Lane Kenworthy, The Good Society
July 2019
WORKING-CLASS WHITES’ VIEWS ON SOCIAL-CULTURAL ISSUES AND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
The following graphs show trends in the views of whites with less than a four-year college degree.

Figure A1. Better if the man works and the woman takes care of home and family
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree: 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.” The data points show the share responding strongly agree or agree. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series fefam. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A2. Oppose living in a half-black neighborhood
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Now I’m going to ask you about different types of contact with various groups of people. In each situation would you please tell me whether you would be very much in favor of it happening, somewhat in favor, neither in favor nor opposed to it happening, somewhat opposed, or very much opposed to it happening? Living in a neighborhood where half of your neighbors were black.” The data points show the share responding somewhat opposed or very much opposed. Data source: General Social Survey, series marblk. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A3. Oppose a close relative marrying a black person
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. 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 data points show the share responding somewhat opposed or very opposed. Data source: General Social Survey, series marblk. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A4. Oppose affirmative action for African Americans in hiring and promotion
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Some people say that because of past discrimination, blacks should be given preference in hiring and promotion. Others say that such preference in hiring and promotion of blacks is wrong because it discriminates against whites. What about your opinion — are you for or against preferential hiring and promotion of blacks?” Response options: strongly favor, favor, oppose, strongly oppose. The data points show the share responding oppose or strongly oppose. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series affrmact. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A5. Homosexuality is wrong
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “What about sexual relations between two adults of the same sex? Do you think it is wrong or not wrong?” Response options: always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong sometimes, not wrong at all. The data points show the share responding always wrong or almost always wrong. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series homosex. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A6. Religious
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “What is your religious preference? Is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or no religion?” The figures shown here are calculated as 100 minus the share who respond “no religion.” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series relig. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A7. Pray
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “About how often do you pray?” Response options: several times a day, once a day, several times a day, once a week, less than once a week, never. The figures shown here are calculated as 100 minus the share who respond “never.” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series pray. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A8. Public schools should be allowed to require Christian prayer
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. 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 data points show the share responding disapprove. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series prayer. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A9. Abortion shouldn’t be legal if the woman wants it for an unspecified reason
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. 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?” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series abany. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A10. Abortion shouldn’t be legal if the woman became pregnant as a result of rape
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Please tell me whether or not you think it should be possible for a pregnant woman to obtain a legal abortion if she became pregnant as a result of rape?” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series abrape. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A11. Gun in home
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. GSS question: “Do you happen to have in your home (or garage) any guns or revolvers?” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series owngun. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A12. Oppose law requiring a police permit in order to buy a gun
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. GSS question: “Would you favor or oppose a law which would require a person to obtain a police permit before he or she could buy a gun?” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series gunlaw. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A13. Marijuana shouldn’t be legal
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal or not?” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series grass. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A14. Too much spending on improving and protecting the environment
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I’m going to name some of these problems, and for each one I’d like you to tell me whether you think we’re spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount. Improving and protecting the environment.” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series natenvir. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A15. Climate change isn’t dangerous
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “In general, do you think that a rise in the world’s temperature caused by the ‘greenhouse effect’ is extremely dangerous, very dangerous, somewhat dangerous, not very dangerous, or not dangerous.” The lines show the share responding not very dangerous or not dangerous. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series tempgen, tempgen1. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A16. Too much spending on assistance to the poor
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I’m going to name some of these problems, and for each one I’d like you to tell me whether you think we’re spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount. Assistance to the poor.” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series natfarey. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A17. Too much spending on welfare
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I’m going to name some of these problems, and for each one I’d like you to tell me whether you think we’re spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount. Welfare.” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series natfare. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A18. Government in Washington is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and private business
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Some people think that the government in Washington is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and private business; they are at point 5 on this card. Others disagree and think that the government should do even more to solve our country’s problems; they are at point 1. Where would you place yourself on this scale?” The data points show the share responding 4 or 5. Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series helpnot. The lines are loess curves.

Figure A19. Taxes are too high
Share of persons age 25 and older. “Noncollege” = less than a bachelor’s degree. Question: “Do you consider the amount of federal income tax which you have to pay as too high, about right, or too low?” Data source: General Social Survey, sda.berkeley.edu, series tax. The lines are loess curves.