Women college students studying in London voiced support for Kamala Harris and concerns about abortion rights, mirroring trends in the United States polls.
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, polls indicate a tight race, with Vice President Harris leading former President Donald Trump by a slim margin of 1 point in the N.Y. Times national polling as of Oct. 30. Some 10% of voters remain undecided, making the election anyone’s race.
Harris, in particular, performs strongly among women; according to a September poll by The 19th News, Harris leads Trump by 13 points when it comes to women voters.
The influence of high-profile endorsements, such as pop star Taylor Swifts’ backing of Harris, resonates with women voters, with 19% saying it would impact their decision in the election in a Sept. 11 SurveyMonkey poll conducted after the presidential debate.
In a poll by 19th News, 37% of women identified inflation and the cost of living as their primary concerns in the upcoming election.
Yet female college students reported that their main concern centers around abortion. The 19th News poll also found 69% of women voters interviewed support legalizing abortion. A September survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found 58% of women trust Harris while only 28% trust Trump to decide on abortion policies.
Interviews with female students studying abroad in the United Kingdom highlight a preference for Harris over Trump, especially on issues related to women’s rights. Santa Rosa Junior College student Aubrey Alexander, a third-year communication studies major, voiced concerns about Trump’s policies, including some of his proposals on abortion. When asked about her thoughts on Trump backing down from his past pro-life agenda. Alexander said, ” Politicians say what they can to get elected; it’s like a game.”
Trump does not seem to appeal in the same way as Harris when it comes to women’s issues. Afzaa, a pre-med student at Imperial College, said, “Trump is a misogynist, so I don’t think he would be the best supporter of women’s issues.”
Afzaa is not the only college student feeling the same way about Trump’s treatment of women. Ava Connor, an art major at Santa Rosa Junior College, feels that how Trump speaks about women is “horrible.”
Abortion is always a hot topic, and more than 63% of Americans said abortion should be legal in most cases, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center poll. That begs the question: Has Trump really changed his stance on abortion?
While Trump’s stance on abortion might not be clear, opponent Harris has been campaigning for women’s rights, particularly abortion and equal representation. Harris’s campaign message has traveled across the Atlantic and all the way to the United Kingdom.
All the female students interviewed at Imperial College London found Harris appealing because of her advocacy for women’s rights. Sanjana, an electrical engineering major, said, “Kamala really spoke to me. She represents women of color like me and respects women’s rights.”
Being an advocate for women’s rights is not Harris’s only appeal to women. Lorena, an economic finance and data science major at Imperial College, said plain and simple that Harris’ appeal is “because she’s a woman” and understands what it’s like to be a woman.
There is also considerable excitement surrounding the fact that Harris could be the first woman president. “Having the potential to have a female president is exciting,” said Bridget Dirstine, a business administration major at San Mateo Community College who is studying abroad in London this fall. She views Harris’s candidacy as a major step forward for the country.
Dirstine is not alone in her excitement for a potential woman president, with 79% of women voters expressing excitement about voting for a female president.
Whether they prioritize reproductive rights or simply the prospect of a woman president, college women across the U.S. are bound to be one of the most decisive forces in this election. With young female voter turnout on the rise, their vote will be the deciding factor in this race for the White House.