Attitudes Toward Abortion in Poland and the United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1997

Publication Title

Social Science Quarterly

Volume

78

Issue

4

First page number:

907

Last page number:

921

Abstract

Objective: This paper seeks to compare the distribution and correlates of mass attitudes toward legal abortion in Poland and the United States. Methods: Multivariate models of abortion attitudes in the two countries are compared with data compiled by NORC. Results: Despite differences in history, culture, and the distribution of religious affiliation, mass attitudes toward abortion are quite similar in the two countries, although Catholicism is a significantly stronger predictor of “pro-life” attitudes in the United States. Conclusion: In general, our findings suggest that national and cultural differences are of limited utility in accounting for variations in abortion attitudes. We suggest that the fact that the antiabortion movement in the United States must formulate arguments that appeal to an ecumenical coalition may make the Catholic Church a more effective agent of socialization in a religiously competitive environment.

Keywords

Abortion; Abortion--Religious aspects; Abortion--Religious aspects--Catholic Church; Catholic Church; Pro-life movement

Disciplines

American Politics | Catholic Studies | Comparative Politics | Political Science | Religion | Women's Studies

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.


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