many of the problems we face today.”

79%

AGREE

15%

DISAGREE

7%

DON’T KNOW
Methodology

These findings are from a survey and series of focus groups conducted by Lake Research Partners and HIT Strategies on behalf of Supermajority Ed Fund and advised by JG Insights. This survey consisted of 1,100 young women ages 18 to 35 nationwide, with oversamples of 100 Black women, 100 Latina women, and 100 AAPI women. Participants are registered to vote but voted in 50% or less of the last six federal elections they were eligible for. The survey fielded from May 20 to June 2, 2024 and the margin of error is +/- 3.0%. The focus groups included women ages 25 to 35 and were conducted online. Focus groups were held July 25 and 29, 2024.

© 2024 Supermajority Education Fund