Gendered Barriers to Youth Political Participation: An Explorative Comparative Study of Peru and the United States

This small-scale exploratory study examines how gender norms and media portrayals influence young people’s expression in politics in Peru and the United States. By analyzing grey literature, TikTok political videos and campaign ads from the months before recent presidential elections, I find ongoing gender biases that affect how young people, especially young women and gender minorities, are seen and engaged with in political spaces.

The research shows that while digital activism and identity politics are more visible in the U.S., gender-related challenges and backlash still persist. In Peru, media tends to be more centralized and reflects traditional values, leading to more subtle exclusion and less visibility for marginalized youth defined here as young women, LGBTQ+ youth, and those from lower-income or rural backgrounds. By comparing these two contexts, this study shows that in the United States, youth visibility through figures like Kamala Harris and young female TikTok creators remains framed through emotional or inspirational narratives; while in Peru, videos supporting or undermining Verónika Mendoza illustrate how centralized media reinforces traditional gender norms.

These examples highlight the need for more inclusive media and political spaces that not only expand youth access but also counter gendered exclusion. The combined analysis demonstrates that despite differences in context, both countries reproduce gendered power hierarchies that limit political voice and visibility for young women and marginalized youth—thus pointing to future research and policy efforts focused on equitable media representation, the sociocultural replication or disruption of these hierarchies, and digital platform accountability.