Poll shows wide acceptance of women's right to choose
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two-thirds of the public believe abortion should be made legally available for all who want it - a 10 per cent increase on 1980, according to the latest opinion poll on the issue, published yesterday. An even larger majority of the public support the right to an abortion where the woman's life or health are in danger or if she has been raped.
Although there is a significant drop in the number of people backing abortion where it is likely the baby would be born mentally or physically handicapped, there is still support from more than two-thirds of the public.
The poll, described as the most definitive study of public attitudes to abortion since 1980, was carried out by MORI. It was commissioned by the Birth Control Trust, which supports the right of women to make their own choices about pregnancy and abortion.
There was little difference between the views of men and women. Those aged 25-34 were most likely to back the right to an abortion. And the more affluent an individual was, the more likely he or she was to agree with abortion, although the difference between social classes was not particularly marked.
Surprisingly, 50 per cent of Roman Catholics backed the right to an abortion - contravening the Church's teaching on the matter, compared with 38 per cent who disagreed.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments