For generations, women filled American church pews in greater numbers than men. Now, that pattern is changing. Recent studies show young women are stepping away from organized religion in unprecedented numbers, outpacing young men in leaving the faith.

In the Baby Boomer generation, men were more likely to disaffiliate from their childhood religion. But among Gen Z adults, 54% of those who have left the faith are women, a complete reversal of historic trends. 

Survey data also indicate that nearly four-in-ten Gen Z women identify as religiously unaffiliated, significantly higher than the share of unaffiliated young men and a stark departure from older generations. This generational flip has caught the attention of researchers and faith leaders, raising questions about why so many young American women are drifting from church life.

One major factor cited in studies is a growing perception of inequality in churches. About 65% of young women say churches do not treat men and women equally, according to a recent Survey Center on American Life poll. 

Many women in Gen Z identify as feminists and were raised with the message that they can do anything men can. Confronting certain religious traditions that limit women’s leadership roles often creates “tremendous cognitive dissonance” for them, according to Cheryl Summers, a former Southern Baptist who left her church after feeling constrained by its strict gender hierarchy.

She pointed specifically to the Southern Baptist Convention’s rule that women must “submit” to male authority.

“There’s tremendous cognitive dissonance for a woman of faith who is leading professionally… when she experiences the glass ceiling and walls in her place of worship,” said Summers.

Beyond leadership roles, many young women say they simply don’t feel valued in today’s church culture. Research by the Barna Group found that young women are now the least likely demographic to engage in common faith practices like prayer, Bible reading or weekly worship attendance. 

“Many [women] have begun to feel like the Church is not a place where they can spiritually grow,” observed Ashley LaLonde, a sociologist with Barna. 

She notes that while Gen Z is “more spiritually open” than previous generations, trust in churches is low among young women, and “many no longer feel that church is a place where they belong or are valued.”

This sense of alienation, or of not seeing themselves reflected or respected, is frequently mentioned as a reason for stepping away.

The exodus of young women from religion is also tied to broader cultural shifts. Younger women tend to hold more liberal views, yet they often perceive their faith communities as increasingly aligned with conservative politics.

For example, on social issues like reproductive rights and LGBTQ inclusion, there is a widening gap. Surveys show a slight majority of Gen Z women take progressive stances, for instance, 54% believe abortion should be available without restriction. 

Further, nearly three in ten young women under 30 identify as LGBTQ or other than straight. By contrast, many American churches, especially evangelical and Catholic congregations, uphold traditional teachings opposing abortion and same-sex relationships. 

This “cultural misalignment” can be jarring. In one recent poll, 60% of young Americans who left their childhood religion cited their religion’s negative treatment of LGBTQ people as an important reason for their departure.

LaLonde points out that this value gap mirrors the gender divide in politics: Gen Z women on average lean more liberal, while young men trend more conservative. As some churches double down on culture-war issues or openly align with partisan movements, many women feel out of place. 

“They don’t see their values reflected [in church],” LaLonde said, “so they ask, why would I belong to a community that doesn’t align with who I am?”

For other young women, the break with church is not caused by one single issue but by a steady accumulation of experiences they view as negative over time. 

For instance, churches tend to focus on traditional family structures, which may leave some young women feeling left out. In many congregations, marriage and motherhood are upheld as defining milestones of adult faith, with ministries often centered on young families. 

That emphasis, however, can marginalize single, childless, or career-focused women, who may struggle to see their life path affirmed in the church. If a 28-year-old single woman only hears about being a godly wife or mother in sermons and church programs, she might conclude she has no place there. 

This relational and cultural disconnect drives some women away. However, it’s important to note that not all young women leave in anger or on bad terms, and women who have left the church cite a variety of reasons. 

This trend poses a significant challenge for American churches, both practically and spiritually. Historically, women have been the backbone of church communities. Women have not only made up the majority of attendees, but they have also contributed extensive volunteer labor and leadership in ministries. 

From teaching Sunday school to organizing charity events, women tend to donate more time and energy to sustain congregational life. Mothers in particular have been crucial in passing on faith to the next generation, with surveys showing that adults often credit their mothers (more than fathers) for their religious upbringing. 

With fewer young women in the pews, many congregations worry about the long-term effect on youth involvement, outreach, and the continuity of traditions.

Faith leaders across denominations are thus grappling with how to respond. Some see the findings as a wake-up call. 

“Church attendance in the U.S. is in the midst of complex changes,” said Daniel Copeland, the vice president of research at Barna Group, which tracks church trends. 

Critically, Copeland noted it’s too early to tell whether the story is “women stepping back or men stepping up,” and likely, it’s both. 

Regardless, the data “presents important questions for [church] leaders to consider to ensure churches are places where women can easily participate, are valued, and feel supported,” he said. 

In practical terms, some churches are reexamining their ministry programs, teaching styles and community life to better include women who might feel overlooked. For example, some congregations are actively creating spaces for single young adults to connect, and others are inviting women into more visible leadership and decision-making roles.

Religious researchers also urge congregations not to dismiss the concerns that young women voice. 

David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna, suggests that churches should treat this moment as “an invitation to look closely at the barriers” keeping women and other groups away. 

Listening is key, he said, urging churches to listen to women’s experiences in the church without defensiveness, and to respond with meaningful change. If a church’s culture or policies have unintentionally alienated half of the younger population, understanding those stories can point the way to healing and retention. 

As Kinnaman put it, by “responding to their needs,” churches can “create spaces where everyone can grow spiritually and be fully included.”

For now, the statistics remain sobering. In 2025, only 36% of American women reported attending church weekly, compared to 43% of men. This was the largest gender gap in attendance recorded in recent history. 

Further, among today’s young adults, women are less religiously affiliated and less active in church than their male peers, a scenario virtually unthinkable a generation ago. 

The reasons behind this female flight from church are varied and complex, spanning changing social norms, ideological rifts, and intimate personal journeys. 

Observers across the sociopolitical spectrum agree that America’s religious landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Whether churches can bridge the growing gender disconnect may not only shape the future of American Christianity, but also determine if and how this “lost generation” of women of faith might one day find their way back.