College Honors Program

Framing the American Abortion Debate: A Comparative and Longitudinal Study of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Framing Techniques

Date of Creation

5-31-2023

Document Type

Campus Access Only

First Advisor

Aditi Malik

Abstract

The phenomenon of framing has come to be regarded as a central feature of modern social movements, affecting their trajectories and the outcomes that they achieve. Frame building revolves around meaning construction, focusing attention on what is relevant and important, and away from other items in the field of view. This thesis analyzes how key Pro-Choice and Pro-Life social movement organizations have framed the abortion issue in the United States through time. The project comparatively studies both key Pro-Life and Pro-Choice organizations via primary sources spanning from the 1970’s to the present. In doing so, I analyze two archival sources for each side of the movement in every decade. I also draw on two original interviews with religious leaders on both sides of the debate to further shine light on important framing devices. Taken together, this approach enables me to emphasize framing devices that have remained consistent across all decades, as well as illuminate novel frames that have arisen in more recent materials. By using a framing-based analysis approach, this thesis ultimately offers a new vantage point to understand important developments in reproductive rights in the United States, including the reversal of Roe in 2022.

Comments

Reader: Vickie Langohr

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