Party lines are dividing Gen Z on big issues that weren’t political for their parents and grandparents: kids and marriage.
A new poll found that young men who voted for Donald Trump prioritize having children above all else — but being a parent is of so little importance to young women who voted for Kamala Harris, it charted second to last out of 13 options.
Something that used to be taken for granted as a rite of passage and fact of life has now become yet another matter for political debate.
It’s really no surprise, considering right-wing influencers are pushing family values hard — while the left has adopted an attitude towards marriage and children that’s ambivalent at best and hostile at worst.
The poll, conducted in August and September by NBC News, asked 18- to 29-year-old Americans to choose their top three priorities from a list that included a fulfilling career, emotional stability, owning a home, being spiritually grounded and being debt-free.
Marriage charted at No. 4 for male Trump supporters. Women who voted for the president, meanwhile, said achieving financial independence was their first priority. Having kids came in at No. 6, and getting married No. 9.
Both young men and women who voted for Harris prioritized a fulfilling career over everything else.
And marriage? Democrat-voting males ranked it a lowly ninth place, and women eleventh.
Having kids fared even worse with Harris voters: No. 10 for men and a mere twelfth for women.
No wonder there is fear of a baby bust
My generation is absolutely scrambled and at odds when it comes to love and marriage, and that’s thanks in no small part to the fact that we’re all absorbing very different life lessons fro our internet influencers of choice.
Jordan Peterson’s lectures about marriage routinely rake in millions of views. Ben Shapiro and his fellow Daily Wire hosts sparked conversation with the video roundtable “Why You Should Get Married Young.” Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, urges men to have as many children as they can.
Charlie Kirk went so far as to speak about Taylor Swift’s engagement on a recent episode of his podcast: “This is something that I hope will make Taylor Swift more conservative, engage in reality more and get outside of the abstract clouds. Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor.”
The bottom line: The conservative podcast world that is so influential with young men — even California governor Gavin Newsom admitted his son is a fan of Kirk — has embraced marriage, and embraced it strongly.
Considering statistics show that married men are wealthier, healthier and happier, they’re not wrong to do so.
On the flip side, the left has abandoned the idea that family has any intrinsic value.
Young women on TikTok are going “boy sober” and swearing off relationships with “voluntary celibacy” — viral movements that suggest love just simply isn’t worth the trouble.
Celebrities popular with Gen Z push anti-marriage and anti-child messaging. Model Emily Ratajkowski straight up celebrated calling off her marriage with a “divorce ring.”
And Zoomer pop-music icon Chappell Roan said on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast: “All of my friends who have kids are in hell.”
This “I don’t need a spouse” (or, for that matter, children) feminism has told left-leaning young women that pretty much everything else is more important than family.
That’s a very sad development. These are life decisions, not political footballs.
My generation is incredibly lucky to grow up in a moment when so many glass ceilings have been shattered for us.
Young women don’t need to choose between an “I don’t need a man” attitude and being a trad wife. And young men shouldn’t believe the only answers are having a submissive partner or turning into an incel.
Gen Z — male, female, right, left — needs positive, empowering messaging that teaches you can prioritize marriage, family and children, while also valuing independence, career and financial stability.
It’s time to make love apolitical again.
There is a bit of good news from the poll. The only thing men and women on both sides agreed on: Being famous came in dead last.