Political Voices of Generation Z

This book provides one of the first looks at the political expression of Generation Z as it comes of political age, yet since generational dividing lines blur we examine 18 to 25 year-olds in 2018 and 2020, capturing those in Generation Z who have reached voting age along with the youngest Millennials, who share similarities both in their place in the life cycle and in their experiences of potentially defining events. The book applies insights from diverse theoretical perspectives to better understand political expression related to five issues and movements that featured prominently in recent politics including MeToo, March for our Lives, and Black Lives Matter, and answers a series of empirical questions about young adult political behavior that carry important consequences for democratic responsiveness moving forward. The book uses sophisticated matching methods that enable causal inference with observational data, yet describes findings in ways accessible to scholars, practitioners, and students alike. In addition to helping older generations better understand the political expression of Generation Z, the book can be used to teach this generation a variety of important concepts and theories regarding political behavior set in the context of their own activism. Through examining some movements led by young adults and some led by older generations as well as issues with varying salience, core theories are tested in a variety of contexts showing that when young adults protest or post about movements they align with, whether those movements are led by their own generation or older ones, they become mobilized to participate in other ways, too, including contacting elected officials, which heightens the likelihood of their voices being heard in the halls of power.