Testing the Effect of Race and Political Relations on Abortion Views
I. INTRODUCTION
Throughout the years there have been many debates and research within the United States as to whether or not abortion should be legalized and the impact it will have on women in the nation. Many debates have surrounded this topic, yet majority of them revolved around the moral and legal aspects: Is abortion murder? Are women who abort evil? Should abortion be left up to the woman since it is her body? Should abortion not be left up to the woman since it is not her body that she will “killing”? Questions have been raised, and they have all been answered with a wide variety of opinions following them. However many questions haven’t been raised as to what groups actually support abortion or don’t: Is there a correlation between ethnic or socio-economic status in regards to one’s opinion on abortion? Do certain ethnicities support abortion more than others? Are reasoning’s based off of religiosity, politics, family, or personal belief? These questions are important because it provides a deeper understanding of why people make such major decisions. Abortion is one of the biggest controversies worldwide. However primary answers as to why women choose abortion is because of rape, young age, or simply not wanting a child; what about other factors? This paper will set out to answer that by looking at the link between views on abortion (independent variable) and race (dependent variable) with the consideration of confounding variables: political identification, religiosity, family beliefs and personal beliefs. Using the hypothesis: that race and political identification hold an interaction effect on one’s opinion towards abortion, this study uses...
... middle of paper ...
...cient evidence to reject the null hypothesis. One’s opinion on abortion are reliable to related factors such as politics, family, religion, and personal opinion, however the factors aren’t sufficient enough; it can either aid or have no effect on the persons view.
VII. Bibliography
Clawson, R.A., & Clark, J.A. (2003). The attitudinal structure of African American women party activists: The impact of race, gender, and religion. Political Research Quarterly, 56(2), 211-221.
Hall, Elaine J. and Myra Marx Ferree. Race Differences in Abortion Attitudes. Public Opinion Q. 1986. 50(2): 193-207
Stickler, Jennifer. Danigelis L. Nicholas. Changing Frameworks in Attitudes toward Abortion. Sociological Forum, Vol. 17, No.2 (Jun 2002), pp. 187-201
Wilcox, Clyde. Race Differences in Abortion Attitudes: Some Additional Evidence. Public Opinion Q. 1990. 54(2): 248-255
Williams, Daniel K. "No Happy Medium: The Role of Americans' Ambivalent View of Fetal Rights in Political Conflict over Abortion Legalization." Journal of Policy History 25, no. 1 (2013): 49.
The debate of abortion continues to be a controversial problem in society and has been around for many decades. According to Jone Lewis, “In the United States, abortion laws began to appear in the 1820’s, forbidding abortion after the fourth month of pregnancy” (1). This indicates that the abortion controversy has been debated far back into American history. Beginning in the 1900’s, legalized abortion became a major controversy. In 1965, all fifty states in the United States banned abortion; however, that was only the beginning of the controversy that still rages today (Lewis 1). After abortion was officially banned in the United States, groups such as the National Abortion Rights Action League worked hard on a plan to once again legalize abortion in the United States (Lewis 1). It wasn’t until 1970 when the case of Roe (for abortion) v. Wade (against abortion) was brought...
In a 2006 study conducted by the CDC, it was reported that 53-56% of abortions were performed on white women between the ages of 20 and 29. Among the 46 states that provided data consistently during 1996--2006, a total of 835,134 abortions (98.7% of the total) were reported; the abortion rate was 16.1 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15--44 years, and the abortion ratio was 236 abortions per 1,000 live births. During the previous decade (1997--2006), reported abortion numbers, rates, and ratios decreased 5.7%, 8.8%, and 14.8%, respectively; most of these declines occurred before 2001. During the previous year (2005--2006), the total number of abortions increased 3.1%, and the abortion rate increased 3.2%; the abortion ratio was stable. (CDC, 2009)
Johnston, W. R. (2012, March 11). Abortion statistics and other data. Johnston's Archive. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/
Jost, Kenneth, and Kathy Koch. "Abortion Showdowns." CQ Researcher 22 Sept. 2006: 769-92. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
Although race is continued to be studied as one of the main factors in differences of abortion, recent research suggests that the differences in opinion between the races is not as big as previously thought. One of the reasons for this is the movement against the traditional viewpoints especially in the African American population (Lynxwiler and Gay, 1994). This movement can be seen in the growth of the Democratic Party that pushes towards gender equality and a right to privacy (Strickler and Danigelis, 2002). As the younger generation strives for equality for all, race does not seem to be a factor as it once was. Even though this is a very convincing thought, this paper aims to prove that the racial gap still exists because of the opposing lifestyles of the two races and the differences in the family sizes between the races.
