FACT SHEET CIRCLE The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement Civic Engagement Among Young Men and Women By Karlo Barrios Marcelo, Mark Hugo Lopez, and Emily Hoban Kirby1 Political scientists and sociologists have long established significant differences in civic engagement between women and men. For example, Verba et al. found that men were more likely to engage in political activities, such as voting and contributing to a campaign, than women.2 More recently, the Center for American Women and Politics found that women of all ages had consistently higher voter turnout rates than men since 1984. 3 And utilizing the 2002 civic and political health of the nation survey, Jenkins finds that young women and men were similar in civic engagement, though young men were much more attentive to the news and politics and young women, reflecting differences also observed among adult men and women.4 Utilizing data from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey, and several other sources, we provide new information on the civic engagement of youth, confidence in government, and following public affairs and the news, by gender. Generally we find that young men are among the most engaged in a wide range of political activities despite lower voter turnout rates, and young women are among the most engaged in civic activities such as volunteering, and also the most likely to vote. We also find, as Jenkins has, that young men are more attentive to the news than their young female counterparts. The 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey In the spring of 2006, CIRCLE conducted the Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (2006 CPHS), interviewing 1,674 young people and 547 adults on their civic engagement, as measured by 19 core engagement activities.5 A complete list of these activities is shown in Table 1. The 2006 CPHS also includes over-samples of African-American, Latino, and Asian-American youth.6 Below we present a portrait of civic engagement by gender by exploring each area of civic engagement shown in Table 1. School of Public Policy | 2101 Van Munching Hall | University of Maryland | College Park, MD 20742-1821 | P: 301 405 2790 | F: 301 314 9346 | W: www.civicyouth.org CIRCLE was founded in 2001 with a generous grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts and is based in the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. 2 Table 1 - 19 Core Measures of Civic Engagement from the 2006 CPHS (Activities Performed within the Last 12 Months) Civic Electoral Political Voice Activities Activities Activities Engaged in Community Problem Regular Voter (ages 20 and Contacted public officials Solving Activity older) Regular Volunteer for a non- Tried to Persuade others in an Contacted the print media electoral organization election Active member in a group or Displayed buttons, signs, stickers Contacted the broadcast media association Participated in fund-raising Made Campaign contributions Protested run/walk/ride Engaged in Other fund-raising for Volunteered for a candidate or Signed E-mail petitions charity political organization Signed paper petitions Engaged in Boycotting Engaged in Buycotting Canvassed Source: Civic and Political Health of the Nation Report, October 2006. Engagement in Civic Activities Getting Involved Figure 1: Views on Getting Involved in Society Among 15-25 year olds by Gender 100% Young people offer various 90% views of why they get 80% involved. As shown in 70% Figure 1, the majority of 60% 56.7% 58.1% both young men and 50% 39.1% 37.9% women view getting 40% involved as a choice. In 30% 20% contrast, roughly a third of 10% men and women believe it 0% is their responsibility to get Men Women involved in societal It is my RESPONSIBILITY to get involved to make things better for society problems. It is my CHOICE to get involved to make things better for society Source: Authors' tabulations from the Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey, 2002 and 2006 (CIRCLE) Gender Differences across Participation in Civic Activities According to the 2006 CPHS, there were substantial differences between young women and men across the six civic activities measured. Young women were the most active in civic activities, leading on five of the six civic activities reported in Figure 2. For example, 38.1 percent of young women reported volunteering in 2006 compared to 34.0 percent of men. 3 Figure 2: Participation in Civic Activities Among 15-25 year olds by Gender 27.3% Raised money for charity 21.6% 19.6% Ran/walked/biked for charity 15.4% 19.2% Community Problem Solving 19.6% 38.1% Volunteered 34.0% Regular Volunteer for Non- 21.4% Political Groups 15.9% Active member of at least 1 22.2% group 18.4% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Men Women Source: Authors' tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE) Volunteering The rate of volunteering among all young people, according to the 2006 CPHS, was 36 percent. However, as shown in Figure 2, young women reported the greatest volunteering rate (at 38.1 percent) and were more likely than men to report volunteering regularly (at 21.4 percent). Young male and female volunteers favored the same types of organizations. Among young men and women, the three organizations that drew the most volunteers in 2006 were youth, civic, and religious organizations (in descending order). See Table 2. Table 2 – Top 3 Organizations (by type) Where 15-25 year old Volunteer by Gender Men Women 1 Youth (21.6%) Youth (28.6%) 2 Civic (15.0%) Civic (20.2%) 3 Religious (14.1%) Religious (18.7%) Source: Authors’ tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE). 