Have you seen the book Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair? Reframes responsibility for birth control brilliantly. (Seems complementary to this essay.)
This is interesting (especially as a Brit with universal healthcare) - I’d never heard of a molar pregnancy before and find it notable that it’s more common below age 20 and over 40, which goes beyond the fact that children’s bodies aren’t ready for pregnancy, maybe teens aren’t either (as well as all the social and economic reasons).
You are right, but for this election so close in time, making that connection might be too difficult.
I wish she would focus on who would benefit from her budget vs. who would benefit from trump's budget. It's table 3 iin the analysis below. Say the numbers.
Because in my opinion there are more persuadable voters on the economy than on abortion. And everyone knows where she stands in abortion. More Americans remember better economic times under Trump than under Biden, right or wrong. And his budget is far more inflationary than hers. I'd use the picture of the German using a wheelbarrow to buy a loaf of bread. That's where trump's budget will lead.
You probably know this, but she’s going to do the major speech on the economy this week. Maybe tonight? I’l check it out. I think she can incorporate the points about reproductive rights as an economic issue in it. I hope she does. It’s not that difficult a connection to make.
I am wondering, and perhaps I missed it, single mothers, who are they siding with in the election? As you mentioned polling is men for Trump and women for Harris. But is that also because men tend to be more working class over women? Women are surpassing men in school, in the professional fields and in life expectancy. Men/boys are being left behind. (There is a huge ciris among men and boys in this country that is being overlooked) But what about working class women. Are they geared towards Trump too? Sure there is always sexism in play, but I am not so sure that it is a huge aspect of the polling differences.
So I am wondering if the democrats are doing this all wrong then. By making abortion a separate issue when most voters care about the economy, are they dooming themselves in the end? If they tell people you have to choose between abortion and the economy, people will choose the economy and leave abortion rights to fight for another day. The most important issue in every poll is still the economy.
I do find it interesting how you frame the concept of abortion with economics. Single mothers make up the majority of those who live in poverty in this country. Motherhood stops so many. I remember Oprah even saying that if the baby she had had as a teenager had not died, she never would have become who she is today. That is not to say you cannot be financially successful and be a single mother. You just need to make sure you have the education and support under your belt first.
Of course, this also says alot about how we raise the "men" in our society. Why does single parenthood only seem to affect the standard of living of women and children. Why aren't the fathers taught responsibility and required to be parents to the children they father?
I haven’t seen any breakdowns of women’s support for reproductive rights that parse out single motherhood or class issues. The only significant variable I’ve seen is party-affiliation, with the female opposition to abortion rights coming from Republicans almost exclusively..
Re. Dems making abortion such a significant election issue, I’d say that’s happened because of the consequences of Dodds. I wouldn’t say, though, that Dems are opposing abortion to economy—they’re just not linking them strongly enough, in my opinion.
Re.the difference between men and women SOL after parenthood, that article that I quoted from has lots of great detail about that you’d find interesting.
Abortion rights impact half the population, that alone should make it a male issue. But here is the point:
"there are strong links between poverty and abortion – denying access to abortion places the greatest economic burden and significant health risks on low-income, often minority women, increasing both poverty and inequality.”
Pro-life movements aren't about life, they're about keeping women poor so they can continue exploiting them.
One of your best (except for your take on Jeremiah Wright). I strongly agree that reproductive rights is a vital economic issue for women and men. I hope pundits take note.
I can’t tell who considered Wright’s admittedly inflammatory judgment against U.S. foreign policy to be antisemitic. I always interpreted Wright’s position to be directly in line with the ancient Hebrew prophets’ calls for justice toward the poor and marginalized. Having read his sermons in that regard, I think my interpretation is correct, although I haven’t recently revisited that controversy.
I remember that at the time there was concern over Wright’s advocacy for Louis Farrakhan and some remarks he made about Israel—not quoted, so I don’t know exactly what they were—that Obama dissociated himself from in his speech. I also vaguely remember controversy over some of his sermons as containing anti-semitic references. That he certainly WAS antisemitic was made pretty clear after Obama’s talk, when he said that he hadn't had contact with Obama up to that point because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me” and suggested that Obama didn’t send a delegation to a conference on racism because of Zionist pressure saying: "[T]he Jewish vote, the vote, that's controlling him, that would not let him send representation to the Durban Review Conference, that's talking this craziness on this trip, cause they’re Zionists, they would not let him talk to someone who calls a spade what it is." Ta-Nehisi Coates characterized Wright's remarks as "crude conspiratorial” and the Anti-Defamation League released a statement condemning Wright's remarks as "inflammatory and false. The notions of Jewish control of the White House in Reverend Wright's statement express classic anti-Semitism in its most vile form."
