Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Sex between an unmarried man and woman
|
Morally |
Morally |
Depends on |
Not a |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
57 |
40 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2008 May 8-11 |
61 |
36 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
59 |
38 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
59 |
37 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
58 |
39 |
2 |
* |
1 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
60 |
36 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
58 |
41 |
1 |
* |
* |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
53 |
42 |
2 |
* |
3 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
53 |
42 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Married men and women having an affair
|
Morally |
Morally |
Depends on |
Not a |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
6 |
92 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2008 May 8-11 |
7 |
91 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
6 |
91 |
2 |
* |
1 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
4 |
93 |
2 |
* |
1 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
5 |
93 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
7 |
91 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
6 |
93 |
* |
* |
1 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
9 |
87 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
7 |
89 |
3 |
* |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Divorce
|
Morally |
Morally |
Depends on |
Not a |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
62 |
30 |
6 |
* |
1 |
|
2008 May 8-11 |
70 |
22 |
6 |
* |
1 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
65 |
26 |
8 |
* |
1 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
67 |
24 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
66 |
27 |
6 |
* |
1 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
66 |
26 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
66 |
27 |
6 |
* |
1 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
63 |
28 |
8 |
* |
1 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
59 |
28 |
12 |
* |
1 |
Having a baby outside of marriage
|
Morally |
Morally |
Depends on |
Not a |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
51 |
45 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
2008 May 8-11 |
55 |
41 |
2 |
* |
1 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
54 |
42 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
51 |
43 |
4 |
* |
1 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
54 |
43 |
2 |
* |
1 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
49 |
45 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
51 |
46 |
2 |
* |
1 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
45 |
50 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time
|
Morally |
Morally |
Depends on |
Not a |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
7 |
91 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2008 May 8-11 |
8 |
90 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
8 |
90 |
1 |
* |
* |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
5 |
93 |
1 |
* |
2 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
6 |
92 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
7 |
91 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
7 |
92 |
1 |
-- |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?
|
Should |
Should not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
40 |
57 |
3 |
|
2008 May 8-11 |
40 |
56 |
4 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
46 |
53 |
1 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
42 |
56 |
2 |
|
2006 May 8-11 ^† |
39 |
58 |
4 |
|
2005 Aug 22-25 ^ |
37 |
59 |
4 |
|
2004 May 2-4 ^ |
42 |
55 |
3 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 ^ |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|
1996 Mar 15-17 ^ |
27 |
68 |
5 |
|
^WORDING: Do you think marriages between homosexuals should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages? |
|||
|
† Asked of a half sample |
|||
Trends for Comparison: Polls in which gay marriage question NOT preceded by question(s) on homosexual rights and relations
|
Should |
Should not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 Apr 29-May 1 |
39 |
56 |
5 |
|
2005 Mar 18-20 ^ |
28 |
68 |
4 |
|
2004 Jul 19-21 ^ |
32 |
62 |
6 |
|
2004 Mar 5-7 |
33 |
61 |
6 |
|
2004 Feb 16-17 |
32 |
64 |
4 |
|
2004 Feb 6-8 ^ |
36 |
59 |
5 |
|
2003 Dec 15-16 |
31 |
65 |
4 |
|
2003 Oct 24-26 |
35 |
61 |
4 |
|
2003 Jun 27-29 |
39 |
55 |
6 |
|
2000 Jan 13-16 |
34 |
62 |
4 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
Just your best guess, do you think that allowing two people of the same sex to legally marry will change our society for -- [ROTATED: the better, will it have no effect, or will it change our society for the worse]?
|
Better |
No effect |
Worse |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
13 |
36 |
48 |
2 |
|
2003 Sep 19-21 |
10 |
40 |
48 |
2 |
Suppose an unmarried couple lives together with children in the household. Do you think that has a -- [ROTATED: positive effect on the children, does it not make a difference, (or does it have a) negative effect on the children]?
|
Positive |
No |
Negative |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Jul 25-27 |
12 |
47 |
38 |
3 |
In general, do you think that an unmarried couple that has lived together for one year is just as committed in their relationship as a couple that has been married for one year, or not?
BASED ON A HALF SAMPLE
|
Yes, just as |
No, not as |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Jul 25-27 |
42 |
53 |
5 |
In general, do you think that an unmarried couple that has lived together for five years is just as committed in their relationship as a couple that has been married for five years, or not?
