The Words Behind the Abortion Wars Comparing Nonprofit Narratives about Abortion from 1973 to the Present

Abstract

This paper uses a comparative historical methodology to investigate how the language of pro-choice nonprofits compares to that of anti-choice nonprofits since the passage of Roe v. Wade in 1973. Four nonprofits serve as the primary sources of this study: Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Americans United for Life, and National Right to Life Committee. The findings suggest that the narratives of nonprofits within the pro-choice and anti-choice movements have evolved in conjunction with historical social movements, and that certain similarities and differences have withstood time to remain prevalent today. Notable similarities between nonprofits in both movements involve discussions of social inequalities and the wellbeing of women. On the other hand, discourse about fetal personhood and personal privacy continue to represent differences in the rhetoric of anti-choice and pro-choice nonprofits. The results highlight that certain language represents a common ground between pro-choice and anti-choice nonprofits, and that centering messaging around these shared talking points may be a useful tool for pro-choice advocacy in the future.