Pew Research Center's Blog, page 20

Across Racial Lines, More Say Nation Needs to Make Changes to Achieve Racial Equality

Over the past year, there has been a substantial rise in the share of Americans — across racial and ethnic groups — who say the country needs to continue making changes to give blacks equal rights with whites.

5 questions about the contraception mandate

The Obama administration has issued its final regulations governing how the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to provide contraception coverage applies to religiously affiliated nonprofits and businesses. But the announcement has done little to quell the objections of some religious groups. As the debate over the mandate continues, here are five questions and answers about the controversy.

Russia, Putin Held in Low Regard around the World

Outside its own borders, neither Russia nor its president, Vladimir Putin, receives much respect or support, with a median of only 30% across 39 nations surveyed seeing Russia favorably.

When discussing politics, family plays larger role for women than for men

About seven-in-ten U.S. adults talk with others about politics at least a few times a month, but whom they talk with most often varies a great deal between men and women.

70 years after Hiroshima, opinions have shifted on use of atomic bomb

This first use of a nuclear weapon by any nation has long divided Americans and Japanese. Americans have consistently approved of this attack and have said it was justified. The Japanese have not. But opinions are changing: Americans are less and less supportive of their use of atomic weapons, and the Japanese are more and more opposed.

In the news industry, diversity is lowest at smaller outlets

Minorities are still underrepresented at U.S. news organizations, especially when it comes to the places that would-be journalists traditionally try to break into the business: smaller local TV and newspaper outlets.

Partisans differ sharply on power plant emissions limits, climate change

Overall, a majority of Americans support stricter limits on power plant emissions, but as with climate change, the views of Democrats differ markedly from those of Republicans.

The real value of a $15 minimum wage depends on where you live

Although most Americans back a higher minimum wage, wide disparities in local living costs make finding an appropriate rate difficult.

Democratic edge in Hispanic voter registration grows in Florida

Florida has long been a battleground state in presidential elections, with Hispanic voters playing a growing role in determining the outcome of the state’s presidential vote. If current trends hold, Hispanic voters will make up an even larger share of the state’s registered voters next year than in past years, but the profile of the […]

Number of women leaders around the world has grown, but they’re still a small group

Women account for 49.6% of the global population, but just 9.3% of today’s top national leaders.