Personal freedom: additional data

Lane Kenworthy, The Good Society
December 2019

AMERICANS’ VIEWS ON PERSONAL FREEDOM BY POLITICAL PARTY

On most cultural and social issues, Americans have gotten increasingly liberal over the past half century. It could be that this is true only among Democrats, but the data suggest that Republicans, too, have moved in a liberal direction on some of these issues.

Figure A1. Public schools shouldn’t be allowed to require prayer or religious readings
Share of adults. Question: “The United States Supreme Court has ruled that no state or local government may require the reading of the Lord’s Prayer or Bible verses in public schools. What are your views on this — do you approve or disapprove of the court ruling?” The lines show the share responding approve. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series prayer, partyid.

Figure A2. Not opposed to a close relative marrying a black person
Share of adults. Question: “What about having a close relative marry a black person? Would you be very in favor of it happening, somewhat in favor, neither in favor nor opposed to it happening, somewhat opposed, or very opposed to it happening?” The lines show the share responding very in favor, somewhat in favor, or neither in favor nor opposed. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey (GSS), sda.berkeley.edu, series marblk, partyid.

Figure A3. Premarital sex isn’t wrong
Share of adults who say it is not wrong at all or wrong only sometimes “if a man and woman have sex relations before marriage.” Other response options: always wrong, almost always wrong. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series premarsx, partyid.

Figure A4. Divorce shouldn’t be more difficult to obtain
Share of adults. Question: “Should divorce in this country be easier or more difficult to obtain than it is now?” Response options: easier, stay the same, more difficult. The lines show the share responding easier or stay the same. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series divlaw, partyid.

Figure A5. Disagree spanking a child is sometimes necessary
Share of adults. Question: “Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree that it is sometimes necessary to discipline a child with a good hard spanking?” The lines show the share responding disagree or disagree strongly. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series spanking, partyid.

Figure A6. Disagree women should focus on home and children
Share of adults responding disagree or strongly disagree that “It is much better for everyone involved if the man is the achiever outside the home and the woman takes care of the home and family.” Other response options: agree, strongly agree. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey (GSS), sda.berkeley.edu, series fefam, partyid.

Figure A7. Pro-choice on abortion
Share of US adults. Question: “Please tell me whether or not you think it should be possible for a pregnant woman to obtain a legal abortion if the woman wants it for any reason.” Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series abany, partyid.

Figure A8. Same-sex marriage should be legal
Share of adults who strongly agree or agree that “homosexual couples should have the right to marry one another.” Other response options: neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series marhomo, partyid.

Figure A9. Pornography should be illegal only for children or fully legal
Share of adults. Question: “Which of these statements comes closest to your feelings about pornography laws: (1) There should be laws against the distribution of pornography whatever the age. (2) There should be laws against the distribution of pornography to persons under 18. (3) There should be no laws forbidding the distribution of pornography.” Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series pornlaw, partyid.

Figure A10. Marijuana use should be legal
Share of adults responding “legal” to the question “Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal or not?” Other response option: illegal. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series grass, partyid.

Figure A11. A person with an incurable disease has a right to voluntarily end life
Share of adults responding “yes” to the question “Do you think a person has the right to end his or her own life if this person has an incurable disease?” Other response option: no. Democrat: strong Democrat, Democrat, or independent leaning Democrat. Republican: strong Republican, Republican, or independent leaning Republican. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series suicide1, partyid.