1. Beyond Pro-Life and Pro-Choice: A Social Constructionist Approach to Abortion Attitudes at Saint Mary’s College By Laura Frechette

2. OVERVIEW Introduction Literature Review Theory and Purpose Thesis Methods Findings Discussion

3. INTRODUCTION Saint Mary’s College is a all women’s, Catholic liberal arts institution Approximately 1500 women from 47 states and territories and 12 foreign countries. Multicultural and international students represent 9% of the student body

4. INTRODUCTION Pro-Life: – A political and ethical view which maintains that all human beings have the right to life, and including fetuses and embryos. Abortion infringes on a fetus’ or embryo’s human right to life. Pro-Choice: – It is a pregnant woman’s human right to control the fertility of her own body by choosing whether to become pregnant or to carry a pregnancy to term.

5. LITERATURE REVIEW National – Scott and Schuman: 1988 – Blake and Del Pinal: 1981 International – Catholics for a Free Choice: 2003 Affects of Gender – Phifer and Lester: 2000 Affects of Age – Boggess and Bradner: 2000 Affects of Race – Boggess and Bradner: 2000 – Ellison, Erevarria, and Smith: 2005 Abortion Attitudes Affects of Religion – Catholics for a Free Choice: 2003 College Attitudes – Bryan and Freed: 1992 – Yeager: 2005 – Roman and Lester: 1999

6. PURPOSE and THESIS This study aims at exploring the gap in a attitudinal abortion research from a sociological standpoint. It also will analyze the how the issue of abortion is socially constructed within the unique, all women’s environment present at Saint Mary’s College. In order to better understand how attitudes of a social problem are constructed, my senior comprehension will investigate how social construction theory can be applied to a social problem, such as the controversy surrounding abortion.

7. THEORY Social Construction Theory Donileen Loseke: 2003

8. METHODS A random sample of First-Years and Seniors that the interviewer did not know was created using the on-line directory and a random number program on a TI- 83 Calculator. Chosen students were e-mailed and interviews were arranged.

9. METHODS Pros – Random sample Cons – The students eligible for interviews in the senior class was affected by the interviewer being a senior. – Non-response

10. METHODS Interviews ranged between four to twenty minutes, with the average time was approximately ten minutes Interviews consisted of 14 open ended questions. 13 Interviews were conducted, 7 Seniors and 6 First-years

12. FINDINGS: Introduction to Abortion 84.6% (11/13) of respondents were first exposed to abortion in a class room setting, usually in a religious context. “They [the religion teachers] taught us their side about it and the bad things about it you know how it is killing a life, it is kinda sad.”

13. FINDINGS: Formulating Attitudes 84.6% (11/13) of respondents attributed their family as a major contribution to their views of abortion. 38.5% (5/13) of specifically stated that their mother taught them the most about abortion “My mom taught me the most about abortion. She said it should be your decision, but we really don’t believe in it because of our religion.”

14. FINDINGS: Formulating Attitudes 69%(9/13) of respondents and their families were Roman Catholic “ I believe the Catholic faith is definitely against it, and after having conversations with family, I know its definitely something my family is personally against.”

15. FINDINGS: Consequence of Personal Experience on Family’s Attitudes 15.3% (2/13) of respondents with Personal Experience in their families “I’m not pro-choice or pro-life, I’m in between. I’m not for killing babies, but I do believe that women have the right to choose…having a family member go through it definitely makes you decide how you really feel”

16. FINDINGS: Consequence of Personal Experience on Family’s Attitudes One respondents family member was a victim of rape, but instead of having an abortion, she delivered the baby and gave it up for adoption. “Giving birth to her child was the best way to get rid of the feelings from her rape. She felt that the birth healed her from the rape.”

17. FINDINGS: Changing Attitudes 100% of Senior’s views had changed during their lifetime. 71.4% attributed the change to Saint Mary’s College. Out of these women, 28.6% specifically mentioned women studies classes they had taken. “I have always been going back in forth, struggling with the Catholic views concerning abortion, but I also took a women’s studies class here, and seeing that, that side of it, it made me think about the other point of view.”

18. FINDINGS: Changing Attitudes 66.7% (4/6) of First-Years’ views had changed during their lifetime. 33.4% (2/6) attributed the change to education on the subject. 16.7% (1/6) said that Saint Mary’s changed her views during her 3 months she has attended Saint Mary’s College “I use to be totally against it. But probably a month ago all the sudden, I mean I don’t think its right, but at the same time, it’s a women’s body and its just, during the 1 st month or so, I mean it’s still bad to me and I would never do it, but I am not as judgmental towards people that do because obviously they have their reasons.”

19. FINDINGS: Respondents’ Current Attitudes Towards Abortion 42.9 % (3/7) Seniors and 33.3% (2/6) First-Years described themselves as “Pro-Life.” However, 28.6% (2/7) Seniors and 16.7% (1/6) First-Years said “Pro-Life” but continued with “except in the case of rape or incest.” 33.3%(2/6) of First-Years described that they believed abortion was killing an innocent life. 0% of respondents identified themselves as “Pro-Choice.” 28.6% (2/7) Seniors and 16.7% (1/6) First-Years believed in “the women’s right to choose.” 28.6% (2/7) Seniors and 16.7% (1/6) First-Years expressed that though they would not have one themselves, they disagree that it should be illegalized.

20. “ I’m not pro-life or pro-choice. I’m between.” FINDINGS: Respondents’ Current Attitudes Towards Abortion

21. DISCUSSION Social Construction: Major Factors – Family – Religion – Personal Experience Education, Particularly College – Allows Individual to Formulate Individual Attitudes New Environment – New Attitudes, and Claims

22. FURTHER RESEARCH Interview women had an unplanned pregnancy to target their deciding factors Interview Pro-Life and Pro-Choice advocates and code their claims Content analysis of Propaganda of Claims-Makers