New Survey Shows Major Gender Shift In Church Attendance: Men Now Most Dominant Demographic

A major shift in church demographics is occurring, with a recent Barna survey reporting that “Men are significantly outpacing women in church attendance since the pandemic, reversing a long-standing trend in Barna’s decades of tracking,” and that these “new patterns of participation and disengagement among key groups may reshape the fabric of church life in the years to come.” Barna notes:

This tracks with another survey recently released, which shows that Gen-Z women are outnumbering the men in terms of claiming to be either atheists, agnostics, or religiously unaffiliated.

Noting that “Across every generation, women are trailing men in weekly church attendance, especially among Gen X and Millennials,” Barna suggests a few reasons for this:

• With more women delaying marriage or remaining single, they often feel isolated in congregations that cater to nuclear families.
  
• Many young women are juggling careers, side gigs, and unpaid domestic responsibilities—all while earning less than their male peers. Instead of being a place of sanctuary and spiritual renewal, church often adds to the already full plate of demands on women’s lives.
  
• Some researchers suggest the decline in women’s church attendance may stem from a growing disconnect between traditional, hierarchical church structures and the values of younger women—many of whom now identify as liberal politically.
  
• High-profile scandals involving male church leaders, along with toxic teaching and exclusionary practices, have eroded trust—especially among women.
  

Finally, the survey reveals that the most likely people to attend church weekly are married dads, significantly outpacing married moms.

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