New Survey Dispels Myths About White Working-Class Americans, Resets Debate About This Critical Grou

[rug]

For Immediate Release

Romney has lead among white working-class voters overall, but closer race among white working-class women, Midwesterners, and Catholics

20 Sep

WASHINGTON — Less than two months before Americans go to the polls to elect their president, a new national survey released today upends commonly held beliefs about white working-class Americans. The report, “Beyond God and Guns: Understanding the Complexities of the White Working Class in America,” highlights the significant divides among white working-class Americans along the lines of region, religion, gender, and age.

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•The survey debunks five widely held myths about the white working class in America:

1. Myth 1. White working-class Americans strongly identify with the Tea Party. White working-class Americans are no more likely than white college-educated Americans to say they consider themselves a part of the Tea Party movement (13 percent vs. 10 percent).

2. Myth 2. White working-class Americans have abandoned traditional religiosity and a strong work ethic. White working-class Americans do not attend religious services less frequently than Americans overall (48 percent vs. 50 percent attend at least once a month), and do not report that religion is less important in their lives (60 percent vs. 59 percent say religion is important in their lives). White working class Americans also work significantly more average hours per week than white college-educated Americans (51 vs. 46 hours per week).

http://www.religionnews.com/press-releases/new-survey-dispels-myths-about-white-working-class-americans-resets-debate

[cbayer]

1. What do they mean by "abandoned traditional religiosity"?

I've not heard that as a myth before, so the findings don't seem much of a surprise in that area.

[rug]

2. Here's the full report.

http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/WWC-Report-For-Web-Final.pdf

I just skimmed it and didn't see the definition. I suppose they mean Sunday church-going people at a mainstream church.