Chapter 7: Group Differences in Political Opinions

CHAPTER 7: Group Differences in Political Opinions

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Describe the effect of differences in social class on political opinions

  • Describe how racial and ethnic groups differ on their political opinions

  • Describe how differing religious orientations affect partisanship and public opinion

  • Explain the gender gap

Group Identification and Political Opinions

  • Individuals often identify with specific groups, which can influence their political opinions.

  • Political stances on certain policies may be viewed as beneficial to the identified group.

    • Example: African Americans tend to support affirmative action more than white Americans.

    • Individuals with higher incomes are often against social welfare programs compared to those living in poverty.

  • Not all political opinions are based on self-interest; many are influenced by sociotropic considerations, which consider the well-being of the nation.

  • Life experiences shape political views.

    • Example: Higher educational attainment is linked to differing opinions among individuals on social issues, such as abortion.

  • Historical shifts in group allegiances illustrate changing political landscapes.

Socioeconomic Class and Political Opinions

Class Differences on Economic Issues

  • Wealth distribution affects political opinions; class divides, such as between the wealthy (haves) and poor (have-nots), often lead to differing views on taxation and government services.

  • Subjective social class: People self-identify into classes (lower, working, middle, upper).

    • 2016 GSS results: 9% lower class, 47% working class, 41% middle class, 3% upper class. Stable since 1972.

  • Objective indicators include income, occupation, education; connections among them can vary significantly.

    • Example: A significant income disparity exists where many blue-collar workers earn more than white-collar workers.

  • Wealth in the U.S. is highly concentrated: 38% of U.S. wealth belongs to the top 1%, who earned over 20.2% of total income in 2014.

    • The bottom 50% earned only 12.5% of total income.

  • Income concentration has risen since the technology revolution and changes in financial markets.

    • From 1980 to 2014, post-tax income for the top 1% grew by 194% while it only grew by 21% for the bottom 50% and 4% for the bottom 20%.

Public Awareness of Economic Inequality

  • The perception of economic inequality is growing among Americans.

    • 1988: 26% believed the nation was divided into haves and have-nots; by 2015 this rose to 45%.

    • In 2016, 81% believed the socio-economic divide was larger than 20 years prior.

  • Compared to Europeans, class cleavages are less pronounced in the U.S. due to a belief in the availability of financial success for those who work hard.

    • Poll: Only 12% of Americans believe there is little chance to become rich, while 63% of a British cohort shared that belief.

Economic Preferences Across Classes

  • Public opinions vary by class regarding government spending on social programs:

    • Working class prefers increased spending on welfare programs like education and child care.

    • Upper classes are less supportive of spending on safety net programs.

Program

Upper Class

Middle/Working Class

Unemployment

47%

70%

Education

80%

60%

Aid to Poor People

22%

51%

Social Security Benefits

54%

68%

Health Care

49%

70%

Class Differences on Noneconomic Issues

  • As income rises, conservative views increase on economic issues, while more liberal views develop on noneconomic issues.

  • Educational attainment influences views on social issues:

    • Example: Support for abortion rights increases with education—43% favoring among high-income high school graduates, rising to 73% among college graduates.

Class Differences on Foreign Policy

  • Lower educational levels correlate with isolationist foreign policy views.

    • Historically evident from the 1930s-1940s.

  • Better-educated populations generally support active U.S. engagement globally.

Race and Political Opinions

Major Racial Divisions in Political Opinions

  • The most significant political divide in the U.S. is between African Americans and whites.

  • African Americans tend to have distinctive political opinions largely centered on civil rights and socioeconomic issues.

    • Historically, the division was around segregation and desegregation, shifting to debates about government assistance for African Americans.

  • Affirmative action has become a polarizing issue.

    • 2016 data: 87% of blacks favor preferences in hiring for previous discrimination, vs. 12% of whites.

Racial Perspectives on Discrimination

  • Variance in perceptions of discrimination between whites and blacks.

    • Example: In 2016, 64% of whites thought blacks were treated fairly in workplaces, in contrast to 22% of blacks.

  • On numerous social issues, non-white racial groups (Hispanic and Asian) show more liberal attitudes compared to whites.

Voting and Party Preferences by Race

  • Differences in voting behavior across racial groups; for instance, Trump's support was predominantly among whites while minorities favored Clinton.

    • In 2016: 57% of whites voted for Trump, while only 8% of blacks, 27% of Asian Americans, and 28% of Latinos did so.

  • The electoral significance of minority voting, especially in favor of the Democratic Party, is vital in presidential elections.

