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Ever since the comeback of the conservative government, I've observed what I call the "laid-back young woman" phenomenon in high schools. A group could be chatting informally, then out of nowhere one male tells a questionable remark—maybe racist or offensive. The mood shifts slightly. Typically, male students continue like all is normal, but young women—often more progressive—face a dilemma: speak up and risk getting a reputation as “too sensitive” or “humorless”, or stay silent and be viewed as “chill” and apolitical. Lately, the second option has become increasingly common.

Nobody likes to socialize with the nitpicker, so nobody wants to become her. Therefore, adolescent illiberalism lives on.

This kind of fearful silence is spreading beyond campuses. In late 2024, a media giant removed an LGBTQ+ character from a series. Months later, a regulation barred government employees from using pronouns in online profiles. Shortly after, a major media company pointed to anti-DEI stances when announced it would no longer reporting diversity stats.

This change encourages nostalgia for an earlier era—an age before diversity initiatives, where women were supposed to focus on domestic life. A “traditional spouse” influencer, called a social media personality, now has millions followers online. Her videos of making sourdough and caring for a large family suggest a return to conventional gender roles. She even appeared on the front of a right-wing magazine that publicly endorses the present administration.

This effect filters down to young people. In today’s environment, left-leaning teenage girls increasingly hesitate from expressing views that could be dismissed as “woke”. It’s not because most are shifting right—in the last election, a majority of female voters supported the progressive choice. Instead, the mood has changed, and girls now feel more afraid about speaking up.

Several teen girls say that it is riskier to appear openly liberal. One commented that boys are acting more confident to tell offensive jokes. Another stated that since the election, casual racism and sexism have increased. Young women sense peer pressure to stay passive when encountering hurtful language. When you object, guys might think attacked, so it’s frequently easier to ignore it and choose your battles.

Another student added that the concern of being seen as “too political” can be enough to cause someone to not speak up. If a girl objects, male peers may never respect her views afterward. Such attitudes are harsh, but they align with broader patterns. Recent studies show that nearly half of young women feel significant stress to conform among peers. Since cultural conservatism expands, what it means to belong shifts. In relatively open-minded environments, girls who react uncomfortably to vulgar talk face social exclusion. No one desires to be the outcast, and thus, youthful prejudice thrives.

The effect of such political shifts on young people could be profound and enduring. Aside from obvious government actions, there are quiet cultural transformations which rarely make the news. The acceptance of racist and biased language in teens could reshape gender relations for years, possibly enabling inequality, mistreatment, and obstacles to female advancement. The gap between young men and girls is widening rapidly, and little indication of stopping. We are experiencing a warping of youth culture, one that may affect an entire generation.

• This piece was written by a high school student