OPINION:
“American women are giving up on marriage” was the title of an essay published in The Wall Street Journal in March. The article details how more women than men in their 20s attend college, purchase houses, and prioritize their careers and friendships over dating and marriage.
Forty-eight percent of women said that being married was not too or not at all important for a fulfilling life, compared with 39% of men, up from 31% and 28% in 2019, a Pew Research Center survey showed in 2023.
A 30-year-old woman interviewed by The Journal about her single status was dismayed that men were turned off by her ambition and that they wanted “their future wives to prioritize their families over their jobs.”
She couldn’t find a partner who shared her priorities, and the divide between what Gen Z women and Gen Z men view as important was stark.
Fifty-two percent of Gen Z women consider themselves to be Democrats, the largest concentration of any age and gender group within one political party, an NBC poll conducted in March found. Among Gen Z men, one-third say they are Democrats.
Why does political affiliation matter? Because it provides insight into people’s values.
When asked to rank 13 phrases in order of importance in achieving their personal definition of success, Gen Z males who voted for President Trump ranked “having children” as their No. 1 priority, according to an NBC poll conducted this month.
Gen Z women who voted for Kamala Harris ranked it second to last, with “having a job or career you find fulfilling” claiming the top spot and “having money to do the things you want” coming in second.
“Being married” wasn’t a priority for Gen Z women who voted for Ms. Harris, claiming the third-lowest position. In contrast, men who voted for Mr. Trump said getting married was their fourth-highest priority.
Perhaps this divide is a tribute to Charlie Kirk’s ministry to what his wife, Erika, dubbed the “lost boys of the West.”
“The greatest cause in Charlie’s life was trying to revive the American family. When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about God’s vision for marriage — and how, if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life in the same way it enriched ours,” Erika said in a tribute to her late husband on Sunday.
Now, Erika can minister to the “lost girls” of the West, who clearly need to hear her message.
Of the Gen Z women polled by NBC who voted for Ms. Harris, after obtaining a satisfying job and money, they ranked “having emotional stability” as their third-highest issue in achieving success.
This “emotional stability” can be achieved only through belief in God, marriage and family, something these young women seem to lack.
“Charlie’s mission, above all, was aimed directly at those who aren’t married,” Erika said Sunday. She specifically challenged young women to be virtuous.
“Our strength is found in God’s design for our role,” she said. “We are the guardians. We are the encouragers. We are the preservers. … And if you’re a mother, please recognize that is the single most important ministry you have.”
She detailed how she relished her role as a wife and mother, a keeper of their home and a cheerleader for Charlie.
“The world needs Turning Point USA,” Erika said. “It needs a group that will point young people away from the path of misery and sin. It needs something that will lead people away from hell — in this world and the next. It needs young people pointed in the direction of truth and beauty. And so, I promise you today: Every part of our work will become greater.”
Godspeed, Erika. So many young women can benefit from your example.
• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at The Washington Times.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.