Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Political Science
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Mark C. Hand
Second Advisor
Kayla Canelo
Third Advisor
Bai Ling Hoang
Abstract
Abortion has shaped American politics for decades, yet its long-term impact on women’s political behavior remains under-examined. This study explores how abortion salience and media framing influenced women’s voter turnout between 1990 and 2020. Drawing on a content analysis of major newspaper coverage and voter data from the American National Election Studies (ANES), I test four hypotheses about turnout, belief alignment, party defection, and media framing effects. The results suggest that while Pro-Choice women consistently vote at higher rates and prioritize abortion in candidate selection, media salience alone does not significantly boost turnout or cause widespread party realignment. Additionally, increased Pro-Choice framing in the media mobilizes Pro-Life women more than Pro-Choice women. These findings highlight abortion’s enduring role as a motivator in American electoral politics, but also reveal the limits of media-driven mobilization strategies. As the political landscape shifts after overturning Roe v. Wade, understanding how abortion salience shapes behavior is critical for scholars, activists, and policymakers alike.
Keywords
abortion, women, politics, women and politics, voting behavior, women's voting behavior, politics
Disciplines
American Politics | Political Science
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Myers, Danielle N., "FROM THE PERSONAL TO THE POLITICAL: ABORTION SALIENCE AND WOMEN’S VOTING TRENDS OVER THREE DECADES" (2025). Political Science Theses. 14.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/politicalscience_theses/14