Majority of Young Adult Women Ages 18-29 Say Today's Leaders Do Not Reflect Their Interests and the Wrong Leadership is in Washington

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Sep 08, 2011, 12:19 ET

Message to Elected Officials: Cut Federal Spending, Stop Interfering With Business - in 2012, We Will Vote on Issues and Your Record

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As unemployment remains high and net new job creation continues to be negligible, Generation Opportunity is releasing new polling data specifically revealing the views of young adult women ages 18-29 ("Millennial" women). Highlights of the data reveal that young adult women are opposed to more federal spending, prefer cuts in federal spending versus increases in personal income taxes to balance the budget, believe that the wrong leadership is in Washington D.C., and believe that elected officials do not reflect their views. The data release comes as America prepares for leaders in both major parties to announce the latest round of proposals to address joblessness and the poor economy.

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Generation Opportunity previously released data from its nationwide survey that provided views of self-identified Millennial Independents ages 18-29 and Hispanic young adults ages 18-29. The findings released today closely follow the views of self-identified Millennial Independents as well as those of Hispanic young adults. Generation Opportunity is one of the fastest growing and largest grassroots organizations in the nation dedicated to organizing and mobilizing young adults through a strategy based on social media and ground operations. The organization, publicly launched in June of 2011, has amassed over one million fans through its "Being American" page on Facebook.

"Young adult women are working diligently to chart their own course forward professionally and personally, and their experiences chronicle the under-reported human costs stemming from failed policies and the lack of opportunity. Professional goals, personal plans and the momentum for advancement have either been placed on hold or are at-risk of stalling completely – Millennial women know America can do better," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff at the United States Department of Labor under Secretary Elaine L. Chao and at the United States Office of Personnel Management under Director Kay Coles James. "Young adult women will closely watch the plans offered by leaders in both parties and make their determinations on who they choose to send back to Washington based on results, not rhetoric."

YOUNG ADULT WOMEN – PERSPECTIVES ON THE ECONOMY, 2012, AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICA

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and highlights of results for young adult women ages 18-29 appear below.

Delayed Professional Plans and Personal Dreams – The Human Cost of the Poor Economy:

79% of Young Adult Women (18-29) either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to current economic factors. Almost half are putting plans to purchase a home "on pause", and about one-in-four 18-29 year old women (27%) are putting their plans to start a family "on pause" due to the current economic conditions.

46% delay buying a home;
30% delay saving for retirement;
30% delay paying off student loans or other debt;

26% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
21% delay changing jobs/cities;
27% delay starting a family;
20% delay getting married

Young Adult Women on Government Spending and the Economy:

71% of Young Adult Women (18-29) would favor a decrease in federal spending from its current level over raising taxes paid by individuals in order to balance the federal budget. Only 23% favor increasing taxes paid by individuals as a means of balancing the federal budget. Young Adult Women are 3 times more inclined to cut federal spending than increase taxes on individuals.
54% of Young Adult Women agree the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference, 33% disagree.

Young Adult Women 18-29 Look Ahead to 2012:

60% of Young Adult Women (18-29) believe the wrong leadership is in Washington, while 38% believe Washington has the right leadership. Within those totals (60% wrong leadership versus 38% right leadership), there is a 22-point intensity gap between women who strongly agree Washington has the wrong leadership (29%) compared with those who strongly agree (7%) Washington has the right leadership.
67% of Young Adult Women (18-29) do not believe that today's political leaders reflect their interests, 26% believe they do.
64% of Young Adult Women (18-29) will chiefly consider a candidate's position on issues and voting record when voting for President in 2012, another 28% of Young Adult Women will weigh substantive issues and personal characteristics equally in making their vote choice, while just 3% prefer to base their support on "likeability" or the candidate's personal traits.
55% of Young Adult Women (18-29) agree that in 2012, they will learn more about the policy positions of Presidential candidates than they did in 2008, 32% disagree.

American National Security and Future Global Leadership:

65% of Young Adult Women (18-29) list energy dependency as the top national security issue followed by the national debt (62%) and indebtedness to foreign powers (48%). Terrorism was rated the fourth top national security issue (35%).
57% of Young Adult Women (18-29) are not confident that America will be the global leader in 10 years; 39% are confident. Among those who are not confident, there is a substantial intensity gap (19-points) between young adult women who are "not at all confident" (25%) America will be the global leader in ten years compared with those who are "very confident" (6%) it will be.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization announced its first communications platform – "Being American," a Facebook page that has already amassed a fan base of more than one million. The page posts links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal General Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here and visit "Being American" on Facebook by clicking here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generacion Oportunidad – click here.

CONTACT:
Matthew Faraci
202-997-1636
EMAIL

SOURCE Generation Opportunity