Across Sweden, Germany, Poland, Spain and Greece, young adults demonstrate strong awareness and reflexivity regarding the relationship between societal conditions and personal life chances. Economic insecurity and housing constraints dominate immediate concerns, while polarisation, gender inequality, security risks and climate change form a broader horizon of generational uncertainty. Overall, societal challenges are not perceived as abstract policy issues but as deeply embedded determinants of independence, mobility and long­term security. 3.3 Perceptions of political actors and institutions: Performance matters more than ideology Overall evaluations of political actors are similar across genders and driven by performance expectations. Gender differences are most visible in perceptions of leadership: women more strongly reject the idea that men are better suited to lead and tend to support female political leaders, while men are more likely to express neutrality or conditional agreement with such claims. Beyond this, differences remain limited, with both genders prioritising performance, credibility and effective crisis management. Performance matters more than ideology: Young adults across Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain and Sweden evaluate politicians and parties primarily based on whether they deliver results. While some have clear partisan or ideological preferences, most judge political actors by their effectiveness at addressing economic insecurity, social inequality, polarisation and security concerns, rather than by left-right labels. Broken promises and fragile trust: A widespread critique is the gap between promises and results. Young people are frustrated by unfulfilled commitments, inconsistent decision-making and performative politics. This undermines trust but does not necessarily reduce participation – voting and civic engagement are still seen as responsibilities. Polarisation and political style: Excessive polarisation, blame-shifting and sensationalism are major concerns. Participants want politicians to focus on problem-solving, cooperation and serious governance rather than performative conflict or political spectacle. Civic responsibility: While accountability lies with political actors, young adults also emphasise the role of citizens in holding leaders responsible. Participation, voting and awareness are seen as crucial parts of making yourself heard. Gender and leadership perceptions: When prompted by the moderators, women consistently challenge the idea that men are inherently better crisis managers and tend to support female political leaders. Men are more likely to express neutrality or conditional agreement with male superiority, reflecting persistent gendered assumptions about leadership. 58 EqualiZe