Pew Research: U.S. Teens on Transgender and Nonbinary Identities

As conversations about gender identity continue to shape cultural and political landscapes, a recent Pew Research Center study sheds light on how U.S. teens and adults perceive and experience issues related to transgender and nonbinary identities. The findings reveal notable generational and partisan differences, offering insights into evolving social norms.

Teens Are Less Likely to Know Someone Transgender, More Likely to Know Someone Nonbinary

The study finds that U.S. teens are less likely than adults to know someone who is transgender (36% vs. 40%), but they are more likely to know someone who identifies as nonbinary (28% vs. 23%). Age and gender play significant roles in these connections. Older teens (ages 15-17), especially girls, are more likely to know someone who is trans or nonbinary compared to younger teens (ages 13-14).

• Among teens aged 15-17:

  • 49% of girls know a transgender person, compared to 32% of boys.

  • 37% of girls know someone who is nonbinary, compared to 25% of boys.

• Among teens aged 13-14:

  • 37% of girls know a transgender person, compared to 20% of boys.

  • 27% of girls know someone who is nonbinary, compared to 14% of boys.

Adults under 30 are even more likely than teens to know a nonbinary person, highlighting shifting generational dynamics.

Views on Gender and Pronouns

When asked about gender identity, most teens (69%) believe a person’s gender is determined by their sex assigned at birth, while 30% say gender can differ from sex assigned at birth. Adults hold similar views, with 65% saying gender is tied to birth sex and 33% believing it can differ. These beliefs vary sharply along partisan lines:

• Among Democratic teens, 50% say gender is determined by birth sex, while 49% believe it can differ. By contrast, 88% of Republican teens say gender is determined by birth sex.

The study also highlights comfort levels with gender-neutral pronouns. While 48% of teens are comfortable with people using “they/them” pronouns, 50% are not. Adults show a similar split (45% comfortable vs. 54% uncomfortable). Partisan differences are again stark:

• 70% of Democratic teens are comfortable with gender-neutral pronouns, compared to just 26% of Republican teens.

• Teens in rural areas are the least comfortable (60% uncomfortable), while those in urban areas are the most comfortable (43% uncomfortable).

Generational and Geographic Influences

The study underscores the influence of geography on teens’ perspectives. Rural teens are more likely (75%) to believe gender is determined by sex at birth compared to their urban (66%) and suburban (67%) peers. Similarly, teens in rural areas report higher discomfort with gender-neutral pronouns.

Partisan and Generational Gaps

For both teens and adults, political affiliation strongly correlates with familiarity and comfort regarding transgender and nonbinary identities. Democratic-leaning individuals are more likely to know someone who is transgender or nonbinary and to express comfort with gender-neutral pronouns, while Republicans are less likely to share these experiences and views.

Final Thoughts

This study provides a snapshot of how teens and adults navigate issues of gender identity in today’s society. It highlights generational shifts, the impact of geography, and deep partisan divides, offering a nuanced view of where the U.S. stands on these evolving topics.