Full Citation

Title: Understanding the Gender and Partisan Dynamics of Abortion Voting in the House of Representatives

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2021

ISBN:

ISSN: 1743-923X

DOI: 10.1017/S1743923X20000719

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: Analyzing votes on abortion-related legislation from the 103rd (1993–94) to the 115th (2017–18) Congresses, we find that both gender and party influence members’ voting behavior. Among Republicans, women are more likely than men to oppose pro-life initiatives, although the impact of gender attenuates over time. Among Democrats, apparent gender differences in voting behavior are explained by the nature of the districts they represent. We also find that the type of abortion issue impacts the influence of gender. Republican women are more likely than Republican men to defect on policies that highlight women's autonomy, such as on bills related to contraception, while Democratic men are more likely than Democratic women to support legislation related to abortion bans. These gender differences reflect a complex dynamic of members’ responsiveness to public opinion on specific issues and party efforts to influence that opinion in ways that favor perceptions of party issue expertise.

Url: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-gender/article/abs/understanding-the-gender-and-partisan-dynamics-of-abortion-voting-in-the-house-of-representatives/B2513E2468D566A0C7536518FD3CD889

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Authors: Rolfes-Haase, Kelly L.; Swers, Michele L.

Periodical (Full): Politics & Gender

Issue:

Volume: 18

Pages: 448-482

Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Fertility and Mortality, Gender, Other

Countries: