The document is a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute that examines the views of white working class Americans. It analyzes their demographics, economic status, cultural views, and voting patterns in the 2012 presidential election. The survey challenges common myths about the white working class, finding they are not uniformly aligned with the Tea Party, still value religion and hard work, do not simply vote against their economic interests, and do not fully embrace free market capitalism.

1. BEYOND GUNS AND GOD
Understanding the Complexities of
the White Working Class in America
Public
Religion Analysis by
Research Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO
Institute Daniel Cox, Director of Research

2. Survey Methodology
• Sample Size:
– N = 2,501 Americans (MOE = +/- 2.2 percentage points)
– N = 857 white working class Americans (MOE = +/- 3.7 percentage
points)
• Conducted between August 2 – August 15, 2012
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) telephone interviews (1,000 reached by
cell phone)
• Funded by Bend the Arc Foundation and the Nathan Cummings
Foundation
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 2

3. Definition and Size of
White Working Class
White Working-Class Americans: White non-Hispanic Americans
without a four-year college degree who hold non-salaried jobs
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 3

4. UNDERSTANDING
WHITE WORKING-CLASS
AMERICANS
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 4

5. Household Income
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 5

6. Financial Status
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 6

7. Community Type
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 7

8. Challenges Facing Communities
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 8

9. 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
By Race, Class, and Religion
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 9

10. 2012 Vote by Race and Class
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 10

11. White Working-Class Vote by Region
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 11

12. White Working-Class Vote
By Generation, Gender, and Religion
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 12

13. Favorability of Presidents
By Social Class
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 13

14. CULTURE AND WORLDVIEW
White Working-Class vs.
White College-Educated Americans
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 14

15. Gun Ownership
Do you or does anyone in your home own a gun?
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 15

16. Shopping Preferences:
Wal-Mart vs. Target
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 16

17. Preferred Attributes of Children:
Deference to Authority vs. Autonomy
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 17

18. CHALLENGING 5 MYTHS
About White Working-Class Americans
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 18

19. Myth 1: White Working-Class Americans
Identify Strongly with the Tea Party
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 19

20. Myth 2: White Working Class Americans
Have Abandoned Religiosity & Strong Work Ethic
Church Work
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 20

21. Myth 3: White Working Class Americans
Vote Against Their Economic Interests
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 21

22. Myth 4: White Working Class Americans
Are Animated by Culture War Issues
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 22

23. Myth 5: White Working-Class Americans
Embrace Free Market Capitalism
Race, Class, and Culture Survey (PRRI, September 2012) 23

24. Beyond Guns and God
Understanding the Complexities of the White Working
Class in America
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Public
Religion Analysis by
Research Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO
Institute Daniel Cox, Director of Research