Roe v. Wade Survey: Do You Know What It's About?

Do you remember Roe v. Wade, or at least know what it's about? Well, it's been 40 years since that case was decided and according to a recent survey, not a lot of people do. At least, not a lot of young people know what the case is about. Only 44 percent of Americans under 30 knew the subject of the case. Another 41 percent guessed incorrectly that it was related to the death penalty, the environment, or just couldn't say. That means the majority of Americans under 30 have no idea what Roe v. Wade was about. That's surprising, given how crucial the case is to, well, you know the subject, right? Yes, you thought right: Roe v. Wade is the U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the United States back on Jan. 22, 1973. It hasn't been forgotten by all Americans, though. Overall, 62 percent of us know that the case dealt with abortion. That's not bad, although the case did more than just "deal" with abortion. In the Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court ruled that state laws that criminalize abortion are a violation of the right to privacy. As a result, states cannot ban abortion. What they can do is put limits on when and where those abortions can take place. Some states also put limits on minors getting abortions and require parental consent, or at least a court's permission. An interesting point about the Pew study is how it breaks down by political ideology. Republicans are more likely to know about the case's subject matter than Democrats, reports The Washington Post. Another interesting point was how much people care about the issue of abortion in general. Those who oppose abortion think it's much more of an important national issue than those who don't oppose it. Roe v. Wade's 40th anniversary is a good time to give the case and its consequences some thought. Whether you support it or oppose it, or even if you didn't know what it was about until just now, it's hard to deny the case has had a significant impact on the country. Related Resources:

• Reproductive Rights (FindLaw)
• Reproductive Rights: U.S. Supreme Court Cases (FindLaw)
• Is Gender Based Abortion Legal? Sweden Says Women Can Get Abortion Based on Baby's Sex (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)