BASED ON A HALF SAMPLE
|
Yes, just as |
No, not as |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Jul 25-27 |
57 |
40 |
3 |
Do you think couples that live together before marriage are more likely or less likely to get divorced than couples that do not live together before marriage?
|
More |
Less |
No difference |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Jul 25-27 |
31 |
49 |
13 |
7 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, thus barring marriages between gay or lesbian couples?
|
Oppose |
Favor |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 May 8-11 ^ |
49 |
48 |
3 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
50 |
47 |
3 |
|
2005 Apr 29-May 1 |
53 |
44 |
3 |
|
2005 Mar 18-20 |
57 |
37 |
6 |
|
2004 Jul 19-21 ^ |
48 |
46 |
6 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|
2004 Mar 5-7 |
50 |
45 |
5 |
|
2004 Feb 9-12 |
53 |
44 |
3 |
|
2004 Feb 6-8 ^ |
47 |
47 |
6 |
|
2003 Jul 18-20 |
50 |
45 |
5 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
Generally speaking, would you say you approve or disapprove of men and women living together without being married if they want to, or is that something you haven't formed an opinion on?
|
Approve |
Disapprove |
No opinion |
|
|
2007 Sep 7-8 |
55% |
27 |
18 |
Do you approve or disapprove of marriage between blacks and whites?
|
Approve |
Disapprove |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Sep 7-8 |
79 |
15 |
6 |
|
2007 Jun 4-24 |
77 |
17 |
6 |
|
2004 Jun 9-30 |
76 |
19 |
5 |
|
2003 Nov 11-Dec 14 |
73 |
23 |
4 |
|
2002 Jun 3-9 |
65 |
29 |
6 |
|
1997 Jan 4-Feb 28 |
64 |
27 |
9 |
|
1994 Sep 18-20 |
48 |
37 |
15 |
|
1991 Jun 13-16 |
48 |
42 |
10 |
|
1983 Apr 29-May 2 |
43 |
50 |
7 |
|
1978 Jul 21-24 ^ |
36 |
54 |
10 |
|
1972 Oct 13-16 ^ |
29 |
60 |
11 |
|
1968 Jun 26-Jul 1 ^ |
20 |
73 |
8 |
|
1958 Sep 24-29 † |
4 |
94 |
3 |
|
^ WORDING: Between whites and nonwhites? |
|||
|
† WORDING: Between white and colored people? |
|||
When a man and woman plan to spend the rest of their lives together as a couple, how important is it to you that they legally marry -- very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
Total |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
54 |
19 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
|
Non-Hispanic whites |
|||||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
51 |
19 |
16 |
13 |
1 |
|
Blacks |
|||||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
69 |
16 |
7 |
8 |
* |
|
Hispanics |
|||||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
64 |
19 |
6 |
9 |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
When an unmarried man and woman have a child together, how important is it to you that they legally marry -- very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
Total |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
49 |
27 |
12 |
11 |
1 |
|
Non-Hispanic whites |
|||||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
45 |
30 |
13 |
12 |
* |
|
Blacks |
|||||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
50 |
28 |
12 |
9 |
1 |
|
Hispanics |
|||||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
58 |
21 |
9 |
10 |
2 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
Total |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
80 |
20 |
* |
|
Non-Hispanic whites |
|||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
82 |
18 |
* |
|
Blacks |
|||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
65 |
35 |
* |
|
Hispanics |
|||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
72 |
28 |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
Do you think you will get married someday, or do you think you will remain single?
BASED ON THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN MARRIED
|
Will get |
Will remain |
No opinion |
|
|
Total |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
73 |
23 |
4 |
Do you think you will get married again someday, or do you think you will remain single?
BASED ON THOSE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY MARRIED BUT ARE NOT CURRENTLY MARRIED
|
Will get |
Will remain |
No opinion |
|
|
Total |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
29 |
68 |
3 |
Now, thinking back to when you were born, were your parents married, or were they not married at that time?
|
Yes, married |
No, not married |
No opinion |
|
|
Total |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
92 |
8 |
* |
|
Non-Hispanic whites |
|||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
96 |
3 |
* |
|
Blacks |
|||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
74 |
26 |
* |
|
Hispanics |
|||
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
85 |
14 |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
When you were a child, were you raised by both of your parents in the same household, by both parents about equally but in different households, raised mainly by your mother, raised mainly by your father, or were you raised by someone else?
|
2006 Jun 8-25 |
Total |
Non- |
Blacks |
Hispanics |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Both parents in same household |
75 |
80 |
56 |
72 |
|
Raised mainly by mother |
17 |
15 |
29 |
20 |
|
Raised mainly by father |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Grandmother/Great grandmother |
2 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
|
Both parents equally, different households |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
Grandparents |
1 |
* |
1 |
2 |
|
Aunt/Great aunt |
* |
-- |
1 |
* |
|
Someone else |
1 |
* |
1 |
1 |
|
No opinion |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||
Using an A, B, C, D and F grading scale like they do in school, what grade would you give your marriage today?