Age and Political Opinions

Age Group Perspectives on Political Issues

  • Different age groups respond variably, with few instances of older generations being more liberal than the younger.

  • Older cohorts tend to be more conservative, influenced by life-cycle effects or generational trends.

  • Distinctions exist between young voters advocating social change (e.g., LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare programs) and older voters who often resist such changes.

Religion and Political Opinions

Impact of Religion on Politics

  • Americans show high levels of religiosity compared to other Western nations, with significant implications for political opinions, especially among distinctive religious groups.

  • Religious affiliations show varying political allegiances: Mormons and evangelical Protestants lean conservative, while Jews and 'Nones' tend to lean liberal.

Table 7.9: Religious Groups and Political Positions

  • The table presents partisan differences across various religious affiliations.

    • Notably, Catholics and Protestants display distinct views on issues like abortion and government spending, alongside differences in identification with Democratic vs. Republican parties.

Geography and Political Opinions

Regional Differences

  • The South is recognized for its conservative views, largely stemming from cultural and evangelical Christianity, while liberal attitudes dominate the Northeast and coastal West.

  • Red states lean Republican, and blue states lean Democratic. Despite some survey results indicating less significant differences, strong distinct traits persist regionally.

Urban vs. Rural Divisions

  • Urban individuals generally lean more liberal compared to rural counterparts, where conservatism prevails.

  • Composition effects could account for these differences, yet lifestyle factors inherent to urban living also encourage liberal views.

Gender and Political Opinions

The Gender Gap

  • The gender gap illustrates consistent differences between men and women regarding political preferences and opinions.

    • Men tend to lean Republican, while women demonstrate a growing inclination towards Democratic values.

  • Noteworthy is the aspect that women's voting patterns moved significantly post the 1960s towards the Democratic Party.

Differences in Political Knowledge and Issue Opinions

  • Significant gender gaps persist in political knowledge, typically favoring men; however, behaviors differ based on specific issues such as military intervention, healthcare, and civil rights.

  • Women often favor compassionate responses to social issues compared to men.

Conclusion

  • Variability in public opinion can be highly influenced by group characteristics such as race, class, gender, age, religion, and geography.

  • Political affiliations and opinions express more nuanced insights into societal divisions and evolving perceptions during critically formative years in American politics.

Critical Thinking Questions

  • How do social class differences shape political opinions?

  • In what ways does religion potentially influence political views?

  • What factors contribute to the gender gap observed in voting behavior?


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Describe the effect of differences in social class on political opinions

  • Describe how racial and ethnic groups differ on their political opinions

  • Describe how differing religious orientations affect partisanship and public opinion

  • Explain the gender gap

Group Identification and Political Opinions

  • Individuals often identify with specific groups, which can influence their political opinions.

  • Political stances on certain policies may be viewed as beneficial to the identified group. - Example: African Americans tend to support affirmative action more than white Americans.

    • Individuals with higher incomes are often against social welfare programs compared to those living in poverty.

  • Not all political opinions are based on self-interest; many are influenced by sociotropic considerations, which consider the well-being of the nation.

  • Life experiences shape political views.- Example: Higher educational attainment is linked to differing opinions among individuals on social issues, such as abortion.

  • Historical shifts in group allegiances illustrate changing political landscapes.

Socioeconomic Class and Political Opinions

Class Differences on Economic Issues

  • Wealth distribution affects political opinions; class divides, such as between the wealthy (haves) and poor (have-nots), often lead to differing views on taxation and government services.

  • Subjective social class: People self-identify into classes (lower, working, middle, upper).- 2016 GSS results: 9% lower class, 47% working class, 41% middle class, 3% upper class. Stable since 1972.

  • Objective indicators include income, occupation, education; connections among them can vary significantly.- Example: A significant income disparity exists where many blue-collar workers earn more than white-collar workers.

  • Wealth in the U.S. is highly concentrated: 38% of U.S. wealth belongs to the top 1%, who earned over 20.2% of total income in 2014.- The bottom 50% earned only 12.5% of total income.

  • Income concentration has risen since the technology revolution and changes in financial markets.- From 1980 to 2014, post-tax income for the top 1% grew by 194% while it only grew by 21% for the bottom 50% and 4% for the bottom 20%.

Public Awareness of Economic Inequality

  • The perception of economic inequality is growing among Americans.- 1988: 26% believed the nation was divided into haves and have-nots; by 2015 this rose to 45%.

    • In 2016, 81% believed the socio-economic divide was larger than 20 years prior.

  • Compared to Europeans, class cleavages are less pronounced in the U.S. due to a belief in the availability of financial success for those who work hard.- Poll: Only 12% of Americans believe there is little chance to become rich, while 63% of a British cohort shared that belief.

