
The split between men and women is one of the starkest divisions in American politics right now — and that divide is deepest in Gen Z, which is taking the traditional gender gap in American politics and stretching it even further.
New data from the NBC News Stay Tuned Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey, shows that debates over President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, immigration and the state of the country drive the most division between Gen Z men and women. But it’s not just pure politics propelling the pronounced gender gap. Big divides exist on policy issues like abortion and broader value questions, too.
In large part, the driver is Gen Z women, who are more likely to identify as Democrats and take the liberal position in questions across the poll when compared to other generations or the U.S. population as a whole. And the effects of that dramatic split could define American politics for decades if it continues.
Take Trump’s approval rating. Among all adults, 45% say they approve of Trump’s job performance and 55% disapprove. Adults between the ages of 18 and 29 grade the president worse than that: 34% approve, 66% disapprove.
But the difference between young men and women is significant. While 45% of young men approve of Trump’s job performance, only 24% of young women do — a 21-point difference.