September 24, 2024

The Politics of Progress and Privilege: How America’s Gender Gap Is Reshaping the 2024 Election

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond

The United States is undergoing a long and turbulent transition as Americans reassess traditional gender dynamics and the historic advantages that men have had in society. Concerns about gender inequality and the challenges women face have become much more polarized. Women still believe significant efforts are required to address these enduring inequalities, but men are less certain.

Today, most men no longer believe that the United States needs to prioritize gender equality. A majority of women, meanwhile, say there is still a great deal of work to do. Both men and women are more likely to believe that their own gender puts them at a disadvantage.

There is a growing gender gap among America’s youngest adults. Young women are the strongest advocates for gender equality and demonstrate the greatest fear about the erosion of their rights. A majority of young women identify as feminist, but relatively few young men do, a remarkable change over the past four years. In the 2024 presidential election, the gender divide among young voters is twice as large as it is overall. A majority of young female voters back Vice President Kamala Harris, compared with less than half of young male voters.

This report, based on a large national survey of over 5,000 Americans, reveals a modest divide in views about gender between voters supporting Harris and those supporting Republican nominee Donald Trump. Most Harris voters believe that the country is still not doing enough to help girls and young women become successful adults. Trump voters strongly disagree. Similarly, Harris voters believe that companies should make special efforts to hire and promote qualified women, a policy that Trump voters emphatically reject.

Progress and Privilege: Who Has the Advantage in America Today?

One of the central fault lines between men and women is whether gender provides an unfair advantage in American society. Today, Americans on the whole are more likely to believe that men are better off than women than they were a few years earlier. Nearly half (47 percent) of Americans believe that men have it easier than women today, while 13 percent say women have it easier than men. Roughly four in 10 (39 percent) Americans say neither men nor women have an easier time. In 2017, only about one-third (35 percent) of Americans said things were easier for men than women. Nine percent said women had it easier, and most Americans said neither.[i]

Men and women have distinct views about the difference that gender makes. A majority (56 percent) of women believe that men have an easier time than women, but only 38 percent of men agree that men are better off. Approximately one in five (19 percent) men say that women have it easier than men in the United States today. Notably, young men (age 18 to 29) are twice as likely as men age 65 or older to believe that women have it easier than men in American society today (22 percent vs. 11 percent).

There is a massive partisan divide in views about whether gender offers an advantage. Sixty-eight percent of Democrats believe that men have it easier in America today, a view shared by only 32 percent of Republicans. Nearly half of Republicans believe that neither men nor women are better off, and nearly one in five (19 percent) say women have it easier.

Democrats have experienced the most significant shift in views on the benefits that men have in society. In 2017, less than half (49 percent) of Democrats said men have it easier in American society.

Even among partisans, men and women have divergent views about the difference that gender makes. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of Democratic women, compared with fewer than six in 10 (59 percent) Democratic men, say men have it easier. Republican women (41 percent) are also more likely than Republican men (24 percent) to believe men are better off, although fewer Republicans believe this to be true.

There is not only a growing difference of opinion about whether men or women have the greater advantage in American society but also less consensus regarding the need to address gender inequality. Over the past four years, there has been a modest but significant erosion of the belief that the country needs to do more to ensure women have equal rights. Less than half (49 percent) of the public says the US has not gone far enough to give women equal rights. Thirty-five percent believe the country has done enough, and 13 percent say these efforts have gone too far. In 2020, a majority (57 percent) of Americans said the country had not done enough to secure women equal rights.[ii]

No group of women is more likely than black women to say the US has not gone far enough in ensuring gender equality. More than seven in 10 (72 percent) black women, compared with only 56 percent of white and 55 percent of Hispanic women, believe that the United States has not done enough to ensure the equal treatment of men and women. Notably, a majority (54 percent) of black men agree that the country still has more work to do regarding gender equality. Only 40 percent of Hispanic men and 38 percent of white men agree.

Young Democratic Women Prefer Female Bosses

Most Americans today do not have any preference regarding the gender of their boss, manager, or supervisor. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of Americans say they have no preference, whereas 15 percent say they would rather report to a woman and 19 percent would prefer a male boss. However, this was not always the case. Polls have shown that for much of the past several decades, more Americans would have preferred reporting to a man rather than a woman.[iii]

There is a stark generational gap among women regarding the gender preference of their immediate boss or supervisor. Thirty-eight percent of young women (age 18 to 29) say they would rather work for a woman, while only 11 percent say they would rather work for a man. Women age 50 or older are more likely to say they would rather have a male than female boss (24 percent vs. 9 percent).