4 While the 2006 CPHS provides a Figure 3: Volunteer Rates Among snapshot of volunteering in 2006, it fails Young People, Ages 15-25, by Gender to provide a picture on how volunteering 40% rates among young people have changed over time. However, two data 35% sources, the Current Population Survey 30% September Supplement7 and Monitoring 27.9% 26.5% the Future (MTF), while not as rich on 25% civic engagement measures as the 2006 20% 20.9% CPHS, provide enough information to 19.0% identify trends in volunteering. Figure 3 15% shows the volunteer rate among young men and women ages 15 to 25 from 10% 2002 to 2005, according to the Current 5% Population Survey. As seen in the 2006 CPHS, young women consistently 0% volunteer at higher rates than men. 2002 2003 2004 2005 Men Women Figures 4 - 6 show the volunteering rate for young people in high school since Source: Authors' tabulations from the Current Population Survey, Sepetember Supplements, 2002-2005 1976 for twelfth graders and since 1991 for tenth and eighth graders. Overall, since 1976, volunteering among young people in school has grown. This was true for high school seniors, 10th graders and 8th graders (the later two since 1991), according to the MTF.8 In all three grades, young women have reported higher volunteering rates than their male counterparts, with the gap largest among tenth graders 76.7 percent versus 65.0 percent respectively). Figure 4: Volunteer Rates Among 12th Grade Students 90% 81.3% 80% 68.6% 70% 71.2% 60% 63.2% 50% 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 12th Grade Females 12th Grade Males Source: Authors' tabulations from the Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), 1976-2005 5 Figure 5: Volunteer Rates Among 10th Grade Students 90% 76.7% 80% 72.3% 70% 66.5% 65.0% 60% 50% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 10th Grade Females 10th Grade Males Source: Authors' tabulations from the Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), 1991-2005 Figure 6: Volunteer Rates Among 8th Grade Students 90% 80% 69.7% 70.4% 70% 60% 63.4% 59.8% 50% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 8th Grade Females 8th Grade Males Source: Authors' tabulations from the Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), 1991-2005 6 Engagement in Electoral Activities Since young people ages 18 to 20 were first given the right to vote, electoral participation among young people has declined steadily, with upturns in engagement in 1992, 2004, and 2006. This pattern of electoral engagement has been true for all groups of young people, including young men and women. The decline has been due to many factors, but two reasons are that young people feel they can do little to affect elections and a substantial number believe that it might even be difficult to learn how, when and where to vote. Even when they do know how and where to vote, young people today do not “particularly feel guilty” about not voting.9 However, this notion is not an absolute deterrent to voting; rigorous experimental evidence shows that young people are more likely to vote when they are asked to do so".10 Views of Voting and Politics As Figure 7 shows, a Figure 7: Views on Voting Among 15-25 year olds by plurality of both men Gender and women view their vote as “the expression My vote is the 36.9% of my choice.” Men were expression of my choice 33.8% substantially more likely than women to view My vote, along with 31.2% their vote as “my others, can affect the 31.6% responsibility as a outcome of the election citizen.” Voting is my 21.8% responsibility as a 28.2% citizen 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Men Women Source: Authors' tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE) Figure 8 shows views on Figure 8: Views on Politics Among 15-25 year olds politics among 15-25 year by Gender olds. Men were 3.2 100% percentage points more 90% likely to view politics as a 80% way for the powerful to 70% 60% 53.0% keep power to themselves 49.8% 50% 40.4% 41.5% than their female 40% counterparts. 30% 20% 10% 0% Men Women Politics is a way for the powerful to keep power to themselves Politics is a way for the less powerful to compete on an equal footing with the powerful Source: Authors' tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE) 7 Participation in Electoral Activities The 2006 CPHS asked survey respondents about six different kinds of electoral activities, from regular voting to making campaign contributions (see Figure 9 for a complete list). In five out of six of the electoral activities, young men were the most involved. The only category in which young women prevailed was being a member of a group involved in politics. What is surprising about these results is the finding that young women are less likely to report being regular voters, yet have consistently reported greater voter turnout rates, as shown in Figures 13 and 14 since the late 1970s. Figure 9: Participation in Electoral Activities Among 15-25 year