The Growing Religious Divide Among Gen Z: Why Young Women Are Leaving Churches and Shifting Left

The religious landscape in America is shifting, particularly among younger generations, with Gen Z women leading the charge towards being “religiously unaffiliated.” An Axios review of polling data found that 39% of Gen Z women identify as religiously unaffiliated, compared to 31% of Gen Z men. This trend is especially evident in white evangelical congregations, which are seeing a decline in young women attendees.

The shift towards being unaffiliated with a religion also reflects a political divide, with polls showing that young women are moving left at a faster rate than young men. This trend is significant as Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in U.S. history, with an estimated 40.8 million eligible voters in the upcoming general election.

Experts suggest that churches may need to adapt their structures or even theology to retain more young women, or risk facing extinction. The treatment of LGBTQ individuals, sex abuse scandals, and lack of leadership roles for women are cited as key factors driving Gen Z women away from traditional religious institutions.

As Gen Z continues to shape the political and cultural landscape, it will be interesting to see how these trends play out in the years to come.