Abortion views have remained remarkably consistent over time. A majority of Americans support legal abortion, but many think there should be some limits on the procedure. It’s a fact that has long frustrated advocates on all sides of the debate. But now, a new Public Religion Research Institute survey suggests young people’s views are shifting strongly in favor of legalized abortion. As with many other issues on which they lead the progressive charge, Black Americans were also more strongly in favor of abortion rights and abortion coverage.
Young People Favor Abortion Rights
Young people are typically more liberal than their parents, but public opinion polls have long shown that they mirror their parents’ abortion views. This could finally be changing.
Some highlights from the latest PRRI survey include:
- Sixty percent of Americans over 65 say they are personally opposed to abortion, compared to just 44% of young Americans.
- Sixty-five percent of young people think abortion should be legal in most or all cases, compared to 51% of seniors.
- Sixty-nine percent of young people agree that it’s important for some health professionals to provide abortion. That compares to just 46% of seniors.
- A third of young people say their views on abortion have changed. Twenty-five percent say they have become more supportive of abortion with time, compared to 9% who say they are less supportive than they once were. Twelve percent of seniors say they’ve become more opposed to abortion over time, with just 6% saying they’ve grown more supportive.
Health Coverage for Abortion and Birth Control
The majority of Americans (85%) say health plans should cover birth control. Seventy-two percent think they should cover infertility treatments. Young people, though not other groups, are also in favor of coverage for abortion, with 52% saying health plans should cover this service. Black Americans of all ages were more likely than any other group (59%) to say that health insurance should cover abortion.
This puts Republicans in stark opposition to the majority of the people they represent. And public support for expanded healthcare services doesn’t end there. Eighty-three percent of Americans say low-income health programs should cover birth control. About half say they should cover abortion.
Could Young People End Abortion Restrictions?
Taken together, these figures suggest that abortion opposition is reserved primarily for older, whiter Americans. Young people could eventually end the trend of endless abortion restrictions. But it could take decades—particularly if Donald Trump gets another Supreme Court nominee. Republicans are passing more abortion restrictions than ever, including several hundred over the last year. Iowa abortion clinics may soon be prohibited from providing abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. It’s a measure that would effectively ban abortion.
Until young people, and particularly young people of color, have a stronger voice, the restrictions will likely continue. Anti-choicers aren’t interested in representing the majority.