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Since the return of a conservative administration, I've observed what's known as the "new chill girl" dynamic at my school. A group could be talking informally, when suddenly one male makes an off-color remark—maybe sexist or offensive. The mood changes subtly. Usually, the boys continue as if nothing happened, but the girls—often liberal-leaning—face a choice: object and end up with getting a reputation as “annoying” or “humorless”, or let it slide and be viewed as “chill” and not “woke”. Recently, staying quiet is becoming more frequent.

Nobody likes to hang out with the nitpicker, and no one chooses to become her. Thus, juvenile illiberalism lives on.

This kind of apprehensive silence is spreading outside campuses. In late 2024, a major studio cut an LGBTQ+ figure from a series. Months later, a new rule prevented government employees from using pronouns in online profiles. Shortly after, a major news publisher cited anti-DEI policies as it announced it would stop reporting workforce demographics.

This change encourages nostalgia for a bygone time—an age prior to diversity initiatives, where women were supposed to focus on domestic life. A “trad wife” influencer, called Ballerina Farm, now has millions followers on Instagram. Her content of making sourdough and raising a large family evoke a return to conventional gender roles. She even graced the cover of a right-wing magazine that openly supports the present administration.

This influence filters down to young people. In the current political climate, progressive young women increasingly hesitate from sharing views that might be dismissed as “woke”. This isn’t because the majority are turning conservative—recently, over half of young women supported the progressive choice. Instead, the mood has changed, and girls now feel more afraid about voicing dissent.

Several teen girls say that it’s more dangerous to be outspokenly left-wing. A noted that male peers are becoming more emboldened to make bigoted jokes. A different said that after the election, casual racism and sexism are more common. Young women sense social pressure to stay passive after encountering offensive comments. If you complain, guys may feel targeted, and it is frequently easier to let it go and choose when to respond.

Another girl explained that the fear of being labeled as “super woke” can be enough to make someone stay silent. Once she objects, male peers might not take her seriously afterward. These attitudes are harsh, yet they reflect broader patterns. Recent research indicate that about 45% of young women experience a lot of stress to conform socially. As cultural conservatism expands, what it means to belong shifts. In fairly liberal settings, girls who respond negatively to crude humor risk social exclusion. No one desires to become the outcast, so as a result, youthful prejudice thrives.

The effect of these political shifts on young people may be profound and long-lasting. Aside from obvious policy changes, there are quiet social changes that don’t make the news. The normalization of discriminatory and sexist rhetoric among young people might alter gender relations for years, potentially permitting inequality, harassment, and barriers to women’s advancement. The gap among young men and girls is growing quickly, and little indication of stopping. I believe we are experiencing a distortion of social norms, which may affect a whole generation.

• This article is authored by a teenage writer