I was surprised by these poll results from the usually reliable Pew Research Center. According to their stats, the "gender gap" on abortion rights is not as pronounced as I imagined it to be.
According to Pew, majorities of both men (61%) and women (64%) express support for legal abortion in most/all cases.
Just as surprising, 38% of men and 33% of women oppose abortion in most/all cases.
I’m not surprised. For quite a while, every poll has shown that most Americans, whether male or female, are in favor of legal abortion in most cases. Maybe my title is confusing. I don’t think there’s a gender gap on the issue of making abortion legal. The gap is on their support of Trump/Kamala which suggests that they think about abortion, although they favor legalizing, as a “woman’s issue” rather than one that has implications for the economic issues that touch all of us. Maybe I need to change that title!!
Have you seen the book Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair? Reframes responsibility for birth control brilliantly. (Seems complementary to this essay.)
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll def look it up!
This is one of the best articles on abortion and the economy issues that I have seen anywhere! Thanks, Prof. Bordo.
Actually, it was THE best article on abortion and the economy hat I have seen anywhere!
Can I quote you?
Of course!
Thank You!!
Excellent piece, Susan. I thought of you when I read this op-ed in which Mimi Zieman--author, Substacker and ob-gyn in Georgia--responds to a liberal man who says abortion isn't relevant to him. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2024/09/24/abortion-laws-georgia-alabama-tennessee-restrictions-doctors-healthcare/75210144007/
Will read!! Thanks for link.
This is interesting (especially as a Brit with universal healthcare) - I’d never heard of a molar pregnancy before and find it notable that it’s more common below age 20 and over 40, which goes beyond the fact that children’s bodies aren’t ready for pregnancy, maybe teens aren’t either (as well as all the social and economic reasons).
You are right, but for this election so close in time, making that connection might be too difficult.
I wish she would focus on who would benefit from her budget vs. who would benefit from trump's budget. It's table 3 iin the analysis below. Say the numbers.
https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu
Why not both?
Because in my opinion there are more persuadable voters on the economy than on abortion. And everyone knows where she stands in abortion. More Americans remember better economic times under Trump than under Biden, right or wrong. And his budget is far more inflationary than hers. I'd use the picture of the German using a wheelbarrow to buy a loaf of bread. That's where trump's budget will lead.
You probably know this, but she’s going to do the major speech on the economy this week. Maybe tonight? I’l check it out. I think she can incorporate the points about reproductive rights as an economic issue in it. I hope she does. It’s not that difficult a connection to make.
Thanks for sharing this link resource
You got my sub.
Welcome! And thanks!
Say it loud and say it proud. Eloquently. Thank you.
I am wondering, and perhaps I missed it, single mothers, who are they siding with in the election? As you mentioned polling is men for Trump and women for Harris. But is that also because men tend to be more working class over women? Women are surpassing men in school, in the professional fields and in life expectancy. Men/boys are being left behind. (There is a huge ciris among men and boys in this country that is being overlooked) But what about working class women. Are they geared towards Trump too? Sure there is always sexism in play, but I am not so sure that it is a huge aspect of the polling differences.
So I am wondering if the democrats are doing this all wrong then. By making abortion a separate issue when most voters care about the economy, are they dooming themselves in the end? If they tell people you have to choose between abortion and the economy, people will choose the economy and leave abortion rights to fight for another day. The most important issue in every poll is still the economy.
I do find it interesting how you frame the concept of abortion with economics. Single mothers make up the majority of those who live in poverty in this country. Motherhood stops so many. I remember Oprah even saying that if the baby she had had as a teenager had not died, she never would have become who she is today. That is not to say you cannot be financially successful and be a single mother. You just need to make sure you have the education and support under your belt first.
Of course, this also says alot about how we raise the "men" in our society. Why does single parenthood only seem to affect the standard of living of women and children. Why aren't the fathers taught responsibility and required to be parents to the children they father?