Republicans have more defined gender preferences for their employer than other Americans do. Three in 10 (30 percent) Republicans say they would prefer to have a male boss, while 22 percent of Democrats say they would rather have a female boss. Notably, Democratic women are almost twice as likely as Democratic men to say they would prefer a female boss (29 percent vs. 15 percent). Young Democratic women have the strongest preferences for a female boss. More than six in 10 (61 percent) Democratic women age 18 to 29 say they would rather report to a woman. Only 10 percent of senior Democratic women (age 65 or older) say the same. Young Republican men have somewhat stronger preferences for a male boss than do older Republican men, but the differences are more modest. Among Republican men age 18 to 29, 38 percent say they would prefer a male boss, compared with 27 percent of Republican men age 50 or older.

Fewer Feminists

Since 2020, more Americans reject the feminist label. Today, roughly one in three (35 percent) Americans say the term “feminist” describes them somewhat or very well. This represents a rapid deterioration in feminist identity since 2020, when roughly half (51 percent) of Americans said the label described their views at least somewhat well.

Women are more likely than men to identify as feminist, a gap that has remained relatively stable over the past few years. Forty-two percent of women say the label “feminist” describes them very well or somewhat well. Only 27 percent of men say the same.

There is remarkable variation in feminist identity across generations. Even as feminist identity has declined overall, there remains a massive divide among younger Americans, those age 18 to 29. A majority (55 percent) of young women identify as feminist, but less than one-third (31 percent) of young men claim this label. The gender gap is far smaller among older Americans. Roughly one in three (35 percent) women age 65 or older identify as feminist, compared with 23 percent of men in the same age bracket.

Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to identify as feminist. A majority (56 percent) of Democrats say the label “feminist” describes them at least somewhat well, compared with only 15 percent of Republicans. There are significant differences between Democratic men and women. Less than half (48 percent) of Democratic men identify as feminist, compared with nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of Democratic women. Although clear majorities of Republican men and women reject the label, Republican men are less likely than Republican women to identify as feminist (10 percent vs. 19 percent).

Gender in the 2024 Election

The 2024 election remains close. Forty-five percent of registered voters support Harris, and 42 percent back Trump. Thirteen percent of registered voters report that they are voting for another candidate or remain uncertain of whom they will support in the upcoming election.[iv]

The poll reveals only a modest gender gap among registered voters. Forty-five percent of men plan to vote for Trump, while 39 percent of women plan to do the same. Meanwhile, 43 percent of men and 47 percent of women plan to support Harris.

The gender gap is twice as large among voters age 18 to 29. Young female voters are 12 percentage points more likely to support Harris than young male voters are (57 percent and 45 percent, respectively).

There is a distinctive gender divide among black voters. More than three-quarters (76 percent) of black women plan to vote for Harris, compared with roughly two-thirds (67 percent) of black men.

In contrast, white male and female voters demonstrate similar voting preferences. Roughly four in 10 white men (38 percent) and white women (41 percent) support Harris. Hispanic men and women voters also demonstrate similar levels of support for Harris (48 percent and 49 percent, respectively).

College-educated women strongly back Harris, and men with a college degree are nearly as supportive. More than half (56 percent) of college-educated women plan to vote for the vice president, including 62 percent of women with an advanced degree. More than half (52 percent) of college-educated men support Harris, while 37 percent plan to vote for Trump.

The Importance of a Female President

For most voters, the election of a female president would represent a critical milestone in the country’s history. Forty-two percent of voters say it would be very important, and 22 percent say it would be somewhat important. Over one-third (36 percent) say it is not too important or not at all important.

Women are more likely than men to say an election of a female president would be a very important historic event: Nearly half (49 percent) of women say it would be very important, compared with 35 percent of men. The election of a female president would be a uniquely important event for young women. A majority (57 percent) of women age 18 to 29 say it would be very important to elect a female president, while less than half (44 percent) of women age 65 or older say the same. Even fewer young men age 18 to 29 (39 percent) say that electing a female president would represent a very important historic event for the country.

The Gender-Politics Gap: Trump Voters vs. Harris Voters

There are massive differences in gender attitudes between Harris and Trump voters. Yet even men and women supporting the same candidate have divergent perspectives on questions of fairness and privilege. For instance, most men supporting Trump believe that when women advocate for equality, they really want special consideration. Most women supporting Trump disagree.

Did Trump Commit Sexual Assault?

Despite extensive news coverage of sexual abuse accusations against Trump, there is considerable uncertainty among voters about whether the former president committed sexual assault. Almost half (47 percent) of voters believe that Trump committed sexual assault. Twenty-three percent believe Trump has not committed sexual assault, and nearly three in 10 (29 percent) voters report being unsure.

Trump supporters are far less certain about his guilt than are those supporting the vice president. Nearly nine in 10 (89 percent) registered voters who support Harris believe Trump committed sexual assault. Meanwhile, slightly more than half (52 percent) of Trump voters do not believe he committed sexual assault. More than four in 10 (42 percent) Trump voters say they are not sure, and 5 percent of Trump voters believe he did commit sexual assault.

