Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion

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Amy Adamczyk (Professor of Sociology, Professor of Sociology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center, City University of New York)

Fetal Positions

Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion

Amy Adamczyk (Professor of Sociology, Professor of Sociology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center, City University of New York)

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
10 April 2025

In many countries, abortion is a contentious public opinion issue. In nations like the United States, advocates on both sides of the debate have actively worked to amplify their voices and change legislation. In other parts of the world, such as China, abortion is not a major discussion topic because many residents may see it as a relatively settled issue. Legal developments often move in accordance with changes in public opinion, but not always. What explains differences in public opinion about abortion around the globe?

Fetal Positions explores this question using large-scale surveys from most of the world's population, interviews with experts from two case study countries, the US and China, and an analysis of newspaper articles from over forty countries. The book examines the factors influencing cross-national abortion rates and individual abortion decisions, investigates the relationship between attitudes and laws, and explores how personal and national characteristics shape views on abortion. In Fetal Positions, Amy Adamczyk makes the case that abortion disapproval is not randomly distributed across the world. In fact, patterns can be found across nations. Adamczyk shows that cross-national differences in public opinion can largely be explained based on a handful of factors--overall levels of religious belief, Catholic proportion, economic and educational development, type of government and government history, and gender inequality. Latin America, for example, is dominated by Catholicism, has high levels of religious belief, and low levels of abortion support. Conversely, while France and Spain have strong historical connections to the Catholic Church, the proportion who feel that religion is highly important is much lower, and attitudes are more liberal. By offering important insights that can only be gleaned through cross-national analysis, Fetal Positions provides an international focus and fresh perspective on the abortion debate.

By: Amy Adamczyk (Professor of Sociology Professor of Sociology John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center City University of New York)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 22mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 235mm
Weight: 570g
ISBN: 9780197761045
ISBN 10: 0197761046
Pages: 328
Publication Date: 10 April 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Amy Adamczyk is Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Sociology and Criminal Justice Doctoral Programs at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her research focuses on how different contexts and personal religious beliefs shape people's deviant, moral, and health-related attitudes and behaviors. Her first book, Public Opinion about Homosexuality: Examining Attitudes Across the Globe, won the Outstanding Book Award from the International Section of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Reviews for Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion

Methodically and admirably, Adamczyk has accomplished the extremely difficult central task of charting global public opinions on abortion and mapping the different national characteristics and the factors behind these differences by featuring China and the US. This book is not just timely, but also a crucial pioneering contribution that is bound to stimulate more multidisciplinary academic explorations and public discussion on abortion and various related issues on a global stage. * Jing-Bao Nie, author of Behind the Silence: Chinese Voices on Abortion * In Fetal Positions, Amy Adamczyk examines the complex landscape of abortion attitudes, focusing on variations within and between countries, particularly the United States and China. Blending rigorous survey and media analysis research with compelling insights from experts, she uncovers surprising patterns that challenge assumptions of how we may conceptualize abortion. Adamczyk's work illuminates how culture and society shape our views on this contentious issue. Fetal Positions is an essential read for understanding the nuances of global abortion perspectives. * Kristen N. Jozkowski, William L. Yarber Endowed Professor of Sexual Health, Indiana University * Adamczyk does a masterful job of unveiling how and why abortion disapproval varies across nations, as well as how these attitudes are changing over time. Using a trove of data from 88 countries, two insightful case studies, and tracing the trends of legislative activities within countries, Adamczyk offers a revealing, new, and insightful global perspective. * Roger Finke, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, The Pennsylvania State University *