Roe v. Who? Young Americans clueless about abortion case

As Roe v. Wade turns 40, most Americans under 30 can't correctly identify the nature of the landmark ruling

Topics: Abortion, Roe v. Wade, Reproductive Rights, reproductive justice, Reproductive choice, ,

Roe v. Wade will turn 40 next week, and that’s big news.

But as we mark the anniversary of the landmark ruling guaranteeing a woman’s constitutional right to safe and legal abortion services, efforts to block women’s access in the United States are more common than ever.

That’s why recent findings from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life are so surprising. While 62 percent of Americans know that Roe v. Wade dealt with abortion rights, just 44 percent of people under 30 years old can correctly identify the nature of the Supreme Court decision.

What’s more, a majority of Americans in the post-Roe generation — 62 percent, in fact — also say that they don’t consider abortion to be a critical issue facing the country.

Say what?

According to a policy review released by the Guttmacher Institute, 2012 saw the second-highest number of abortion restrictions ever enacted (2011 came in first). And while Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock became household names, one of the House’s staunchest antiabortion members got second billing on the Republican presidential ticket.

Americans under 30 may have never lived without the ruling that ended deadly, illegal abortions in the U.S., but those times aren’t exactly behind us, either: The Guttmacher Institute estimates that unsafe abortions across the globe contribute to 47,000 preventable deaths each year.

Katie Mcdonough

Katie McDonough is an assistant editor for Salon, focusing on lifestyle. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

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