The Gender Divide Between Trump and Harris Supports

Seventy-one percent of Trump voters believe that many women interpret innocent remarks or acts as being sexist. Only 37 percent of Harris voters agree with this statement, while 62 percent reject it. Notably, male Harris supporters are somewhat more likely than female Harris voters to say that many women too readily believe that innocuous behavior is sexist (42 percent vs. 32 percent).

There is an equally dramatic divide between Trump and Harris voters over whether companies should prioritize hiring and promoting qualified women. Sixty-one percent of Trump voters say employers should not engage in these types of practices, compared with only 26 percent of Harris voters. Seventy-three percent of Harris voters say employers should make special efforts to hire and promote women.

Voters are also at odds over whether women seeking equality are looking for special favors or privileges rather than a level playing field. More than half (51 percent) of Trump supporters agree with the following statement: “When women demand equality these days, they are actually seeking special favors.” Harris voters overwhelmingly (89 percent) reject this sentiment; only 10 percent of Harris voters agree with it.

However, Trump voters do not share uniform views. There is a stark gender divide among Trump supporters over whether women are seeking special favors. More than six in 10 (62 percent) male Trump supporters say women are after special accommodations rather than equal rights, while fewer than four in 10 (39 percent) female Trump supporters say the same.

Most Trump voters believe that the courts generally favor women over men in divorce proceedings. Sixty-two percent of Trump voters agree that the court system in divorce proceedings is generally biased toward women. Only 38 percent of Harris voters agree. The majority (60 percent) reject this idea.

However, among both Harris and Trump supporters, there is a critical gender divide. Male Harris voters are far more likely than female Harris voters to say divorce proceedings favor women over men (53 percent vs. 25 percent). The gap among Trump supporters is even wider. More than three-quarters (77 percent) of male Trump voters say courts are biased toward women in divorce proceedings, a view held by less than half (44 percent) of female Trump voters.

Does American Society Need to Do More to Help Girls or Boys?

Most voters, regardless of which candidate they support, believe that American society is not doing enough to help boys become successful adults. Seventy percent of Trump supporters and 61 percent of Harris voters say more needs to be done to help boys grow into successful adults.

There is far less agreement about girls. Harris voters are nearly twice as likely as Trump voters to say American society needs to do more to help them become successful adults. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of Harris voters say society needs to dedicate more resources to helping girls. Only 35 percent of Trump voters agree.

Conclusion

The 2024 election is not the first contest to feature a significant gender divide. However, the two political parties are increasingly at odds over power dynamics between men and women.

Overall, Trump voters are more concerned with the status of men, whereas Harris voters are more concerned with the status of women. These differences reflect not only gender imbalance in the two political parties—more women are Democrats than Republicans, and men vice versa—but the divergent understandings about the nature of gender equality in American society. Today, fewer Americans believe that men and women are treated equally; rather, more believe that one side or another has an unfair advantage.

Critical political events rarely address cultural and relational divides fueling much of the public disagreements over gender. The presidential election is unlikely to ease the simmering tensions between men and women about the state of gender equality and their perspectives on privilege.

About the Authors

Daniel A. Cox is the director of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow in polling and public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute.

Kelsey Eyre Hammond is the program coordinator and a researcher for the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute.

Methodology

AEI’s Survey Center on American Life designed and conducted the survey. Interviews were conducted among a random sample of 5,837 adults (age 18 and up). All interviews were conducted among participants in the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the US general population, not just the online population. Interviews were conducted in Spanish and English between August 16 and August 26, 2024.

The Ipsos KnowledgePanel recruitment process employs a scientifically developed address-based sampling methodology using the US Postal Service’s latest Delivery Sequence File—a database that fully covers all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available US households. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in to complete surveys online.

Because of these recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status, and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population. KnowledgePanel members receive a per-survey incentive, usually the equivalent of $1 (though for some it is $2) in points, that can be redeemed for cash or prizes. Panelists receive a unique log-in to the survey and can complete it only once. Two reminder emails were sent for this study.

The data were weighted to adjust for gender, race and ethnicity, education, census region, household income, language dominance, race by age, race by education, and 2020 presidential vote. The sample weighting was accomplished using an iterative proportional fitting process that simultaneously balances the distributions of all variables. The use of survey weights in statistical analyses ensures that the demographic characteristics of the sample closely approximate those of the target population. The margin of sampling error for the qualified survey sample is +/–1.4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. The design effect for the survey is 1.1786.

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Notes

[i] Pew Research Center, American Trends Panel Wave 28, version 2, August 2017, https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/american-trends-panel-wave-28. The Pew survey was conducted between August 8 and September 28, 2017, shortly before the #MeToo movement began.

[ii] Pew Research Center, 19th Amendment Survey, version 2, March 18–April 1, 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/19th-amendment-survey.

[iii] Megan Brenan, “Americans No Longer Prefer Male Boss to Female Boss,” Gallup, November 16, 2017, https://news.gallup.com/poll/222425/americans-no-longer-prefer-male-boss-female-boss.aspx.

[iv] The poll was conducted August 16–August 26, 2024.