The global gender split in young people’s politics
Feb 10, 2024
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The podcast explores the trend of young men and women dividing by gender on their politics, with women leaning liberal and men leaning conservative. They discuss the influence of higher education, the Me Too movement, and social media on this global gender split. The South Korean gender divide is highlighted as one of the most extreme. The frustrations of young men in politics and the impact of gender policies on their views are also examined.
Young men and women under the age of 30 are starting to diverge on their political views, with young women becoming more liberal or progressive, and young men in some countries shifting towards a more conservative stance.
Increased female university attendance and the influence of movements like Me Too are believed to contribute to the divergence in political views among young men and women, with attending university seen as a catalyst for the formation of different values and beliefs and the Me Too movement leading to polarization of views.
Deep dives
Young women and men under 30 have diverging political views worldwide
Traditionally, men and women of a similar age have tended to have similar political views. However, in recent years, a new and surprising trend has emerged. Men and women under the age of 30 are starting to diverge on their political views, with young women becoming more liberal or progressive, and young men in some countries shifting towards a more conservative stance. This phenomenon is being observed globally, from the UK and the US to countries in Europe, East Asia, and North Africa. Factors such as increased female university attendance and the influence of movements like Me Too are believed to contribute to this change.
The influence of education and Me Too movement on political views
One possible explanation for the divergence in political views is the increasing number of young women attending university. Going to university is seen as a catalyst for the formation of different values and beliefs, which could explain part of the shift. Additionally, the Me Too movement has played a role, particularly among young women who have expressed indignation and anger at longstanding injustices. While some young men have joined this movement, others have resisted, leading to a polarization of views. The rise of social media has also contributed to the divergence, with male and female online spaces becoming increasingly separate.
Magnitude of the divergence and its implications
The magnitude of the divergence in political views varies across countries. In the US, there is a 30-point gap, with young women being significantly more liberal than conservative, while young men lean slightly more conservative. This gap widens in countries like South Korea, where young men exhibit a pronounced shift towards the right, accompanied by a progressive identification among young women. The reasons for South Korea's extreme example include the influence of the Me Too movement and economic frustrations among young men. As these divergent views persist into adulthood, the implications for future relationships and societal milestones remain uncertain.
In a surprising new trend, young men and women around the world are dividing by gender on their politics and ideologies. Whilst young women are becoming more liberal, young men are becoming more conservative. Tim Harford speaks to John Burn-Murdoch, Columnist and Chief Data Reporter at the Financial Times, about why this global phenomena may be occurring and Dr Heejung Chung, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, explains why the ideological divisions between young men and women in South Korea are some of the most extreme.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Debbie Richford
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Mix: Neil Churchill
Editor: Richard Vadon
(Picture: A couple with their back to each other busy with their mobile phones
Credit: Martin DM / Getty)
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