Roe vs. Wade: Herald readers give a deep look at their views about court’s decision
How divided is the Rock Hill region on the issue of abortion? Is there any room for common ground?
These questions, and others, prompted The Herald to post an online survey to gauge readers’ opinions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and put decisions on the legality of abortion in the hands of individual states.
As of Tuesday morning the survey drew about 600 responses. It’s unscientific, but in places is telling on how some of our readers view abortion.
The poll asked readers questions about when life begins, what role religion plays and whether — regardless of what side of the abortion issue readers stand — there should be exceptions.
Of nearly 600 responses, 57% of participants believe the Supreme Court made the wrong decision when they overturned Roe v. Wade.
Responses was similar even when 59% of participants indicated abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and 41% said abortion should be illegal in most, or all, cases.
Key influences behind pro abortion responses
Among participants who indicated they believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases, 68% say the reason that most influenced their stance is gender equity. Another 13% cite their faith or religious views. Eleven percent cited political views and, and 8% cited personal experience with abortion.
Among the people who pointed to faith as their top influencer, 93% describe themselves as Christian. The other 3% opted for other, with no participants in that subgroup identifying as Jewish, Muslim or Atheist/Agnostic.
For people who picked politics as the top factor, 54% identify as independent, compared to 35% liberal and 11% conservative.
The entire group of respondents who believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases includes 56% women, 43% men and 1% non-binary. More than half of that group, at 52%, are age 61 or older. Another 34% is age 41-60, and 13% is age 21-40. Just 1% of responses from that group comes from age 20 and younger.
Influencers for the anti-abortion access response
Among people who believe abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, religion played a stronger role.
Faith or religious views were the main reason influencing the stance against abortion for 53% of respondents. Another 40% indicated right to life views are the top reason. Just 5% of responses indicated political views are the top influencer, and 2% cited personal experience with abortion.
Among people who picked faith as the top influencer, 98% identify themselves as Christian. The remaining 2% describe themselves as Muslim. No responses in the subgroup indicated they were Jewish, athiest/agnostic or any other faith.
For the small subgroup who tabbed politics as the top influence — less than a dozen total people — 55% describe themselves as conservative, 45% say they’re independent. None indicated they were liberal.
Among the entire group of responses indicating that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, 61% were men, 36% were women and 3% non-binary. Again, more than half of responses (54%) came from age 61 or older. Age 41-60 is next at 34% followed by age 21-40 at 11% and 20 or younger at 1%.
When does life begin?
The survey asked a variety of questions based on specific responses. One question asked to all participants offers insight into a key difference between people who favor, and those who oppose, abortion access.
At what point does life begin? Who should be protected by law?
Among people who say abortion should be legal, 64% believe life begins when a fetus would be considered viable outside the womb. Another 26% believe a person becomes a person at birth. Eight percent of respondents indicate they believe life begins when a heartbeat is detectable, and 2% believe it happens at conception.
People who say abortion should be illegal almost completely disagree with that line of thinking.
Among people who are against abortion, 60% say life begins at conception and should should be protected by law. Another 34% say it’s when a heartbeat is detectable. Five percent say life begins when a fetus would be considered viable outside the womb, and no responses indicated it happens at birth.
Should abortion law have exceptions?
There is one reason to believe common ground may exist. Few survey respondents take extreme positons about abortion.
Among the group that believes abortion should be legal in most, or all cases, 23% of respondents believe abortion should be allowed up to birth.
Most people in favor of abortion access, 65%, say abortion shouldn’t be allowed in late term pregnancy. Another 12% say it shouldn’t be allowed when there are no health concerns.
Among people who believe abortion should be entirely, or mostly, illegal, 13% believe there should be no exceptions.
Most respondents who don’t favor abortion, at 63%, still say it should be allowed to protect the life of the mother or when a fetus isn’t viable. Another 24% say abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.
Respondents who took the strictest stances on the issue made up roughly 17% of the answers. Ninety-nine out of almost 600 responses indicated either that abortion should be allowed up to birth or made illegal in all cases.
Personal experience with abortion
All participants were asked another question, one aimed at whether beliefs on abortion are largely ideological or more grounded in personal experience.
Have you, or someone close to you, had personal experience with abortion? Does that influence your opinion?
Among more than 300 responses from people who say abortion should be legal, 56% say they haven’t had personal experience. The other 44% indicated they have.
Among people not in favor of abortion access, 61% say they’ve had no personal experience with abortion that shapes their opinion. The other 39% said they have.
In total, 220 responses indicated personal experience with abortion shaped their opinion on whether it should be illegal. More than 300 participants indicated otherwise.
Abortion opinion sample
The survey is a snapshot of public opinion in The Rock Hill region in the days after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. It doesn’t account for all area views.
While the survey gathered most of its responses from older area residents, a protest march through downtown Fort Mill last week was organized and largely attended by hundreds of current and recent high school students.
While relatively few in the survey indicated politics as their top reason shaping opinion on abortion, area lawmakers began answering questions the moment news came out this spring via a draft court decision leak that Roe would likely fall.
Ultimately, it will be lawmakers in South Carolina, and the voters who elect them, that will determine the future of abortion here.
This story was originally published July 6, 2022 at 8:51 AM.
