Maura Healey, the Democratic governor of Massachusetts, identifies as a lesbian and claims to be Catholic. Recently, she signed a bill that liberalizes abortion access, allowing abortions up until childbirth. This has sparked celebrations among progressive women who advocate for the right to choose, yet many conservatives view late-term abortions as a morally questionable act against viable children, perceiving the celebrations as grotesque.
This situation underscores a political imbalance that conservatives often overlook.
A significant amount of commentary has been devoted to the radicalization of young conservatives, but there’s scant attention given to the parallel radicalization of young women toward progressive ideologies.
Conservatives express concern about youth engaging with nihilistic or extremist politics online. Figures like Rod Dreher have raised alarms over young conservatives being influenced by personalities like Nick Fuentes, leading to a mindset centered on resentment and despair.
While this concern is valid, it more or less sidesteps a larger issue. Even if some trends about young men hold true, it doesn’t necessarily mean they represent a broader political crisis. There are multiple dynamics at play, and the shift among young women is significant and can’t be overlooked.
In recent elections, women made up 53% of voters in 2024, a slight decrease from the 54% for Joe Biden in 2020. Research indicates that women are far more supportive than men when it comes to legal abortion, and are increasingly open to accepting changes in gender identity. They also seem to believe society isn’t doing enough to accommodate transgender individuals.
Additionally, women generally express more favorable views towards immigration reforms, supporting pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and opposing aggressive deportations.
This divide extends beyond voting patterns. Young women appear less inclined to prioritize having children, often placing professional ambitions ahead of family goals compared to their male counterparts. They also show lower levels of positive views towards capitalism.
However, it’s critical to note that women don’t have a monolithic political identity. Married women, for example, tend to lean Republican and uphold more traditional views regarding family and gender roles.
Race factors in as well. Critiquing liberal white women can be perceived as a sport among conservatives, largely because “whiteness” is seen as a socially acceptable target. Yet, voting data complicates this picture; in 2024, a majority of white women did vote for Trump, while Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, and Black women voted at significantly lower rates.
While white women are diverse in their political views, they aren’t the most progressive female demographic.
There’s a scarcity of literature addressing the worrying trend of radicalization among young women, despite strong evidence suggesting a leftward shift. Conversely, discussions around the toxicity of social media on youth often focus on young men, whether it’s through podcasts, gaming culture, or other outlets.
There seems to be a reluctance to examine the influence of platforms like TikTok, universities, and activist groups on young women’s political beliefs.
This is largely because young men are seen as easier targets for criticism. There’s little risk involved in calling them out, whereas scrutinizing women’s political conduct can lead to backlash.
It’s important to clarify that this isn’t an indictment of women as a whole. The conservative movement has many dedicated women—mothers, daughters, and advocates—who are deeply invested in shaping the nation’s future.
A society where men and women are always at odds is bound for trouble. The separation of individuals from their families and reducing them to mere political identities can harm national unity.
South Korea is witnessing the potential ramifications of this gender divide, with young people increasingly supporting different political beliefs and rallying around opposing identities. South Korea also records one of the lowest birth rates globally.
This doesn’t imply that political gender inequality directly correlates with declining birth rates, as housing costs and cultural issues also play roles. However, in a climate where individuals view each other as adversaries, building families becomes more challenging.
North Korea, despite its oppressive regime, has a higher birth rate than South Korea, suggesting that prosperity alone doesn’t guarantee family formation. Healthy societies can weaken when men and women can’t perceive each other as partners.
The fundamental unit of society is the family, rather than the individual. In a democracy, dividing men and women into opposing groups undermines family building and heightens conflict.
This narrative doesn’t advocate for more politicization but calls for a recognition of the dynamics affecting conservative communities.
Younger men indeed require guidance if they gravitate towards nihilism or extremism. However, the shift among young women toward leftist ideologies deserves equal attention from conservatives.
This discrepancy is particularly striking. Conservatives often argue that individuals are responsible for their moral choices, yet this principle seems to be conveniently ignored when discussing young women. If progressive agendas foster detrimental beliefs about critical societal issues, conservatives should openly discuss them, rather than treating women voters as a protected segment.
If conservatives want to deal honestly with the cultural challenges facing the nation, they must extend moral guidance to their daughters, just as they do for their sons.
It’s time to put an end to the gender wars and foster unity and family formation in America. To achieve this, conservatives might have to tell some women something they rarely hear: “no.”
