The Survey Center on American Life released new research last week examining the views on religion in the U.S. The survey found that in contrast to the older generations, women constitute a majority of Gen Z-ers who have disaffiliated from organized religion.
Men make up a majority of baby boomers (57%), Generation X (55%) and millennials (53%) who have left organized religion, while a solid majority of Generation Z (57%) who have abandoned organized religion are women. The research suggests that young women’s skepticism about organized religion stems from a belief that most churches do not “treat men and women equally.”
While Gen Z is the first generation in which a higher share of women have left organized religion than men, it is also the first generation in which a larger percentage of women identify as religiously unaffiliated than their male counterparts at 39% compared to 35% for men.
The research lists additional factors that might explain the reason why young women are rejecting organized religion. One is that sixty-one percent of Gen Z women identify as feminist, far greater than women from previous generations.
Another is the belief among this group that churches’ treat gay and lesbian people poorly.
And a third explanation is this group of women believe that “abortion should be available without any restriction.” A view opposed by the evangelical church.