olds by Gender Member of a group involved in 17.2% politics 14.9% Regular Volunteer for Political 1.3% Candidates or Groups 2.4% Donated money to a candidate or 4.6% party 8.7% 23.2% Displayed a campaign button or sign 23.8% Tried to persuade others in an 31.5% election 38.6% Regular Voter (for those 20 and 24.6% older) 27.8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Men Women Source: Authors' tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE) 8 Trends in Voter Registration According to the CPS, since the early 1970s, young women have reported higher voter registration rates, with 72.5 percent of young women reporting that they were registered to vote in 2004. For both men and women, voter registration rates during presidential elections have been on the rise since 1988, and since 1994 in midterm election years. See Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10: Registration Rates in Figure 11: Registration Rates in Midterm Presidential Elections Among 18-29 year Elections Among 18-29 year old Citizens old Citizens 80% 80% 75% 75% 70% 72.5% 70% 64.6% 65% 67.1% 65% 63.4% 58.3% 60% 60% 55% 55% 53.9% 50% 50% 45% 45% 48.1% (M and F) 40% 40% 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 Male Female Male Female Source: Authors' tabulations from the Current Population Survey, November Supplement, 1972- Source: Authors' tabulations from the Current Population Survey, November Supplement, 1974- 2004 2002 9 Voter Turnout The 2006 CPHS provides an estimate of how many young people age 20 and older identified as regular voters (meaning that they voted in two or more elections) in 2006. Another way to measure voter participation is to use the CPS to estimate voter participation over time. CPS estimates11 show that young women (age 18-29) have been the most likely to report voting in both midterm and presidential elections (see Figures 13 and 14). While young men surpass women in electoral activities, according to the 2006 CPHS, women are still more likely to vote than men. Thus, while young men engage in a range of electoral activities, women concentrate their efforts in voting. This difference could be attributed to differences between the CPS sample (ages 18 to 29) and the 2006 CPHS sample (15 to 25) by age. Figure 7 reports responses from 15- 25 year olds, and Figures 13 and 14 report voter turnout rates for 18-29 year olds. Yet, when analyzing 18-25 year olds from the CPS, women still vote at higher rates than their male counterparts in most presidential and midterm years. Compare this to the fact that among 18-25 year olds in the 2006 CPHS, young men are more engaged in electoral activities than their female counterparts, such as being regular voters.12 This suggests that there is a real difference in the civic engagement of women in voting and in other electoral activities. As shown in Figure 14, in general, turnout in midterm elections has been on the decline since 1982.13 Figure 13: Voter Turnout Rates in Figure 14: Voter Turnout Rates in Midterm Presidential Elections Among 18-29 year Elections Among 18-29 year old Citizens by old Citizens Gender 60% 55.9% 60% 54.8% 50% 52.4% 50% 45.5% 40% 40% 30% 29.8% (M) 30% 23.8% 29.2% (F) 20% 20% 21.1% 10% 10% 0% 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 0% 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 Male Female Male Female Source: Authors' tabulations from the Current Population Survey, November Supplement, 1972- 2004 Source: Authors' tabulations from the Current Population Survey, November Supplement, 1974-2002 10 Engagement in Political Voice Activities Making a Difference Political voice indicators measure the ways people attempt to influence the government and their communities. Participation in these activities often reflects a belief that one can change one’s community. Overall, the majority of young people believe they can make a difference, and this belief does not vary significantly by gender. Figure 1314 shows that men and women feel equally efficacious. Figure 15: How Much Difference Do You Believe You Can Personally Make in Working to Solve Problems in Your Community? Responses Among 15-25 year olds, 2006 Women 81.5% 16.4% Men 80.1% 19.2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% CAN make a difference CANNOT make a difference Source: Authors' tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE) Participation in Political Voice Activities According to the 2006 CPHS, young people were Figure 16: Participation in Political Voice Activities Among 15-25 year olds by Gender engaged in a wide variety of political voice activities. 3.3% Overall, men and women Canvassed 3.6% reported similar levels of 29.9% Buycotted 28.0% engagement for many political voice activities. Boycotted 30.7% 29.4% Only in signing email 18.9% petitions (women led 17.6 Signed a paper petition 17.2% to 13.9 percent) and 17.6% contacting the broadcast Signed an e-mail petition 13.9% media (men led 9.6 to 7.6 12.0% percent) were there large Protested 10.9% and significant differences Contacted the broadcast 7.6% by gender. See Figure 16. media 9.6% 6.8% Contacted the print media 6.3% 10.5% Contacted an official 10.7% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Men Women Source: Authors' tabulations from the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey (CIRCLE)