Economic Preferences Across Classes

  • Public opinions vary by class regarding government spending on social programs:- The Working class prefers increased spending on welfare programs like education and child care.

    • Upper classes are less supportive of spending on safety net programs.

Program

Upper Class

Middle/Working Class

Unemployment

47%

70%

Education

80%

60%

Aid to Poor People

22%

51%

Social Security Benefits

54%

68%

Health Care

49%

70%

Class Differences on Noneconomic Issues

  • As income rises, conservative views increase on economic issues, while more liberal views develop on noneconomic issues.

  • Educational attainment influences views on social issues:- Example: Support for abortion rights increases with education—43% favoring among high-income high school graduates, rising to 73% among college graduates.

Class Differences on Foreign Policy

  • Lower educational levels correlate with isolationist foreign policy views.- Historically evident from the 1930s-1940s.

  • Better-educated populations generally support active U.S. engagement globally.

Race and Political Opinions

Major Racial Divisions in Political Opinions

  • The most significant political divide in the U.S. is between African Americans and whites.

  • African Americans tend to have distinctive political opinions largely centered on civil rights and socioeconomic issues.- Historically, the division was around segregation and desegregation, shifting to debates about government assistance for African Americans.

  • Affirmative action has become a polarizing issue.- 2016 data: 87% of blacks favor preferences in hiring for previous discrimination, vs. 12% of whites.

Racial Perspectives on Discrimination

  • Variance in perceptions of discrimination between whites and blacks.- Example: In 2016, 64% of whites thought blacks were treated fairly in workplaces, in contrast to 22% of blacks.

  • On numerous social issues, non-white racial groups (Hispanic and Asian) show more liberal attitudes compared to whites.

Voting and Party Preferences by Race

  • Differences in voting behavior across racial groups; for instance, Trump's support was predominantly among whites while minorities favored Clinton.- In 2016: 57% of whites voted for Trump, while only 8% of blacks, 27% of Asian Americans, and 28% of Latinos did so.

  • The electoral significance of minority voting, especially in favor of the Democratic Party, is vital in presidential elections.

Age and Political Opinions

Age Group Perspectives on Political Issues

  • Different age groups respond variably, with few instances of older generations being more liberal than the younger.

  • Older cohorts tend to be more conservative, influenced by life-cycle effects or generational trends.

  • Distinctions exist between young voters advocating social change (e.g., LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare programs) and older voters who often resist such changes.

Religion and Political Opinions

Impact of Religion on Politics

  • Americans show high levels of religiosity compared to other Western nations, with significant implications for political opinions, especially among distinctive religious groups.

  • Religious affiliations show varying political allegiances: Mormons and evangelical Protestants lean conservative, while Jews and 'Nones' tend to lean liberal.

Table 7.9: Religious Groups and Political Positions

  • The table presents partisan differences across various religious affiliations.- Notably, Catholics and Protestants display distinct views on issues like abortion and government spending, alongside differences in identification with Democratic vs. Republican parties.

Geography and Political Opinions

Regional Differences

  • The South is recognized for its conservative views, largely stemming from cultural and evangelical Christianity, while liberal attitudes dominate the Northeast and coastal West.

  • Red states lean Republican, and blue states lean Democratic. Despite some survey results indicating less significant differences, strong distinct traits persist regionally.

Urban vs. Rural Divisions

  • Urban individuals generally lean more liberal compared to rural counterparts, where conservatism prevails.

  • Composition effects could account for these differences, yet lifestyle factors inherent to urban living also encourage liberal views.

Gender and Political Opinions

The Gender Gap

  • The gender gap illustrates consistent differences between men and women regarding political preferences and opinions.- Men tend to lean Republican, while women demonstrate a growing inclination towards Democratic values.

  • Noteworthy is the aspect that women's voting patterns moved significantly post the 1960s towards the Democratic Party.

Differences in Political Knowledge and Issue Opinions

  • Significant gender gaps persist in political knowledge, typically favoring men; however, behaviors differ based on specific issues such as military intervention, healthcare, and civil rights.

  • Women often favor compassionate responses to social issues compared to men.

Conclusion

  • Variability in public opinion can be highly influenced by group characteristics such as race, class, gender, age, religion, and geography.

  • Political affiliations and opinions express more nuanced insights into societal divisions and evolving perceptions during critically formative years in American politics.

Critical Thinking Questions

  • How do social class differences shape political opinions?

  • In what ways does religion potentially influence political views?

  • What factors contribute to the gender gap observed in voting behavior?