A recent survey is further highlighting the growing disparities of faith amongst Gen Z men and women. While a recent study from Barna’s State of the Church initiative revealed that men are now attending church at higher rates than women for the first time in decades, another report from Barna is showing that nearly 40% of Gen Z women identify as either atheist, agnostic, or “none.” The study found that 31% of all Gen Zers aged 13-24 identify as “no faith.” Twenty-two percent Gen Z men aged 13 to 17 identified as none while 28% of women in the same age bracket identified as no faith. Amongst older Gen Zers aged 18 to 24, 38% of Gen Z women identified as none while 32% of men did.

Gen Z women were also less spiritually engaged than men. Seventy-one percent of men aged 13 to 17 stated they had prayed in the last week, while 67% of women had. Sixty-three percent of men aged 18-24 had engaged in prayer during the last week while 58% of women had. A large number of Gen Z (73%) admitted to believing in some form of a higher power, with the breakdown remaining fairly high amongst men and women, remaining around 75% in each group, but it was lowest amongst women aged 18-24 with 67% stating they believed in a higher power. Belief in Jesus Christ as the only way to God was also lowest in that group at 40%.

The growing schism between men and women, who are not only dividing over faith but also in politics as men lean more conservative and women more liberal, could signal some growing tension between the two groups, particularly in relationships. Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research, noted changes should start at the relationship level. “If we want to see change in Gen Z women’s spiritual trajectories, relationships are the place to start. Faith is a skill that must be modeled first, and strong, supportive relationships can bridge the gap between doubt and belief,” he said.

Writing for Church Leaders Gail Ewell, Women’s Ministry leader for the Bay Area Christian Church, called the loss of women’s engagement in spiritual matters “sad.” “If we want to reverse the trend of losing these women, we need to intentionally cultivate powerful, authentic female leaders,” she wrote. “And developing those leaders requires that we cultivate young women when they appear in our churches.” She also focused on the need to form strong relationships. “The church has the power to offer them the relationships that will change and ground their lives forever. But drawing young women to church—and preventing more of them from becoming disconnected with it—requires most of all that we present them a compelling vision of Jesus, and of his Word.”