Abortion Religion Party Affiliation Essay

Abortion / Religion / Party Affiliation Essay, Research Paper

Hypothesis and Theory

There is a negative relationship between support for abortion and the importance

of religion, while controlling party affiliation.

Among males, there is a negative relationship between support for abortion and

the importance of religion.

Among females, there is a negative relationship between support for abortion and

the importance of religion.

A person’s religious background greatly influences whether or not they support

abortion. When religion plays an important role in someone’s life, they are less likely to

support abortion. Most religions strongly disapprove of the taking of someone’s life.

They consider it one of the highest sins a human can commit. They believe that abortion is

considered murder because even a fetus has a spirit so it shall be considered a living

human. When religion plays a less important role in a person’s life, they are more likely to

support abortion. These people are more likely to consider reasons for the abortion rather

than never permitting it. These people tend to look at the women and why she is

requesting the abortion. They are less likely to consider a fetus a living being until it is

born.

The first hypothesis indicates that the higher the importance of religion is to a

person the less supportive they would be of abortion, with regards to that persons political

party affiliation. The party in which a person identifies with will have a direct effect on the

link between support for abortion and the importance of religion. Political parties, as well

as a persons religious background, play a major role in attitudes towards different issues.

By nature, democrats are more likely to approve abortion than republicans. A person’s

religious background usually has an effect on which party they associate themselves with.

Therefore, there must be a link between a person’s party affiliation, religious background,

and their support of abortion.

The second and third hypotheses indicate that gender has an effect on support for

abortion based on their religious beliefs. I believe that men are less likely to approve

abortion than women because of the women’s’ movement that has been going on for

years. Many women are more apt to approve of the idea of pro-choice. They want to

decide what is best for them, not some politician in Washington, D.C. A 90’s women is

more independent than say a 50’s women. They are battling for women’s rights.

Abortion is a very controversial issue which directly effects women’s rights. I believe that

men are less likely to support women’s rights because it will take power away from them.

Most of our government positions are held by men. By giving the decision of abortion to

women, it is taking away more of their power over us.

Operationalization

In order to test my hypotheses, I chose two variables and two controls. My

dependent variable was support for abortion. This variable was based on four responses:

never permitted, for rape or incest, if there was a clear health need, and always permitted.

My independent variable was importance of religion. Originally, this variable contained

four scaled responses: high, 3, 2, and low. In order to receive more obvious results, I

recoded the responses into to categories. The high consists of high and 3. The low

consists of low and 2. My first control variable was party affiliation. Originally, this

consisted of seven responses: strong democrat, weak democrat, independent democrat,

independent, independent republican, weak republican, and strong republican. In order to

receive more accurate results, I recoded them down to three responses. Strong

democrats, weak democrats and independent democrats were recoded to democrats. The

independent response stayed the same. Finally, the independent republicans, weak

republicans, and the strong republicans were recoded to republicans. My second control

was gender. These responses were simply male and female.

Analysis of Data

Table 1

Support for Abortion by Importance of Religion: 1996

(In Percentages)

________________________________________________________________________

Importance of Religion

Support for Abortion Low High

Never Permitted 3.4 20.6

For Rape, Incest 19.9 38.5

If Clear Need 19.6 13.0

Always Permitted 57.1 27.9

Totals 100.0 100.0

(N) (739) (723)

Source: National Science Foundation, University of Michigan, 1996

Table 1 is the original table. It shows that 20.6% of people with a high importance

level of religion never permit abortion. Of the other people with a high importance level

of religion, 38.5% permit it for rape or incest, 13% permit it if there is a clear health need,

and 27.9% always permit it. Of the people with a low importance level of religion, 3.4%

never permit it, 19.9% permi

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать