The Motivation of Gen Z Activists: What Influences Their Engagement in Activism?

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: Youth Activism and Action Research (Table 17)

Abstract

Drawing on survey and focus group data from a large national sample of youth who participated in a week-long summer advocacy and organizing institute, we explore the factors that lead youth to become engaged in activism. Overall, the most common influences propelling youth to activism are their values, works they have read, other activists, and personal experiences of oppression. The importance of these influences does not vary according to the specific issue areas youth organizers take up; however, female-identifying and queer youth rate the influence of other activists more highly than their counterparts do, and queer youth rate the impact of their family on their activism significantly lower than their straight counterparts. Implications for youth organizers are discussed.

Authors

• Jerusha O. Conner, Villanova University
  Presenting Author

• Emily Greytak, ACLU
  Non-Presenting Author

• Carly Evich, Purdue University
  Presenting Author