Changes in noneconomic political attitudes of Southern and Northern youth, 1970s to 1980s

Abstract

This paper examines changes that occurred in the political attitudes of Southern and Northern youth from the 1970s to the 1980s. National survey data from the National Opinion Research Center is used. Considering attitudinal changes of people under 30, it appears that trends toward greater political tolerance and greater support for racial and sexual equality will continue in the future. However, this study finds a reversal of the usual trend of greater political tolerance among young people. The United States is increasing in conservatism on the social issues. Aside from the social issues, younger people have not become more conservative with age. Important regional differences in attitude changes are indicated.

Beyond Prejudice? Young Whites’ Racial Attitudes in Post–Civil Rights America, 1976 to 2000

“…Thus, we see that liberalizing trends in young Whites' racial attitudes are slowing down. This finding is consistent with other research that has shown that among the most recent cohorts of Whites, there is very little difference in their racial attitudes and the older cohorts adjacent to them (Blinder, 2007;Condran, 1979;Corbett, 1988;Steeh & Schuman, 1992;Tuch, 1981;Wilson, 1996). Of course, evidence of stabilization in White youth's racial attitudes does not necessarily mean a negative turn in their racial attitudes.…”

“…Some previous research has found that liberalization of White racial attitudes, as a result of cohort replacement, has slowed, if not halted altogether (Condran, 1979; Davis, 1992; Ransford & Palisi, 1992; Tuch, 1981). Other research focusing exclusively on the young finds either that they are not any less prejudiced than their immediate predecessors (Andolina & Mayer, 2003; Corbett, 1988; Steeh & Schuman, 1992) or that they are actually more racially prejudiced than their immediate predecessors—Baby Boomers (Crull & Burton, 1985; Dowden & Robinson, 1993; Hill, 1997; Wilson, 1996). Past emphasis on cohort replacement and its concomitant expectation for increasing racial tolerance suggests the need for more investigation into the cohort replacement hypothesis and today’s White youth.…”

Differential Perceptions of Sexism

“…however, the use of "he" as the neutral pronoun was the cultural norm for decades. There is evidence that attitudes have changed significantly and moved closer to egalitarianism from the 70's to the 80's (Corbett, 1988). If these changes are indicative of continued future progress, one might expect the amount of sexism perceived in general to increase were this study to be replicated.…”