Examining the absence of a gender effect on abortion attitudes: Is there really no difference?

Earlier research on attitudes toward abortion has found little or no differ ence be tween men and women. To the limited extent that there is any gender effect, men are slightly more inclined than women to be prochoice (e.g., C ook, Jelen, and Wilcox 1992). Women, however, have been found to regard the issue as more important (Scott and Schuman 1988). The present study uses G eneral Social Survey data from 1972 through 1994 to further explore gender and attitudes toward abortion. We find that within three marital statuses-s ingle, married, widowed-men are somewhat more supportive of abortion rights but that women consider the issue to be more important and have clearer bu t not necessarily stronger attitudes than men. When differences in workforc e participation are controlled the sex effect is reversed, with women being more prochoice than men. Although significantly related to abortion attitu des, race, marital status, and religious identity are not relevant to this reversal in the sex effect.