New Poll Shows Americans Don't Understand
'Roe vs. Wade'
To: National Desk
Contact: Missi Evans, 703-683-5558; Jessica
Quinn, 404-691-2505
WASHINGTON, April 25 /Christian Wire Service/
-– A national poll released today at the National Press Club by the Real Women’s
Voices coalition shows that while 65 percent of Americans say they are familiar
with the 1973 landmark abortion case, Roe vs. Wade, only 29 percent are able to
select an accurate description of the ruling. Real Women’s Voices is a coalition
of national and state-based pro-life organizations bringing women from across
the country to Washington on Wednesday to lobby Congress. The national survey of
1000 adults age 18 and over was conducted by the polling company,inc./WomanTrend
on April 13-14, 2006. The margin of error is calculated at +/- 3.1 percent.
Key Findings:
Sixty-five percent of respondents said they
considered themselves familiar (23 percent very familiar and 42 percent somewhat
familiar) with the 1973 United States Supreme Court case of Roe vs. Wade.
Thirty-one percent said they were not familiar (19 percent just a little
familiar and 12 percent not at all familiar).
Though 65 percent said they were familiar with
Roe, when asked to identify which of four descriptions most accurately describes
what the case provides as the law, only 29 percent selected the correct
description:
29%
Made abortion legal in essentially all circumstances throughout pregnancy
18%
Made abortion legal but only in the first trimester
17%
Made abortion legal but only in limited circumstances
15%
Made abortion legal but only in the first and second trimesters
The majority (54 percent) agreed with one of
three traditional pro-life statements:
- Abortion should be
prohibited in all circumstances,
- Abortion should be legal
only to save the life of the mother,
- Abortion should be legal
only in cases of rape, incest or to save the mother’s life.
Only 41 percent selected a pro-choice view.
Notably, three-quarters of Americans (75 percent) say they believe abortions
should never be allowed, allowed only in very limited circumstances, or not past
the first trimester of pregnancy. The 18-34 year old group (especially 18-34
year old women) was more likely than respondents overall to identify with one of
the three pro-life views of abortion.
Statements from Real Women’s Voices sponsors:
“Roe is hanging by a thread that is
increasingly being frayed by the American people’s exposure to the facts of
abortion. These numbers show that our abortion laws don’t represent the beliefs
of the vast majority of Americans, including American women.” – Marjorie
Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List
“Not surprisingly, a majority (54 percent) of
Americans do not agree with what Roe permits-- that is, unrestricted abortion
for any reason, even as a method of birth control. And while a majority of those
polled (65 percent) say they are familiar with Roe, only 29 percent actually
knew that Roe made abortion legal in essentially all circumstances throughout
pregnancy.” – Karen Cross, National Right to Life
“True Feminism means listening to the voices
of women, it is my hope that the Senators we visit this week will really listen
to the message from Real Women's Voices.” – Janet Morana, Priests For Life
“Women around the country want common-sense
legislation on abortion. We hear senators claim they want to ‘reduce the number
of abortions.’ Pro-life women will be presenting the opportunity for them to
prove it, telling senators to pass laws restricting abortionists from taking
advantage of young women.” – Wendy Wright, Concerned Women for America
“This is the civil rights issue of our day,
and women’s voices are leading the way toward change. As we look ahead to the
2006 Congressional elections, we are here to tell Congress that real women want
a real response to pro-life issues.” – Charmaine Yoest, Family Research Council
2006
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