Polarization Between White College-Educated Women and Non-College-Educated Men Defines U.S. Politics
New data highlights the stark cultural and political divide between these two key voter groups, with white college-educated women driving progressive shifts in the Democratic Party.
- Recent polling shows white college-educated women and white non-college-educated men represent nearly equal shares of the electorate, at 17% and 18% respectively, but hold sharply opposing political and cultural views.
- White college-educated women have become a core Democratic constituency, advocating for progressive policies on cultural issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- White non-college-educated men remain a stronghold for Donald Trump and conservative values, with significant opposition to DEI programs and progressive cultural changes.
- Support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy differs starkly between the groups, with 53% of white college-educated women expressing approval compared to less than 5% of white non-college-educated men.
- The widening education gap among white voters, particularly during the Trump era, has intensified political polarization, raising questions about the role of higher education in shaping political alignment.