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Changing Attitudes on Childrearing and the Preborn


Changing Attitudes on Childrearing and the Preborn
Generational Support for Abortion Narrows
Part two of a multi-part Gallup series on American abortion viewpoints focused on generational differences. Examining polling data since 1975, Gallup finds hope for the pro-life movement – that public opinion continues to trend in a pro-life direction. 
A majority of Americans want restrictions on abortion – that it be legal only under certain circumstances. Only 16 percent of those over 65 want abortion legal under any circumstances compared to 24 percent of 18-to-29-years-olds, 26 percent of 50-64 year-olds, and 28 percent of 30-49 year-olds. 
Generational differences in support for abortion have diminished over time. In 1975, two years after Roe v. Wade, Gallup found that those aged 18-49 were most supportive of abortion, with the oldest demographic the least supportive, and those 50-64 in between. That pattern continued until the 1990s, when support for abortion began a consistent decline. 
From 2005-2009, more than half of each generational section said, “abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances.” While 17 percent of those aged 30-64 said abortion should be illegal in all situations, 21 percent of seniors and 23 percent of those aged 18-29 felt the same.
Gallup also studied whether members of each group in 1975 had held steady views or changed as they aged, finding that individual age group perspectives did not fluctuate as they aged. Instead, all age groups became more supportive of abortion in the early 1990s, with a consistent decline across the age groups ever since. 

Modest declines in support for spanking
“Spare the rod, and spoil the child,” an idiom with its roots in Proverbs 13:24, raises passionate debate in any conversation. Former Assemblywoman Sally Lieber discovered this during the 2007-2008 legislative session, when she attempted to criminalize spanking. Her unsuccessful proposals – AB 755 and AB 2943 – made national news media. These measures would have added the “use of an implement,” such as a rolled-up newspaper or wooden spoon to the criminal definition of child abuse. 
While child abuse is a legitimate problem, provisions in the legislation that dealt with actual abuse were repetitive of current law.  What these pieces of legislation attempted to do was equate a legitimate disciplinary tool with abuse – infringing upon a parent’s right to direct the upbringing of their children.
Despite the controversy surrounding the issue, most people agree that children sometimes need a “firm” correction, but that number is declining. A recent nationally representative survey by Child Trends found that – in 2008 – 77 percent of men and 65 percent of women agreed with the statement “that it is sometimes necessary to discipline a child with a good hard spanking.” These numbers have declined since 1986, when 84 percent of men and 82 percent of women agreed with the same statement.
While there appears to be no significant differences of opinion between age groups, college-educated men and women were less likely to endorse spanking. Racial differences only showed in black women who supported spanking 20 percent more than other women.
According to a study cited by Child Trends, 94 percent of parents with children aged three to four reported spanking their children in the previous year. While there is no well-designed scientific research that shows appropriate, non-abusive spanking is harmful, child abuse is real and must be guarded against. Parents must practice wisdom to know what forms of discipline are most effective with each child. Some children may respond better to verbal warnings or “time-outs,” for example. 
For more information on spanking, see Focus on the Family.
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