Beyond Pro-Life and Pro-Choice: Race, Class, and Women’s Reproductive Rights Narratives

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to understand the effect of race and class on women’s reproductive rights narratives, focusing on four main categories: (1) alignment with the goals of the mainstream reproductive rights movement, (2) involvement (3) experiences with race and class as they relate to the reproductive rights movement, and (4) ideas of best methods or key points of focus for the reproductive rights movement. Using these four elements as an anchor, this research aims to understand the most salient factors in women’s narratives, and the effect of race and class on the frequency of such factors. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, I analyzed the survey responses of low-income, high income, Black, and White women. I found that women’s race and class affected the content of their narratives along the four categories mentioned above, as well as the salience of factors surrounding individual agency, equality, inclusivity, and social mobility.