An analysis of the anti-abortion culture in America

An analysis of the anti-abortion culture in America

Xiao Bowen

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Foreword

Although I have me personal opinion on abortion, this article does not discuss whether it is correct or not. This article is a cultural analysis of the anti-abortion movement.

Anti-abortion is not uncommon in human history. It was not until 1979 that abortion was legalized in France. For me, the overturning of Roe v Wade this year shocked me.

Culture Background of Me

I grew up in mainland China. Family planning is a basic state policy in China. The one-child policy has been in place for almost the entire time I have been building my worldview. This policy was very strict, and abortion provided the possibility for the plan to be implemented. Therefore, I have had little exposure to the anti-abortion culture.

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I had also seen some anti-abortion news before Roe v Wade was overturned. I don’t understand why some people take “nature thing” so seriously rather than the suffering of the people in front of them. After taking cross culture management classes, it’s time to analyze the culture behind.

Cultural Factors behind Anti-Abortion

Religion. It is easy to realize that anti-abortion is strongly linked to religious factors. ‘Much of the argument for abortion access has been rooted in a very specific Christian perspective’ (Quoted from Abortion, Justice, and Religion: A Q&A With Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg of the National Council of Jewish Women). According to a 2018 Pew Center survey, 61 percent of white Protestant evangelicals support anti-abortion, while in contrast 67 percent of white Protestants and 74 percent of non-religious people prefer abortion to be legal. 

The influence of Islam or Buddhism on anti-abortion is not as deep. ‘Most Muslim scholars allow abortion, although it is subject to different restrictions at the stage of foetal development’, says Al-Hibri.

History. Since its founding, the United States has had a tradition of following the basic law of England, where abortion was a crime under the basic law of the time. Under this historical influence, anti-abortion seeped into American culture.

What's more, a large proportion of Americans are of European ethnic composition, and anti-abortion culture was prevalent in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thus, the anti-abortion movement in the United States today is influenced by historic culture.

Politic. Republican and Democrats have a dramatically different supporting rate on anti-abortion. Both of them have been using this topic to advertise their policy. In fact, the overturning of Roe v Wade was directly caused by politic.

My Learning

I’m not surprised on this news anymore. Still, I hold my opinion, but I understand now that people who support anti-abortion have their corresponding culture background. I’m still sad and angry to see people can’t take control of their own bodies, but rather than reject to know why people support anti-abortion, it might be a better way to analyze the culture behind and try to change it.

Now I don’t read the picture as some individuals speak their own stupid opinions, it’s actually some factors, maybe factors outdated, show their power to current society.

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