| Line 292: |
Line 292: |
| | | | |
| | ==Public Opinion== | | ==Public Opinion== |
| | + | |
| | ''See also:'' [[Views on abortion]] | | ''See also:'' [[Views on abortion]] |
| − | Public polling, as seen below (sourced from Gallup<ref name=gallupabortion/>), reveals that Americans are almost evenly split between identifying as Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, with most believing it should be legal only in a few circumstances (48%) such as rape (77%) and life of the mother (83%). | + | |
| − |
| + | Public polling, as seen below (sourced from Gallup<ref name=gallupabortion/>), reveals that Americans are increasingly calling themselves Pro-Life (50%) and continue to say abortion should be legal only in a few circumstances (59%) such as rape (75%) and life of the mother (83%). |
| | ===Legal or Illegal=== | | ===Legal or Illegal=== |
| − | According to Gallup's most recent poll (May 3–18, 2021), 19% of Americans believe abortion should always be illegal, and 33% believe it should be legal only in a few circumstances, a combined 52% that believe it should always or usually be illegal. 32% believe abortion should always be legal, and 13% believe that it should be legal in most circumstances, a combined 45% that believe it should always or usually be legal. 3% hold no opinion. The percentage of Americans which believe abortion should always or usually be illegal has varied from a low of 51% (Sept. 6–7, 1994, and Sept. 22–24, 1995) to a high of 62% (May 2–5, 2005). Gallup has polled the question 33 times since it began asking in 1994.<ref>''Gallup''. "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx/ Abortion]." Do you think abortion should be legal in most circumstances or only in a few circumstances?</ref> | + | According to Gallup's most recent poll (May 3–6, 2012), 20% of Americans believe abortion should always be illegal, and 39% believe it should be legal only in a few circumstances, a combined 59% that believe it should always or usually be illegal. 25% believe abortion should always be legal, and 13% believe that it should be legal in most circumstances, a combined 38% that believe it should always or usually be legal. 4% hold no opinion. The percentage of Americans which believe abortion should always or usually be illegal has varied from a low of 51% (Sept. 6–7, 1994, and Sept. 22–24, 1995) to a high of 62% (May 2–5, 2005). Gallup has polled the question 33 times since it began asking in 1994.<ref>''Gallup''. "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx/ Abortion]." Do you think abortion should be legal in most circumstances or only in a few circumstances?</ref> |
| − | | |
| | ===Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice=== | | ===Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice=== |
| − | Currently, 49% of Americans describe themselves as Pro-Choice, 47% describe themselves as Pro-Life, and 4% as Mixed/Neither, as of the most recent poll (May 3–18, 2021). The percentage of Americans describing themselves as Pro-Life has varied from a low of 33% (Sept. 3–6, 1995) to a high of 51% (May 7–10, 2009). The percentage of Americans describing themselves as Pro-Choice has varied from a low of 41% (May 3–6, 2012) to a high of 56% (Sept. 22–24, 1995). Gallup has polled the question 41 times since it began asking in 1995.<ref name=gallupabortion/> | + | Currently, 50% of Americans describe themselves as Pro-Life, 41% describe themselves as Pro-Choice, and 4% as Mixed/Neither, as of the most recent poll (May 3–6, 2012). The percentage of Americans describing themselves as Pro-Life has varied from a low of 33% (Sept. 3–6, 1995) to a high of 51% (May 7–10, 2009). Gallup has polled the question 41 times since it began asking in 1995.<ref name=gallupabortion/> |
| | ===By Trimester=== | | ===By Trimester=== |
| | Gallup has asked the following question four times from 2003 to 2011: "Thinking more generally, do you think abortion should generally be legal or generally illegal during each of the following stages of pregnancy. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?"<ref name=gallupabortion/> | | Gallup has asked the following question four times from 2003 to 2011: "Thinking more generally, do you think abortion should generally be legal or generally illegal during each of the following stages of pregnancy. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?"<ref name=gallupabortion/> |