How Underrepresentation Fuels Youth Disengagement

Who should represent and speak for you? What age bracket, gender or ethnicity? As much as governments and the parliament have over the years become more diverse, there is still a large disparity with its inclusion regarding almost half the population.

The lack of representation of the youth and young adults is a significant factor contributing to young people’s perception of government ineffectiveness. When young people feel that their voices and concerns are not adequately reflected or even considered in the political processes and decision-making, it fosters a sense of disenfranchisement and disengagement.

Demographic Disparity 

Demographic disparity refers to the difference between the demographics of elected representatives and the general population. This mismatch can have an impact on policy objectives, political representation, and public trust in the political system. As interests and goals are usually not aligned.

One of the most evident forms of underrepresentation is the age disparity between elected officials and the general population. In many countries, the average age of politicians far exceeds the average age of the citizens they represent. For instance, did you know almost 2 percent of MP’s are under the age of 30 while almost 50 percent of the world’s population is also under the age of 30 (Magni-Berton & Panel, 2021). To even use another example that’s more local to a country, the average age of a member of the United States of America Congress is over 58 years, while the median age of the United States of America population is around 38 years. Clearly the larger demographic is not visibly represented within positions of power, and this can lead to consequences such as disengagement which leads to even more.

Youth Concerns and the governments priorities 

The legislative priorities often do not align with the pressing concerns of young people. Issues such as climate change, affordable education, housing, and job opportunities are paramount for the youth but are frequently sidelined in favour of policies that cater to older demographics who vote more consistently. The ongoing fight to address climate change is one of the most telling examples of legislative agendas that are out of touch with the concerns of young people. Many young people view this issue as a serious and immediate threat to their future, making it their top priority. The worries of younger generations and the priorities of their elected representatives, however, have frequently resulted in delayed and legislative action on climate change.

For example, a Pew Research Center survey found that young adults in the United States prioritize environmental protection significantly higher than older generations, yet legislative action on climate change still faces many hurdles. (Pew Research Center, 2021).

The Green New Deal, a proposed package of legislation aimed at combating climate change and economic inequality, is an excellent example. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey introduced the Green New Deal in 2019, which includes ambitious aims to transition the United States to 100% renewable energy, generate high-wage jobs, and secure economic security for all Americans. (Ocasio-Cortez & Markey, 2023)

While the initiative has received widespread support among young people and activists for the environment, it has also met strong political opposition. Some believe that the idea is prohibitively expensive and not feasible, resulting in a lack of support. As a result, the Green New Deal has not been passed into the law, and substantial legislative progress towards comprehensive climate action remains distant.

The global climate strikes led by Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement highlight the disconnect between youth activism and political action. Millions of young people around the world have participated in climate strikes, demanding urgent action on climate change. Despite this significant mobilization, the political response has often been inadequate.

Youth Voting Patterns and Political Engagement

When the youth’s perception is that politicians do not address issues that are important to them, young people will often feel disconnected from political processes and believe that their vote will not make a difference. As seen in the research from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) which states that youth voter turnout is consistently lower than that of older age groups. More specifically only 28% of the votes were from young adults aged 29 and under which that year was a significant increased, compared to 2014 when the voter turnout was only 20% (CIRCLE,2019).

This general lower participation rate can be both a cause and effect of underrepresentation. But the increase in recent years of younger voters can be traced to Climate activism, led by figures such as Greta Thunberg and domestic movements like the Sunrise Movement, which had an important part to play. As young people were especially inspired to support candidates who advocated for aggressive climate action.

When young people do not see candidates who reflect their values and priorities, they are less motivated to vote. Conversely, the lower turnout means politicians are less incentivized to address youth concerns, perpetuating a cycle of disengagement.

 

What This Means?

It is clear from the findings that there is a large disparity of interests between the youth and politicians. There is barely any representation of the youth within governments. This underrepresentation is evident in the age disparity of elected officials despite the fact the majority of the population are those aged 30 and under.

misaligned legislative priorities and underrepresentation in turn lower youth voter turnout, addressing these issues requires targeted efforts to include young voices in the political process to represent the demographic as well as keep them engaged and give young people a perception that their voice will be heard within the government. By ensuring that the concerns of young people are adequately represented, governments can build trust and foster a more inclusive and effective democracy.

 

 

 

bibliography:

Magni‐Berton, R. and Panel, S. (2020) ‘Gerontocracy in a comparative perspective: Explaining why political leaders are (almost always) older than their constituents’, Sociology Compass, 15(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12841.

Tyson, A., Kennedy, B. and Funk, C. (2021) Gen Z, Millennials Stand out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement with Issue, Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2021/05/26/gen-z-millennials-stand-out-for-climate-change-activism-social-media-engagement-with-issue/.

Markey and Ocasio-Cortez Reintroduce Green New Deal Resolution (2023) Representative Ocasio-Cortez. Available at: https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/markey-and-ocasio-cortez-reintroduce-green-new-deal-resolution.

28% of Young People Voted in 2018 (2019) circle.tufts.edu. Available at: https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/28-young-people-voted-2018