Another source of division in public opinion is race. White attitudes toward segregation and discrimination have come to be nearly the same as those of African Americans. Yet racial differences remain about the sources and remedies for discrimination. Whites are less likely to favor strong government measures to reduce racial inequalities, especially affirmative action. African Americans are more likely to see the persistence of discriminatory practices and to favor measures to combat them.
Gender frequently produces significant differences in public opinion.
Women support policies that protect the more vulnerable members of society, like the homeless, the ill, the aged, and the young. They tend to accept higher levels of government expenditure for education, the environment, health care, and social welfare than most men do. Religion also affects political beliefs. The most visible impact of religion on ideology today is seen in the conservatism of white fundamentalist Protestants. United on many questions, Americans are divided by class, race, gender, and religion.