Panel Discusses Youth Civic Engagement and Gender Dynamics in Politics

A political science student, an activist, Senator Laphonza R. Butler (D-Calif.), documentary filmmakers, and a historian convened at Harvard’s Institute of Politics forum to discuss the future of youth civic engagement and the growing role of women in politics on Tuesday.

Moderated by Harvard historian and law professor Jill Lepore, the event featured clips from the Emmy Award-winning documentaries Boys State and Girls State, showcasing the experiences of teenage boys and girls participating in political simulations designed to mirror democratic governance.

Filmmaker Jesse Moss described Boys State and Girls State as a “fascinating laboratory or microcosm to explore our democracy writ small,” noting how both programs offered a window into how young people engage with political processes.

“We thought, perhaps this program is a weather vane to tell us something about our current condition,” Moss added.

Olivia Julianna, a political activist who participated in Girls State during the pandemic, highlighted the differences between Boys State and Girls State.

“It was much more serious,” Julianna said, in reference to Girls State. “A lot of the young girls there were very concerned about what was going on.”

Tochi Ihekona, a political science student at Howard University who also participated in Girls State, added that the program showed young women to “enjoy yourselves and be politically engaged.”

The conversation also addressed the gender dynamics in youth political engagement. Julianna pointed out that young women often express a unique sense of empowerment when they step into politics, a sentiment she rarely encounters among young men.

“I have never heard of any young men in any of my time canvassing or making content online talking about feeling empowered. I’ve only ever heard women talking about that” she explained.

Butler, who joined the conversation virtually, echoed similar sentiments. Reflecting on her own experiences with youth outreach, while young men are often the most “eager to jump into the conversation…it was the young ladies who were talking about what the solutions could be,” she said.

The panelists closed by turning their attention to the issue of political polarization. Ihekona expressed her frustration with the current state of polarization in American politics, attributing much of it to generational divides.

“We’re in these situations because y’all gave us this polarization,” she said.

Julianna added that many young people, regardless of political affiliation, are exhausted by the gridlock in politics and share common ground on key issues like climate change.

“Young people, in particular, are very sick and tired of the polarization,” she said.

Butler agreed, but offered a hopeful view of the future of American democracy.

“I think we’re all going to be learning from Gen Z,” she said. This generation of activists are going to be the “saviors of our democracy in its truest form of debate and building consensus.”

Lepore made a final call to action, urging institutions of higher education to play a larger role in promoting democratic participation.

“One thing I wish for all university and college presidents would do would be to, by fiat, declare Election Day a holiday on their college campuses,” Lepore said.

—Staff writer Kyle Baek can be reached at kyle.baek@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @KBaek53453.