A growing divide among voters under 30, with young men increasingly supporting Republicans and Trump, while young women remain staunchly Democratic, illustrates a new fault line in the electorate ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Sabrina Karim, associate professor of government in the College of Arts & Sciences, studies gender reforms in peacekeeping and domestic security sectors. She says the gender gap between female and male voters in the United States is likely to become starker during the 2024 election cycle.
"The gender gap between female and male voters in the United States is likely to become starker during the 2024 election cycle, especially as what the candidates represent are couched along such gendered lines," says Karim. "Former President Trump presents himself as hyper-masculine, an identity with strong undertones of violence and misogyny. Alongside his Vice-Presidential pick, J.D. Vance, who has proposed an agenda that would propel women’s rights in the U.S. backwards, the Trump ticket is unlikely to appeal to many women, especially younger female voters.
“Younger female voters might be more attracted to Vice President Harris, who stands in strong opposition to the hyper-masculine personality and policies of the Trump-Vance ticket. She appeals to younger women, who don’t want to lose their rights and see in Harris someone who will fight for them. Not to mention, she would become the first female president of the United States," Karim says.
For interviews contact Damien Sharp, 540-222-8208, drs395@cornell.edu.
