Its been a few days since I last blogged so I felt it was a good time to update. Over the weekend I took some time to really explore the website Gallup.com and the polls they have compiled over the years. One the of the newest polls taken has caught my attention and I'd like to take some time and talk about it. The title of the poll is The New Normal on Abortion: Americans More "Pro-Life." This poll differs from the original one I blogged about because there is no gray area in the poll. The question posed was whether people were pro-life or pro-choice. The results of the poll showed that "slightly more Americans call themselves "pro-life" than "pro-choice," 47% vs. 45%, according to a May 3-6 Gallup poll. This is nearly identical to the 47% to 46% division found last July." Its interesting to me how how the numbers for each are now that that gray area of "abortion should be legal but only in certain situations" is taken out of the equation.
One thing that I was somewhat surprised by statistically was when certain age groups were polled. I am the person who assumes that most people in the age range 18-24 would be more liberal and pro choice on the matter of abortion. When asked if they were pro-life or pro-choice 47 % of 18-29 year olds said they were pro-life. Which is surprising to me because with a Democrat in office the polls usually have a more liberal reflection in them. This number has risen since 2008 when only 42 % said that they were pro-life.
I guess its never really to safe to assume what statistics may be. I can honestly say that I am surprised by the last statistic I mentioned. Only time will tell what other polls will show.
I find that to be a surprising statistic as well. I would agree that the definition of a liberal 18-24 would create the assumption that they would be pro-choice. I guess that would make me question the location of where they were polled. Urban or rural and population size of the where they lived because I think that would identify that shift from the "norm".
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I think one reason, other than what Sharli said about the polling area, why more people are shown to be Pro-life rather than Pro-choice could be the same phenomena that occurs whenever people are exit polled after voting in an election. It seems like people don't want to be classified as a "baby killer", I mean Pro-lifers don't really have a bad nickname--What could you really call them? "Baby Savers?" "Baby Protectors?" Those aren't as harsh as baby killers.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find though is that people oftentimes SAY that they are Pro-life, but when they themselves find out they are pregnant unexpectedly, I think that whole belief goes out the window. It seems like abortion is okay for their situation because "they can't afford it", "I want to finish school", "I'm not ready", etc. So it's almost as if they are the ONLY exception. But they still believe everyone else who has had an abortion is BAD!
I've heard of plenty of people that say that they would never get an abortion, but then end up doing it. For me, I have always been a cautious person and have never found myself in a situation of a pregnancy scare; however, if I did end up pregnant, there would be no question in "getting rid of it". It's a responsibility that I would have taken on the moment that I had unprotected sex.
Overall, I think it's like taboo for people to come out straight and say "I'm okay with killing babies", so they hide behind "Pro-life". I don't know. I would like to think that the country is moving more towards Pro-life, but it's hard to believe when abortion is still a major issue and has a lot of support on both sides.