Young men are in crisis.
This is the narrative that has dominated the political discourse following the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024. The Democratic Party was left in a frenzy after losing the popular vote for the first time in 20 years and taking the minority in the House and Senate. One of the key demographics Republicans won over was men under 50, a shift from 2020 when Biden led Trump in this demographic by ten points.
The focus on young men in response to these results was ubiquitous. Mainstream media outlets began pumping out countless articles and op-eds about young men, with the conversation broadly focusing on their discontent with the Democratic Party and highlighting concern for their well-being. Some notable pieces include the New York Times’ “America Has a Masculinity Crisis,” and the Wall Street Journal’s “America’s Young Men Are Falling Even Further Behind.” Meanwhile, Democratic representatives rushed to express their concern and communicate that young men are a priority on the left flank. Democratic donors and party affiliates also took action, funding initiatives such as the Speaking to American Men project, a $20 million research project dedicated to understanding young men’s struggles and how to better represent them on the progressive front.
The research and media coverage have certainly highlighted concerning trends in young men’s socioeconomic circumstances and perceptions of gender treatment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of men enrolled in college the fall after their high school graduation has seen nearly two decades of decline, peaking at 66 percent in 2009 and dropping to 57 percent in 2023. Employment-population ratios have dropped consistently over an even longer period, standing at 82.8 percent in 1989 and decreasing to 55.7 percent in 2026. One of the most unique concerns among current young men when compared to men of previous generations is the spike in perceived gender discrimination, an issue that is highlighted by recent media attention on young men’s relationship to masculinity. Nearly half of men ages 18 to 29 say that men face discrimination in American society, a higher rate than any other age cohort.
It is undeniable that young American men are struggling and dissatisfied in American society, but are these issues truly unique to men? Examining the same indicators for young women reveals shocking similarities. In fact, young American women have experienced a steady decline in college enrollment and employment by the same metrics over the exact same periods, dropping from 74 percent to 65 percent and 64 percent to 52 percent, respectively. Young women similarly report more gender-based discrimination and dissatisfaction with women’s equality compared to older women.
All in all, it is clear that young American men and women are struggling — with very similar issues. They share declines in socioeconomic indicators and an increasing sense of discrimination against their gender. Even in terms of political grievances, many of the issues identified in research focusing on young men, such as distrust in political institutions and dissatisfaction with political parties, are present among young Americans more broadly. According to the Harvard Youth Poll in 2025, just 13 percent of young Americans say the nation is headed on the right track, and over half of young men and women describe both the GOP and Democratic Party negatively. This coincides with Gallup’s research on youth party identification in 2025, which revealed that 56 percent of Gen Z voters identified as independent — a rate higher than any other age cohort.
If young American men and women share concerning socioeconomic indicators, increases in perceived gender discrimination, and an overarching dissatisfaction with American politics, then what is causing this disparity in media attention following the 2024 election? It appears that the distinction between these two groups is not their well-being or contentment, but that the grievances of young men hurt Democrats at the polls, and those of young women did not.
The fact that political parties respond to electoral incentives rather than the general needs of their constituents is not a surprise, but that doesn’t make it acceptable or productive. Young women and young men appear to be struggling, dissatisfied with their treatment in society, and disappointed by American political institutions. In a sea of issues putting pressure on America’s youth as a whole, framing these struggles as unique to young men risks perpetuating division rather than contributing to any meaningful solutions.
The Zeitgeist aims to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.