Intersectionality moves beyond the choice model of abortion by considering how race, class, gender presentation and socioeconomic standing affect women’s journey through abortion. Access to abortion may be a singular problem for white middle class women, but the issues facing individuals marginalized by racism and classism become intrinsically intertwined with reproductive health. Therefore, choice is not simply about access to abortion, but about a choice on safe and effective access to birth control options, whether or not to have children, or how many children to have. Abortion is not a singular issue that can be simplified into women’s right for autonomy and a fetus’ right to life. Abortion is an issue of intersectionality as it is complicated by issues of race, class, and gender identity. By taking into account the variables of race, class, and gender, the unique disadvantages women face can be addressed and systematically treated in order to reduce and eliminate the barriers that confront abortion
The issue of abortion has always been a controversial one for citizens of the United States. Abortion is the practice of terminating a pregnancy after the embryo has been planted in the uterus (Abortion). An individual’s stance on this controversial issue categorizes them into one of two very different groups. An individual who feels that a woman should not have an abortion- due to moral or religious views- is said to be “pro-life”. Coincidently, those who feel that a woman should have the right to choose abortion are said to be “pro-choice”. “Pro-life” supporters point to the practice of abortion as an immoral one. Supporters state abortion is immoral because it takes away the rights of the unborn fetus, since activists consider human life beginning at contraception (Jones). “Pro-life” supporters also believe that the practice of abortion can lead to medical problems- such as emotional duress- succeeding the surgical procedure (Cords). “Pro-choice” advocates refute these claims. Advocates for abortion feel that a woman should have the choice to decide what should or shouldn’t be done to a woman’s body. Activists also point to cases- such as an abnormal pregnancy or dangers that could incur if the pregnancy was forced to proceed- that support the health and wellbeing of the pregnant woman (Reasons Offered for Abortion). Advocates also express examples like an abandoned partner or strives to gain equality in the workplace as other reasons for abortion (Reasons Offered for Abortion). Many opinions throughout the county create a struggle on who should have the final decision to govern the practice. The practice of abortion has been a crucial option to terminate dangerous and unwanted pregnancies- although advocates point to religio...
After all, abortions became legal in only 30 states. In addition, the moral effects of abortions have risen in the past years. Another reason that women should be able to have abortions is in case the mothers are too young and unable to take care of their babies. Unwanted pregnancies can be very stressful for women. Therefore, if women th...
Since Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion has sparked a symbolic war based on the religious, personal, and moral beliefs of two opposing groups: anti-abortionists, who see abortion as murder; and pro-abortionists, who view it “as a symbol of women’s rights to control their own lives.” (Calhoun 220) Public opinion on the issue is no less divided: according to a 2003 poll, 49% of respondents described themselves as “more pro-abortion” while 45% were “more anti-abortion.” (Shaw) However, when the question concerns the legality of abortion, the percentages become skewed. In a 2000 survey, 53% believed that abortion should be legal while 35% believed the contrary. (Shaw) When these questions, in turn, become more specific, important differences occur. A poll by The American National Election Studies offered the following results: 42% of the sample felt “a woman should be able to obtain an abortion as a matter of personal choice”; 15% felt it should be legal “only after establishing need”; 29% believe it should be permitted “only in case of rape, incest, or when the woman’s life is in danger”; and a mere 12% felt is should “never be permitted.” (Shaw) An overwhe...
I also remember as young girl learning how to read and my favorite book that I could quote word for word was “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr.Suess. I loved that book so much I still have that today. As I got older my love for reading and books started to diminish, I went to a private school for my elementary years and their curriculum was very intense. It was required to read a book from their approved list and complete a book report each summer before the school year began. Not to mention the numerous books reports I would have to complete during the school. At an early age books and reading was something I had to do and not what I wanted to do.
"Abortion." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
Reading was never something I fussed about growing up. As a child, I loved genres of realistic fiction. I was hooked on The New Adventures of Mary Kate and Ashley, Goosebumps, The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes, Judy Moody, and especially, Zoobooks and Highlights magazines. My mother was always ready to help build my reading and writing skills. She took me to the library constantly to feed my passion for books and knowledge. I loved exploring the shelfs, organizing the books, and filling up my library cart. I tried keeping a diary in elementary school to keep track of my outings with my parents and grandparents to museums, zoos, movies, and libraries. This flash of writing enthusiasm was spun from books I read in the 4th and 5th grade that were
Reading has been a part of my life from the second I was born. All throughout my childhood, my parents read to me, and I loved it. I grew up going to the library and being read to constantly. Especially in the years before Kindergarten, reading was my favorite thing to do. I grew up loving fairy tales and thriving on the knowledge that I could have any book I wanted, to be read to me that night. Having no siblings, my only examples were my parents, and they read constantly. Without a family that supported my love of reading throughout my childhood, I wouldn’t appreciate it nearly as much as I have and do now.