New Publication: Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion

What explains differences in public opinion about abortion around the globe? 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. 

Using large-scale surveys, in-depth case studies of the US and China, and an analysis of newspaper articles from more than forty countries, Fetal Positions examines the forces shaping cross-national abortion rates and personal abortion decisions, analyzes the links between attitudes and laws, and unpacks the pathways through which personal and country-characteristics shape views. 

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.

The book can be found at Oxford University Press, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble! 📚 The first chapter is available for free. If you are interested in a talk or presentation related to the findings, let’s connect!