BASED ON ADULTS WHO ARE CURRENT MARRIED
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
F |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 May 8-11 |
65 |
27 |
6 |
1 |
-- |
* |
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
68 |
23 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1996 Sep 3-5 |
59 |
29 |
10 |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||||
How many different times have you ever been married?
|
2006 May 8-11 |
All Americans |
Ever married |
Ever married/ |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Never married |
19 |
-- |
3 |
|
One time |
60 |
75 |
71 |
|
Two times |
16 |
18 |
19 |
|
Three times |
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
Four or more times |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
No opinion |
1 |
-- |
2 |
|
Mean |
1.1 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
|
^ Based on 886 adults who have ever been married or are living with a partner; ±4 pct. pts. |
|||
How many different times have you ever been divorced?
|
2006 May 8-11 |
All Americans |
Ever married |
Ever divorced |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Never divorced |
72 |
66 |
-- |
|
One time |
20 |
24 |
71 |
|
Two times |
7 |
9 |
25 |
|
Three times |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Four or more times |
* |
* |
1 |
|
No opinion |
* |
* |
-- |
|
Mean |
0.4 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
What do you think is the ideal age for a WOMAN to get married?
BASED ON A HALF SAMPLE
|
2006 May 5-7 |
|
|
% |
|
|
Age 21 or under |
20 |
|
Age 22-25 |
42 |
|
Age 26-29 |
16 |
|
Age 30 or older |
12 |
|
No opinion |
10 |
|
Mean |
24.9 |
|
Median |
25 |
What do you think is the ideal age for a MAN to get married?
BASED ON A HALF SAMPLE
|
2006 May 5-7 |
|
|
% |
|
|
Age 21 or under |
11 |
|
Age 22-25 |
33 |
|
Age 26-29 |
20 |
|
Age 30 or older |
30 |
|
No opinion |
7 |
|
Mean |
27.4 |
|
Median |
26 |
How often do you and your (spouse/partner) disagree about money matters -- frequently, occasionally, or rarely]?
BASED ON ADULTS WHO ARE MARRIED OR LIVING TOGETHER WITH PARTNER
|
Frequently |
Occasion- |
Rarely |
Never |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Mar 10-12 |
9 |
30 |
57 |
4 |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Before you got married, how much did you and your spouse talk about combining your finances after you were married -- a lot, a little, or not at all?
BASED ON MARRIED ADULTS
|
A lot |
A little |
Not at all |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Mar 10-12 |
33 |
31 |
35 |
1 |
During your lifetime, have you ever had a divorce?
|
Yes, have |
No, have not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Mar 10-12 |
30 |
70 |
* |
|
1985 Mar 18-31 ^ |
23 |
77 |
-- |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
|
^ Gallup survey for Religious Education Association of the U.S. and Canada and other organizations. |
|||
Would you say disagreements over money were a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor at all in the decision to get a divorce?
BASED ON ADULTS WHO HAVE EVER BEEN DIVORCED
|
Major |
Minor |
Not a factor |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Mar 10-12 |
18 |
17 |
62 |
3 |
Which of the following arrangements between gay or lesbian couples do you think should be recognized as legally valid -- same-sex marriages, civil unions, but not same-sex marriages, or neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions?
|
Same-sex |
Civil |
Neither |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Mar 10-12^ |
20 |
27 |
45 |
8 |
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
21 |
32 |
43 |
4 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
||||
Did you and your [husband/wife] live together before you got married or not?
BASED ON ADULTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY MARRIED
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
37 |
63 |
* |
|
1996 Sep 3-5 |
31 |
69 |
* |
|
1988 Dec 27-29 |
19 |
81 |
0 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
Do you think couples that live together before marriage are more likely or less likely to get divorced than couples that do not live together before marriage?
|
More |
Less |
No difference (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
40 |
37 |
14 |
9 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Who made the marriage proposal in your family -- you or your [husband/wife]?
BASED ON THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED
|
Husband |
Wife |
Both |
Other |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
1997 |
82 |
9 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
|
1952 |
76 |
12 |
4 |
8 |
-- |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Knowing what you do now, if you had to do it over, is there a chance you might not marry the same person, or do you think you probably would, or are you certain you would?
BASED ON THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED
|
Might not |
Probably |
Certainly |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
1997 |
9 |
28 |
62 |
1 |
|
1948 |
10 |
28 |
49 |
13 |
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