http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/kristen-soltis-anderson/2013/01/22/understanding-the-poll-numbers-on-abortion-and-roe-v-wade
This article really helps to outline the reasons why polling can be difficult. According to a Wallstreet Journal and NBC poll that was conducted (can be found here http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/Supreme-court-question.pdf)
Most people did not approve of completely overturning Roe Vs. Wade.
It says 31% of Americans think abortion should always be legal
23% say it should be legal most of the time
35% say it should be illegal with exceptions
9% say that it should be illegal regardless
There have been a lot of other polls out there, by Pew and Gallup as well, that ask the questions differently.
Pew:
49% of women think abortion is morally wrong
45% of men think abortion is morally wrong
30% of women think Roe vs. Wade should be overturned.
Gallup:
46% of women considered themselves prolife
44% of women considered themselves prochoice
Now why are these numbers all over the place? The question being asked, simply. With the NBC poll, you have the question about Roe vs. Wade, which 41 (the highest number) people said they didn't know what that was/have an opinion, and then the second question explained what it was and then asked if you wanted to completely overturn it. The word 'completely' is misleading because a lot of the people didn't know what it was in the beginning.
In Pew, there is an obvious difference between morally right for personal reasons, and a piece of legislation for everyone.
Gallup, you have two very hotbutton words, 'prolife' and prochoice'. But is this for individuals? Or legislation? Or when concerning a specific supreme court ruling like Roe Vs. Wade?
This issue definitely has a lot of ways to gauge public opinion. Its hard to pinpoint exactly what America thinks about abortion.
I agree that it's hard to pinpoint America's view on abortion, especially with all the different ways it can be asked. "Pro-life" and "Pro-choice" can be loaded terms, depending on who's asking or answering. To some people, not being pro-life implies that one must be anti-life, or pro-abortion, which is one of the attacks people use against pro-choice people. And "morally" right or wrong is another hugely complicated issue, depending on the answerer's religion, history, or maybe a specific case they know of in which abortion happened for wrong or right reasons. Further, as you said, just because a person considers abortion morally wrong doesn't automatically mean they want to overturn Roe v. Wade. That probably accounts for some of the differences in the polls you reported. Abortion is a very complicated issue, both morally and legally, and people have complex opinions about it that can't be summed up in a simple survey question.
ReplyDeleteI think we should explore that some. What kinds of things CAN'T be surveyed accurately?
DeleteFascinating to see the true extent of how something as simple as phrasing can dramatically change people's response to a question, and present very different results. Abortion was certainly a hot topic this past presidential election (and remains very much so), so I think it would be a mistake for anyone to try to make a blanket statement about the nation's feelings towards this issue from a single survey alone. I think if you looked at surveys concerning the question of same-sex marriage you would find equally discrepant results due to phrasing differences such as "same-sex" versus "gay marriage" and the inclusion of qualifiers such as "morally right" or "morally wrong."
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the "hottest" topics that I have ever encountered in a debate. For years I had always stated (I thought cleverly so) that I had no opinion on abortion because it was none of my business (as I wasn't a woman). One of my professors started to probe my stated ambivalence and forced me to look at abortion from a societal perspective. If I was in favor of abortion it was because I was in a society where abortion was necessary not because I was necessarily pro-abortion (which is often the argument that pro-life people vehemently make). If I was in a society where abortion was not necessary then I would not be in favor of abortion; however, it takes a powerful imagination to get to that sort of utopian society in one's mind. This harkens to what we discussed in class today about lack of information being a factor in opinions. Had I ever considered all of the facts? Not really. I had simply shut myself down at the level of, "this is none of my business" instead of considering it further. Interestingly I still feel that it is none of my business (as my sex has not change) but with the caveat of I wish we were in a society where this wasn't even a question... This is my opinion for right now and I do reserve the right to change it.
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