The document summarizes the results of a public opinion poll on whether Kim Kardashian's highly publicized 72-day marriage and divorce would have any impact on legalizing same-sex marriage in California. Most respondents felt the marriage was a sham but did not think it would influence same-sex marriage legalization. While the author hypothesized the marriage would help strengthen arguments for legalization, the majority view from the poll was that Kardashian's marriage would have no effect on the issue.

1. Joann Vaglica
Public Opinion Polling MAC401
November 22, 2011

2. • The topic I chose for this public opinion polling research project involved the Kim
Kardashian and Kris Humphries marriage and divorce that happened within 72 days. More
narrowly, I wanted to see what the general public [via my blog; LadiiLive.Blogspot.com] and
what students, staff and faculty at Five Towns College felt about the wedding and if using this
“couple” as an example would help strengthen the fight for same-sex marriage in California.
• When I asked people to go on my blog and vote “if highly publicized Kim Kardashian‟s
marriage mockery [will] have any effect in the fight for same-sex marriage in California,”
many people, before reading the accompanying article said:
– Voter Commentary: Why is it a sham? Gays shouldn't be married. I'm Catholic and
that's not my belief ! Kim Kardashian can marry as many times as she wants. It‟s the
publics fault, not hers. We give her the power that she has!
– Voter Commentary: What does Kim have to do with gay marriage?
– Voter Commentary: Is Kim gay? Is that why she left Kris? What does Kim have to do
with gay people?
– Voter Commentary: Kim might be a public figure but a lot of people get married and
divorced within a short period of time. They've never made an influence on the gay
community.

3. Dear General Public:
On Oct. 31 2011, the media went into a frenzy when it was discovered that that very morning Kim
Kardashian had filed for divorce from her husband of 72 days, Kris Humphries. After airing her “Fairytale
Wedding,” she came forward expressing her embarrassment and her intuition to make that relationship history.
As you can imagine, this has sparked an uproar, leading critics to wonder if her wedding was a sham to
begin with. In light of this, many equal rights activists have expressed their feelings towards marriage of same-
sex and opposite-sex couples.
As The Reverend, Canon Susan Russell, from All Saints Church in Pasadena, sarcastically stated in an
open letter to Kardashian, “As a marriage equality activist, I cannot thank you enough for your gift of the
stunning example of how the gender of the couple saying „I do‟ clearly has absolutely nothing to do with respect
for the institution of marriage…[and this announcement couldn‟t have come at a better time because]
congressional leaders [were] set to begin debating the Respect for Marriage Act on Capitol Hill.”
With this given information, I am conducting a study as part of a public opinion polling research project
to see what the public thinks of the highly publicized Kim Kardashian and if the “mockery she‟s made of
marriage” will have any effect in the fight for same-sex marriage in California.
If you wish to participate, you can do so by anonymously voting “yes” or “no” on the poll on the ride-
side panel. If you would like to elaborate on why you chose the answer that you did, you can e-mail me at
vaglica.joann@gmail.com; all answers will remain confidential.
Polling will be closed on November 21, 2011.

4. …If you wish to participate, you can do so by anonymously voting “yes” or “no” to the
three questions on the following page. If you would like to elaborate on why you chose the
answer that you did, you can do so on the bottom of the page. All commentary will also

5. *The following data was derived from a questionnaire students and professors filled out at Five
Towns College.
Do you believe Kim Kardashian‟s “Fairytale Wedding” was all a sham?
YES NO TOTAL
16 6 22

6. Do you feel she‟s made a mockery out of marriage?
YES NO TOTAL
12 11 23

7. “As a marriage equality activist, I cannot thank you enough for your gift of the
stunning example of how the gender of the couple saying „I do‟ clearly has absolutely nothing
to do with respect for the institution of marriage… [and this announcement couldn‟t have
come at a better time because] congressional leaders [were] set to begin debating the
Respect for Marriage Act on Capitol Hill.” - Reverend, Canon Susan Russell, from All Saints
Church in Pasadena.
Do you think using Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries‟ marriage, as an example,
will help strengthen or have any effect at all, in the legalization of same-sex marriage in
California? Explain.
YES NO TOTAL
2 31 33

8. *This data was derived from a public poll on my blog, LadiiLive.Blogspot.com:
Will the highly publicized Kim Kardashian and her “mockery of a marriage” have any effect in
the fight for same-sex marriage in California?
Yes, she’s such a high profiled star!: 10
No, she is only Kim Kardashian!: 12
Total: 22

9. • Explanatory and descriptive topic
• As a self proclaimed “entertainment junkie,” I am up-to-date on celeb. gossip. I know a lot of
people have mixed feelings about this situation so I wanted to do my own poll on the publics
opinion.
• I believe the wedding was a sham, made a mockery of marriage, and that this duo will have
an influence on legalizing same-sex marriage in California. As marriage being the
independent variable and perhaps monetary reasons being the dependent variable, my
hypothesis was proven incorrect; a majority of people believed the wedding was a sham and
she‟s made a mockery or marriage, but this would not help strengthen or have any effect at all
in the legalization of same-sex marriage in California.
• Inductive reasoning in my report, made a generalization by reasoning from detailed facts to
general principles and no bias included and this is evident because from the questions I
asked, you cannot tell I am on the verge of boycotting the Kardashian‟s!
• No specific target audience; but from polling at FTC, I know people between the ages of 18-
65 answered the survey questions.
• If you want to boycott the Kardashian's, there is an online petition you can sign. Go to