Whenever youth leadership is mentioned, people’s faces tend to either frown or light up. Some see it with hope, recognizing the creativity and fresh perspective it often brings; others view it as a synonym for incompetence. The latter attitude carries a sense of disdain and perceived unreliability, while the former highlights progressive thinking and open-mindedness.
But what makes people believe that trusting young leaders is a leap of faith rather than a conclusion grounded in evidence?
The reason behind this bias lies in role congruity theory: the stereotypes attached to youth inevitably clash with the traits people expect in leaders. Young people remain underrepresented in leadership not because of their performance or potential, but because of the age-biased lens through which they are viewed. This creates what feels like a real paradox and an additional dimension to the two described above: most people, indeed, light up and then frown when thinking about youth leadership.
Younger adults may be perceived as creative and adaptable, but they are simultaneously judged as less competent, less reliable, and less dependable than their older counterparts, qualities traditionally associated with effective leadership.
Brain hardwiring & ageism
There is one undeniable truth that makes it even more difficult for young leadership to be perceived as legit, and that is the brain being naturally averse to change. But let’s take a step back.
Our brain receives constant inputs from the outside world, and these deeply influence both our personality and our perception of what we consider “normal” — whether we realize it or not. The inputs we encounter most frequently become so deeply rooted that they grow increasingly difficult to challenge or unlearn. If people are used to seeing a specific type of person in charge (in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, background, etc.), their minds will almost inevitably resist anything that deviates even slightly from that familiar pattern.
Now, placing youth leadership within this framework reveals the vicious cycle these dynamics create: young leaders often face self-doubt about their experience, which can make it harder for them to assert their legitimacy and have a voice. If young leaders are not given enough space, people will continue to view them with reluctance. At the same time, the pressure of balancing responsibilities, managing criticism, and constantly having to prove themselves only reinforces the very stereotypes they are trying to break.
Talking layers: young women face even higher barriers
The United Nations promotes the principles that underly the ideal of democracy: peace, security, development, and human rights. In democratic systems, women and men have equal rights and are free from discrimination, and people have a say in decisions and can hold decision-makers accountable.
Women’s political participation is critical for a well-functioning democracy. Their inclusion is a matter of justice and a key factor in creating more effective governance. Yet, women’s voices are missing from decision-making in every region of the world.
What happens when age and gender intertwine? Being a woman and being young can represent a dual stereotype and constitute a double barrier that limits access to equal job positions and professional recognition compared to men.
Under the influence of gender stereotypes, it can be the message that women are “not made for” politics or are not “legitimate” political actors. Although women now sit alongside men in parliaments and government, powerful women – and the association of women in power – continue to elicit strong and negative reactions, which remain an obstacle for women wishing to enter – and thrive in – politics and other areas of leadership. There are also barriers that limit the “demand” for female candidates. These include how political parties recruit, select and support candidates, as well as voters’ preferences or attitudes towards women’s engagement in public life or as politicians.
The political participation of young women, particularly between the ages of 18 and 30, constitutes a critical dimension of democratic vitality and gender justice. The European Parliament supports gender equality; however, recent data show a lower female presence than men in both politics and public life at local, national, and European levels. While women generally remain underrepresented in politics, the situation is more acute for women from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ groups, disabled women, and other marginalized segments, with no uniform global numerical data but consistent qualitative evidence of significant underrepresentation.
Youth leadership: what do next-gen people bring to the table?
Bringing young voices into policymaking has shown to help advance innovative and future-oriented legislation on crucial areas, such as health, education, childcare, infrastructure and the fight against violence. Young leaders often introduce new perspectives, challenge outdated approaches, and shape policies that reflect the realities of their generation. When young women are visible in these roles, they not only influence key policy areas but also counter the persistent message that they are “too young” to lead or to participate meaningfully in political life.
From a broader perspective, building a pipeline into public life and politics, governments, political parties, civil society, the media and the European institutions can challenge the gender and age-related stereotypes that delegitimize young people’s participation and proactively encourage them to get involved. Grassroots activism can lead to involvement in local politics, and then to politics at national level.
It is time to take a stance: legislators, governments, parliaments, political parties, and civil society must take steps to improve the gender and age balance in political representation. They can range from “rigid” measures, such as changing electoral systems and mandating legally mandated gender quotas, to “soft” measures, such as the introduction of voluntary party quotas and the provision of training, mentoring, funding and other support to candidates, particularly young women from underrepresented minority groups.
Eduxo and Politics4Her believe that empowering young voices isn’t a threat to democracy, but rather its greatest renewal.
Article by: Chiara Bardi, Marta Nardini
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