The Generational Divide Among Democratic Woman Voters

Hillary Clinton did not expect to win the New Hampshire primary earlier this week, but she did hope to win the women’s vote. As anticipated, her Democratic Presidential opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders won the primary. What was most surprising, according to the NBC exit polls, is that Bernie led Hillary among all women by 11 points, drawing the support of  84% from women under age 30. Only women 65 and older held their support for Hillary.

The women’s vote has been expected to be the trump card that will push Hillary Clinton to the Democratic nomination, but the results in New Hampshire have called that assumption into question. The solid support that the younger women gave to Sanders was disappointing to some Hillary supporters, particularly those who witnessed the hard work Hillary has done for women.

One iconic feminist who came to the Granite State to show her support for Hillary was Madeleine Albright, the first woman Secretary of State who served during the second term of former President Bill Clinton. According to The New York Times, she talked about the importance of electing a woman to the highest position in the country. She pointed out that the real “revolution” is having the first female commander in chief, not the kind of political revolution that Sanders advocates. Concerning the younger women, she reiterated that the work for broader equality is not done. To make her point she said, “There’s a special place for women in hell for those who do not help each other.”

Another distinguished supporter of Hillary is Gloria Steinem, one of the most important spokeswoman of the feminist movement. As reported in The Huffington Post Bill Maher asked Steinem why the candidate she supports does not do well with the young women, she replied, “When you’re young, you’re thinking, ‘ where are the boys?’ The boys are with Bernie.” This was misinterpreted as implying that young women aren’t serious about their politics. Steinem later posted an apology, but the damage was done.

The statements made by Albright and Steinem did not resonate well. Women do not believe that their votes should be offered blindly and based only on gender. The remarks made younger women, in particular, feel misinformed and stupid. CNN quoted Ariana Javidi, a sophomore studying human rights, economics and gender studies at the University of Connecticut saying, “I’m frustrated and outraged by being constantly attacked by older feminists for my refusal to vote according to my gender.” Another Sanders supporter, Gabrielle Greaves, a student at the University of New Hampshire says her decision is based on policy, not on getting the first woman into the White House.

Older women, particularly the baby boomers, see Hillary as a trailblazer who worked hard to break ground for women which the younger generation takes for granted. For decades, Hillary has fought for human rights and reproductive rights. Lori Day, 59, an educational psychologist who runs her own consulting business and author of a book on mother-daughter book clubs said:

We don’t take for granted any of the progress she helped create because we know that we could lose it, and if a Republican wins the White House, we will. Younger women have no collective memory of this, and they do tend to take things like birth control and legal abortion for granted, simply because these things have always existed in their lifetimes.

The younger women endorse Bernie for his idealism. The older generation understands and appreciates the achievements Hillary has done for the advancement of women. She established clearly her policies on college education, loans and debt and how she will work toward income inequality, all of which are beneficial to the younger generation. She led the path for more opportunities for women. As President Hillary Clinton will open more paths for millennial women than Bernie Sanders could ever manage.