A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Wording Matters: Support for Women’s Reproductive Policies in the US




AuthorsHansen, Michael A.

PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP)

Publication year2025

JournalPolitics and Gender

Journal name in sourcePolitics & Gender

First page 1-27

ISSN1743-923X

eISSN1743-9248

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X25000145

Web address https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743923x25000145

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/485081796


Abstract

The Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization removed the federal right to an abortion, thereby entrusting the states to decide the fate of women’s reproductive health care policies. The outcome activated pro-choice and pro-life groups in efforts to secure favorable policies in states. One tool that groups have utilized to gain support for their position involves selective framing of women’s reproductive policies, including careful selection of wording employed in popular referenda. Using a survey experiment, this study investigates how word/phrase choice influences support for women’s reproductive policies. Two general findings stand out. First, word/phrase choices significantly impact aggregate levels of support for policies. Second, predictor variables exhibit non-static relationships with support across statements. For example, some gender gaps were evident in support for general statements and pro-choice-leaning statements but absent for specific statements and pro-life-framed statements. These findings hold implications for elections on reproductive health policies.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2025-14-03 at 12:21