Oh so many questions and more questions....:)
I haven’t seen any breakdowns of women’s support for reproductive rights that parse out single motherhood or class issues. The only significant variable I’ve seen is party-affiliation, with the female opposition to abortion rights coming from Republicans almost exclusively..
Re. Dems making abortion such a significant election issue, I’d say that’s happened because of the consequences of Dodds. I wouldn’t say, though, that Dems are opposing abortion to economy—they’re just not linking them strongly enough, in my opinion.
Re.the difference between men and women SOL after parenthood, that article that I quoted from has lots of great detail about that you’d find interesting.
Going to check out the article. Hadn’t read the links.
Interesting questions-”Why does single parenthood only seem to affect the standard of living of women and children.”
”Why aren't the fathers taught responsibility and required to be parents to the children they father?”
Yup. Good questions—and no good answers!!
A question can be a seed/nudge toward dialogue to cause thought conflict and change perhaps 🤔
Yes, that’s the hope. And actually, there ARE answers, just none that don’t make me angry. That’s what I meant by “no good answers.”
Agree with you! I mean the questions are for engaging the (curiously?) undecided or yet unengaged voters
Abortion rights impact half the population, that alone should make it a male issue. But here is the point:
"there are strong links between poverty and abortion – denying access to abortion places the greatest economic burden and significant health risks on low-income, often minority women, increasing both poverty and inequality.”
Pro-life movements aren't about life, they're about keeping women poor so they can continue exploiting them.
Wow! distilled and disturbing and pointedly accurate @Ramiro Blanco
I've gotta knack for seeing how crappy the world can be...but i'm optimistic!
One of your best (except for your take on Jeremiah Wright). I strongly agree that reproductive rights is a vital economic issue for women and men. I hope pundits take note.
Thanks!
BTW, I didn’t realize I had a take on Jeremiah Wright. I only meant to be describing the dilemma he posed for Obama. What did you see as my “take”?
I can’t tell who considered Wright’s admittedly inflammatory judgment against U.S. foreign policy to be antisemitic. I always interpreted Wright’s position to be directly in line with the ancient Hebrew prophets’ calls for justice toward the poor and marginalized. Having read his sermons in that regard, I think my interpretation is correct, although I haven’t recently revisited that controversy.
I remember that at the time there was concern over Wright’s advocacy for Louis Farrakhan and some remarks he made about Israel—not quoted, so I don’t know exactly what they were—that Obama dissociated himself from in his speech. I also vaguely remember controversy over some of his sermons as containing anti-semitic references. That he certainly WAS antisemitic was made pretty clear after Obama’s talk, when he said that he hadn't had contact with Obama up to that point because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me” and suggested that Obama didn’t send a delegation to a conference on racism because of Zionist pressure saying: "[T]he Jewish vote, the vote, that's controlling him, that would not let him send representation to the Durban Review Conference, that's talking this craziness on this trip, cause they’re Zionists, they would not let him talk to someone who calls a spade what it is." Ta-Nehisi Coates characterized Wright's remarks as "crude conspiratorial” and the Anti-Defamation League released a statement condemning Wright's remarks as "inflammatory and false. The notions of Jewish control of the White House in Reverend Wright's statement express classic anti-Semitism in its most vile form."
The stuff above about his comments some months after Obama’s speech come from Wikipedia’s page on the Wright controversy.
Thanks for providing the necessary research to correct my memory. Forward!
I was surprised by these poll results from the usually reliable Pew Research Center. According to their stats, the "gender gap" on abortion rights is not as pronounced as I imagined it to be.
According to Pew, majorities of both men (61%) and women (64%) express support for legal abortion in most/all cases.
Just as surprising, 38% of men and 33% of women oppose abortion in most/all cases.
You can see the charts and graphs here:
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/
I’m not surprised. For quite a while, every poll has shown that most Americans, whether male or female, are in favor of legal abortion in most cases. Maybe my title is confusing. I don’t think there’s a gender gap on the issue of making abortion legal. The gap is on their support of Trump/Kamala which suggests that they think about abortion, although they favor legalizing, as a “woman’s issue” rather than one that has implications for the economic issues that touch all of us. Maybe I need to change that title!!