Slingback heels, baggy slacks, and briefcases. Referring to even your closest friends by their full names and razzing each other as a form of bonding. Sharing a Zyn pouch with Michael Knowles after his speech. This is what it’s like to be a Gen Z conservative. Recent statistics have shown that Gen Z is becoming increasingly more conservative and politically engaged; compared to the 2020 election, youth voters shifted 9% toward Republicans in the 2024 election. But what does it mean to be a young conservative today? What makes Gen Z conservative culture unique and what are the common experiences shared amongst us? To answer this question, The Cal Review interviewed various conservative college students throughout the Bay Area.
On Fashion Trends and Interests
At UC Berkeley, you might notice that many conservatives opt to use a briefcase instead of a casual bag. When asked about this choice, TPUSA Berkeley executive board member Maddux Radabaugh explained,
On one hand, the briefcase is an aesthetic preference, it’s more professional and I prefer it to hunching over in a JanSport around campus. Outside of appearance though I believe it cultivates a lunch pail guy mindset when I go out. I’m here to learn, work, study, and go home. Both of these I see as necessary in the day to day if we genuinely want to be professional, one has to act and look the part. Still, one article of clothing or a bag or briefcase isn’t going to fix anything, but the mindset of actively prioritizing an aesthetic and focused standard for oneself can help contribute to a greater atmosphere of seriousness and legitimacy for the movement.
Fashion can also be a form of communication amongst peers. John Paul Leon, President of TPUSA Berkeley says,
Being conservative at UC Berkeley is like being gay in the 1950s. You have to stay in the closet while signaling to other conservatives that you are conservative. For a conservative, button down shirts function the same way an earring on the right ear would for a gay man.
Music is another aspect where conservatives are inspired to shape their sense of a traditional personal identity. A typical conservative playlist may contain a mixture of oldies, classical, or gospel music. Takumi Sugara, President of the San Francisco State University TPUSA chapter explains what music means to him as a Gen Z conservative,
I loooove gospel, R&B, blues… and I feel like those kind[s] of music have theme(s), whether that is the love of God, loving someone, or sorrow. As conservatives, we tend to like something that has core values and themes, and unlike rap music or other modern music which tend(s) to celebrate degeneracy or nothing, I like listening to music which makes me think about what I care about or what I love. I love Rock & Roll from the fifties...
On Connections and Friendship
The young conservative movement goes deeper than aesthetics. When asked about what young conservatives are like Secretary of TPUSA Berkeley Jonah Taub says,
I’d definitely say that they tend to be very focused and very prepared in… debates, and always yearn for knowledge about the political sphere, and so I think that’s very unique about them and something I look up to. They're very prepared and engaging… and I feel like there's also a strong sense of personal responsibility, traditional values. And we have fun in these clubs and… political discussions and that’s what keeps the conversation going.
The lighthearted environment of the college conservative scene is one that draws in many students. Kaitlyn Mcdermott says,
This group is filled with laughter and positivity. It’s also nice to find a club where I am able to join and go passively, and don’t have to go through countless interviews and requirements to join. There’s a sense of community where we’re all equals that I have yet to find elsewhere.
While the conservative scene maintains an atmosphere rich with intellectual thought and levity, it is also an environment where lifelong connections are made. When asked about her favorite memories within the movement, former President of Berkeley College Republicans Angel Prasad says,
I think how we just all laugh together and share a community despite differences. I met my husband and a few very close friends in college through conservative circles. I remember staying up at night and laughing so much in an Airbnb just telling stories with our buddies.
In short, the conservative subculture on Bay Area campuses is a thoughtful and principled one characterized by innovation, style, depth and warmth. Perhaps their best features are the high standards Gen Z conservatives hold themselves to, like personal responsibility, which are reflected in their sense of style, the media they consume and the way they treat others. These values are contagious, inspiring flourishing not just here at Cal but on other Northern California campuses, setting an example for higher ed and, by extension, the world.
