A new NBC News Decision Desk poll has found a growing cultural divide among Gen Z voters, with women who supported Kamala Harris ranking marriage and children among the least important measures of success.
The survey, which included about 3,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 29, revealed stark differences between men and women, as well as between supporters of President Donald Trump and Harris in the last election.
When asked about what factors are the most important in their definition of success, Gen Z men who voted for Trump ranked having children as the single most important factor. This was followed by financial independence, a fulfilling career, and marriage. By contrast, Trump-supporting women placed having children sixth.
Harris-supporting women, however, placed marriage at number eleven and having children at number twelve out of the thirteen options presented. For these women, career fulfillment ranked far higher than traditional family values.
The poll found that Trump voters, both men and women, were more likely to define success through financial independence, children, and spiritual grounding. Harris voters, on the other hand, were more likely to emphasize a fulfilling job and using their talents and resources to help others.
NBC reported that, along gender lines, Gen Z women ranked having emotional stability as the fourth-most important thing for success, while men ranked it at 10th. Additionally, Gen Z men ranked making their family or community proud fifth, while women ranked it ninth.
The survey also highlighted gender differences in how they perceive their mental outlook. 19 percent of men said they feel “anxious or worried about the future” almost all the time, compared with 33 percent of women. An additional 27 percent of men and 33 percent of women say they feel anxious or worried about the future most of the time.
