The share of Americans viewing Planned Parenthood unfavorably has nearly doubled since 2012, and men now have a net negative view of the federally funded abortion provider.
A Quinnipiac University poll released at the end of September indicates that 44 percent of U.S. adults view Planned Parenthood favorably as the organization battles the scandal surrounding its alleged sale of aborted baby body parts. Slightly fewer Americans, 39 percent, hold an unfavorable view of Planned Parenthood.
Support for the abortion provider has declined significantly since February 2012, the most recent time that Quinnipiac University measured the favorability of Planned Parenthood since the nonprofit Center for Medical Progress began releasing undercover videos showing organization officials discussing the sale body parts from aborted fetuses.
In early 2012, 55 percent of Americans held a favorable opinion of Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, only 22 percent viewed the organization unfavorably, a figure that is nearly twice that amount today.
Among both men and women in 2012, Planned Parenthood earned net favorable ratings of 50-24 percent and 60-19 percent, respectively. Men currently hold a negative view of the organization, with 43 percent holding an unfavorable opinion of Planned Parenthood and 38 percent a favorable one.
The share of women who see the nation’s largest abortion provider negatively has nearly doubled since 2012 to 35 percent today.
Congress has been investigating Planned Parenthood’s abortion practices and Republicans have been pushing to defund the organization for allegedly selling the body parts of aborted babies. Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, has dismissed the videos as a "smear campaign" by "militant antiabortion activists."
Currently, a majority of Americans opposes abortion under all or most circumstances.