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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 Power of Young Women in 2024

Young women know our political system isn’t working and that big corporations and power-hungry, out of touch politicians are to blame. But we also know we have the collective power to change that and get what we need: reproductive freedom and economic well-being.

A graphic with a pregnant woman in the center, a woman in a wheelchair to the left, and three people holding a sign that says reproductive rights to the right. A large stethoscope wraps around them. The phrase my body my choice is in the foreground.
A graphic with a pregnant woman in the center, a woman in a wheelchair to the left, and three people holding a sign that says reproductive rights to the right. A large stethoscope wraps around them. The phrase my body my choice is in the foreground.

We’re disappointed and ready for something new.

We’re cynical but hopeful about our government.

Over 90% of young women do not believe the government and political system work effectively but most (60%) are hopeful that it could in the future.

7%Agree with Statement A
60%Agree with Statement B
31%Agree with Statement C
2%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.

We are fed up.

Most young women are feeling disappointment/sadness (61%) and anger/frustration (56%) toward the political system.

61%

Disappointment/
sadness

56%

Anger/
frustration

24%

Exhaustion
AAPI respondents more likely to select Exhaustion (36%)

16%

Dread

15%

Hope

4%

Happiness

4%

Pride

2%

Don’t know

We don’t trust those in power to help us.

Though young women perceive that the decisions made by the government affect their personal lives, we have very low trust that those in power will make change on issues that matter.

Power to affect your life

Trust they will make change on the issues that matter

a lot

40%

7%

52%

2%

somewhat

27%

21%

29%

20%

a little

19%

20%

12%

33%

not at all

14%

52%

7%

45%

  • President Biden
  • Congress
A graphic with half a woman’s face and half a clock face in the center. The woman is wearing a hijab. A hand writing with a pen is below, a nurse holding a clipboard is to the left, and a one hundred dollar bill is to the right.
A graphic with half a woman’s face and half a clock face in the center. The woman is wearing a hijab. A hand writing with a pen is below, a nurse holding a clipboard is to the left, and a one hundred dollar bill is to the right.

We know what the real problems are—and we know who is to blame.

Out of touch politicians and greedy corporations are standing in our way.

When asked why the government is currently not working effectively, most young women blame it on politicians being out of touch with the daily life of most people (50%), power-hungry politicians seeking control (48%), or corporate money having too much influence (48%).

50%politicians are out of touch with the daily life of most people
33%too many old

white men in power
27%division and gridlock between political parties
48%power-hungry politicians seeking control
48%corporate money has too much influence
22%systemic racism
16%the two-party system
21%not enough people getting involved to
make our voices heard

“The American political system right now, it’s such a scam. I’m living through an experience that is absolutely not made for people who look like me, and yet I have to vote between two white men to then continue to see if I deserve freedom or rights.”

– 23-year-old woman
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.

We know that, together, we hold power.

We’re stronger as a collective than we are as individuals.

The perceived change-making power of young women as a collective is higher than their individual personal vote power. 42% gave a rating of “high power” to young women (between 7-10 on a scale of 10), while only 23% gave the same rating to the power of their individual vote.

Individual Vote Power
23%
29%
48%
Collective Power

of Young Women
42%
36%
22%
  • High power (7-10)
  • Moderate Power (4-6)
  • Low Power (0-3)

“I feel very frustrated by the American government right now. I’m very numb. I feel defeated. When I think about voting in general, I immediately have a gut punch that my vote doesn’t matter. It’s been enforced from the beginning that our vote doesn’t matter, but it does. We can come together to have a vote that matters. The more votes we get, the more powerful we are.”

– 21-year-old nonbinary person
A graphic with half a woman’s face in the center. The woman has an afro. To the right of her face are hands holding a megaphone and a sign that says women are voting. Behind the sign is a building with columns, a large dome, and an American flag.
A graphic with half a woman’s face in the center. The woman has an afro. To the right of her face are hands holding a megaphone and a sign that says women are voting. Behind the sign is a building with columns, a large dome, and an American flag.

We know we need to save ourselves.

We vote when we see change and feel represented.

When we asked about voting barriers, most young women selected that they did not know enough about candidates (32%), that candidates did not represent our values (31%), or that voting doesn’t change things that matter to us (21%). Few women blamed logistical barriers to voting.

you didn’t know enough
about the candidates

32%

the candidates didn’t
represent your values

31%

Respondents who rated women’s power as LOW were more likely to say candidates did not represent values (45%)
voting doesn’t change
things that matter to you

21%

System Cynics (34%) & Demoralized Dreamers (30%) more likely to say voting doesn’t change things
you didn’t think your vote
would be counted properly

18%

Independents more likely to say their vote wouldn’t be counted (26%)
inconvenience (e.g. long lines, distant
polling or ballot drop off location)

15%

you did not have
time to vote

13%

you didn’t know how or
when to vote or register

7%

your mail-in ballot
didn’t arrive in time

5%

there was an intimidating
presence at your polling place

4%

none of the above because you
faced other obstacles

4%

none of the above because
you always vote

31%

We’re ready to tackle the issues that matter to us.

Economic well-being is the top issue for young women. Pessimists (those who have a pessimistic attitude toward the current state of the world and have less faith that change is possible) also prioritize mental health and are motivated by reproductive freedom and the Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion.

economy & cost of living

61%

healthcare

35%

education*

28%

mental health*

28%

abortion access*

24%

gun violence*

24%

racism & discrimination*

22%

Black respondents more likely to select Racism & Discrimination (37%)
crime*

20%

climate change*

20%

AAPI respondents more likely to select Climate Change (35%)
national security

17%

immigration

13%

student loans

6%

don’t know or refused

1%

HIT insight: Several issues selected as important by about a quarter of our audience suggests a broad range of concern and perhaps overwhelm for this voting group.

Our priorities are clear.

When asked about personal priorities, economic security and financial security rise to the top alongside mental health and childcare.

52%economic security &

financial independence
38%improving or maintaining
mental health
36%having or caring

for kids
13%hobbies & free

time activities
34%work-life balance
20%advancing

career
26%relationships
34%improving or

maintaining

physical heath
16%contributing to

positive change
in community
17%caring for senior
family members
13%education

Supreme Court decisions drive us.

When polled on Supreme Court decisions, young women were highly motivated by recent rulings on affirmative action and abortion access.

41%

scotus end
affirmation action

35%

scotus block student
loan forgiveness

35%

scotus allow business to
discriminate against
lgbtq+ customers

46%

scotus struck down
roe v wade

Voting is one tool in our toolbox.

In addition to voting, young women also say they are likely to sign petitions and share their opinions with friends and family in person or on social media. Pessimistic young women believe boycotting a company is as effective as voting.

  • Total Effective (A lot + Somewhat Effective)
  • Total Likely (A lot + Somewhat Likely)
voting in
elections

77%

92%

Signing a
petition

63%

86%

contacting or
attending an
event with your
elected
representatives

64%

47%

sharing your
opinions with
friends &
family in
person or on
social media

53%

79%

attending a
protest

62%

47%

boycotting a
company

69%

65%

volunteering
for an
advocacy
organization

76%

60%

  • Total Effective (A lot + Somewhat Effective)
  • Total Likely (A lot + Somewhat Likely)

Read the Full Memo Here

Methodology

These findings are from a survey conducted by HIT Strategies on behalf of Supermajority Ed Fund and advised by JG Insights. This survey consisted of 1,000 young women nationwide, with oversamples of 100 Black women, 100 Latina women, and 100 AAPI women. The survey fielded from Aug. 15 to Sept. 5, 2023 and the margin of error is +/- 3.1%.

© 2024 Supermajority Education Fund