1. Sex and attitude toward abortion

2. What might “cause” or “explain” Americans’ changing attitude toward abortion?

3. The circumstances under which abortion may occur seem to be important for many Americans Circumstance FrequencyPercent YesNoTotalYesNoTotal There is a strong chance of serious defect in the baby 24,4875,55330,04082%18%100.00% Mother is married but wants no more children 13,20416,67529,87944%56%100.00% Woman’s health is seriously endangered by the pregnancy 27,1872,98530,17290%10%100.00% Mother is low income and can’t afford more children 14,48715,32229,80949%51%100.00% Mother is pregnant as result of rape 24,6915,12529,81683%17%100.00% Woman is single and doesn’t want to marry the man 13,45016,33129,78145%55%100.00% TOTAL117,50661,991179,497 65%35%100.00% Source of data: General Social Survey, 1972 to 1998.

4. Support for some circumstances seems to be relatively constant over time but not for others … but why the big difference between the 3 data series at the top of the graph and the 4 in the middle?

5. Sex as an explanation? Frequency Distribution Cells contain: sex -Column percent -N of cases Row total MALEFEMALE Pregnancy was a result of rape YES83.881.782.6 12,03614,78526,821 NO16.218.317.4 2,3283,3215,649 Column total 100.0 14,36418,10632,470

6. Frequency Distribution Cells contain: sex -Column percent -N of cases Row total MALEFEMALE Serious chance of defect in the baby YES81.880.981.3 11,80814,77926,587 NO18.219.118.7 2,6273,4966,123 Col total 100.0 100 14,43518,275 Sex as an explanation ?

7. Frequency Distribution Cells contain: sex -Column percent -N of cases Row total MALE FEMAL E Mother’s health is seriously endangered YES91.289.190.1 13,27 116,32129,592 NO8.810.99.9 1,2781,9883,266 Col total 100.0 14,54 918,30932,858

8. Sex as an explanation ? Frequency Distribution Cells contain: sex -Column percent -N of cases Row total MALEFEMALE Woman is poor and can’t afford more children YES49.746.948.1 7,1258,50715,632 NO50.353.151.9 7,2149,62816,842 Col total 100.0 14,33918,13532,474

9. Sex as an explanation ? Frequency Distribution Cells contain: sex -Column percent -N of cases MALEFEMALE Row total Mother is single YES46.643.344.7 6,6747,84314,517 NO53.456.755.3 7,65410,27217,926 Col tot al 100.0 14,32818,11532,443

10. What about political philosophy? Political philosophy Serious danger to the mother’s health Strong chance of serious defect in the baby Pregnancy was the result of rape MaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemale Extremely liberal 93.393.686.288.787.186.5 Liberal 92.994.085.488.187.289.1 Slightly liberal 94.193.085.286.888.787.5 Moderate 92.490.884.784.486.084.4 Slightly conservative 92.088.482.479.085.380.6 Conservative 87.883.773.669.077.371.1 Extremely conservative 84.676.069.461.170.363.0 “Under what circumstances do you think a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion in your state…?” Percent responding “yes.”

11. Political philosophy Woman is poor and can’t afford any more children Woman is married and doesn’t want any more children Woman is single For any reason MaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemale Extremely liberal 64.066.762.662.262.863.457.963.9 Liberal 61.164.859.161.658.460.755.458.3 Slightly liberal 57.558.654.653.455.254.649.350.3 Moderate 49.046.345.642.045.242.740.539.0 Slightly conservative 47.642.045.237.445.438.738.934.5 Conservative 38.033.535.329.736.131.830.226.7 Extremely conservative 38.033.534.622.335.624.031.717.0 “Under what circumstances do you think a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion in your state…?” Percent responding “yes.”

12. What about sex AND political philosophy?