FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 29, 2024 

Contact: William Lutz 202-785-5100 

Three in Four Adults (73%) Consider Reproductive Rights a Crucial Policy Area for Their Families, According to New Institute for Women’s Policy Research Poll on Reproductive Health and Rights 

Washington, DC – Today, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) released a new national poll highlighting the critical importance of reproductive health and rights to American families. The poll, released two years after the landmark Dobbs decision, underscores the level of national support policymakers have to advance abortion access nationwide amid increasing state-level restrictions and the threat of a national abortion ban. 

Key Poll Findings 

  • Three in four adults (73%) consider reproductive rights an important policy area for their families, with nearly half (47%) deeming it very important. 
  • The issue resonates strongly with women of reproductive age, 58% of whom regard it as very important.  
  • Two-thirds (66%) of adults urge Congress to pass laws guaranteeing the right to abortion in the United States, and 42% emphasize it as very important. This sentiment spans across party lines, with 89% of Democratic women and at least half of women from other political affiliations supporting congressional action. 
  • In states where abortion access is available, half of adults express concern about the future of such access, with a heightened worry (70%) among Democratic women.  

Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of IWPR, stated, “These findings demonstrate the overwhelming concern Americans feel on this issue and their strong desire to see reproductive rights protected and strengthened. They also underscore how much Americans want their leaders to take action to undo the damage done by far-right, extreme states following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.”   

The poll findings also highlight the substantial challenges women face in accessing reproductive health care, including abortion.  

  • Only 51% of women of reproductive age are confident they could obtain an abortion if needed, a figure that rises to 67% in states with protected access.  
  • Furthermore, 23% of women of reproductive age do not know whether abortion is currently legal in the state in which they live, and a mere 30% of adults in states where abortion is legal know the location of the nearest abortion clinic. 
  • Key barriers to access cited by women of reproductive age include restrictive state laws (42%) and financial constraints (42%). Additionally, a significant majority of adults (60%) express concern about future access to birth control. 

“Our country is backsliding when it comes to women’s reproductive rights and maternal health. However, IWPR’s poll shows that efforts to roll back these freedoms are not supported by the American public. Policymakers best take notice,” said Dr. Taylor.  

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research strives to win economic equity for all women and eliminate barriers to their full participation in society. As a leading national think tank, IWPR builds evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families. Learn more at IWPR.org and follow us on Twitter.  

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