Anticipating Barriers: Trends in Youths’ Attitudes of Gender Discrimination

• In Event: Sociology of Sex and Gender Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 17. Youth, Education, and Socialization

Abstract

This study analyzes nationally representative data from the 12th grade Monitoring the Future survey (1976-2021) to examine how adolescents’ perceptions of gender discrimination have changed across education, the workplace, and politics. While prior research has focused on attitudes toward gender inequality in work and family contexts, less is known about youths’ broader perceptions of gender inequality. We use survey items capturing adolescents’ views on gender discrimination in higher education, pay equity, and access to leadership, professional, and political positions to trace long-term trends before and after the slowdown in the gender revolution. We also examine how these trends differ by gender and race. Overall, young women continue to anticipate gender discrimination across workplace, labor market, and political domains, with Black women consistently reporting higher probabilities than White women. Although perceptions of discrimination have shifted over time, patterns diverge across race-gender groups, especially regarding workplace advancement and pay equity. While some progress is evident over time, particularly in certain educational and political outcomes, these patterns suggest that young women’s expectations reflect a belief that the gender revolution is ongoing rather than complete. Together, the findings illuminate how emerging generations interpret barriers to gender change.

Authors

• Abby Young, West Virginia University

• Winter Johnson, West Virginia University