Young Women’s Political Engagement Beyond Voting: Experiences from Argentina’s Green Wave

This paper presents a sociological analysis investigating the political trajectories and personal resonances experienced by young women who participated in Argentina’s “Green Wave” movement for abortion legalization. The study covers the period from 2018 to early 2025, contrasting the progress in rights achieved in the country with the subsequent political shift marked by the rise of Javier Milei’s far-right government. The study aims to engage in dialogue with other works presented in the session that address questions such as: Why do people participate in specific forms of political engagement beyond voting? And how do individuals understand the significance of their political participation? Through qualitative interviews with activists from Argentina, the research examines how participants engaged with political commitments and how abortion activism shaped their subsequent political involvement and identities. Interviewees confirm that their participation represented a significant milestone, leading some to move toward party-political militancy or student activism, demonstrating the fluctuating nature of their commitments. Regardless of the continuity of organized activism, a feminist identity became transversal, profoundly transforming their professional and personal spheres. Finally, the analysis addresses the sense of exhaustion and frustration perceived by young women in the face of the current government’s offensive against gender agendas. This work also aims to contribute to reflections on why and how young people participate in politics beyond electoral processes.