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by Laurel Elder (Author)
Despite intense political debate, attitudes on abortion were remarkably stable for decades. However, after the 2022 Dobbs decision, Americans' opinions began to change. Not Going Back explores the shifts in public opinion on this hot-button issue from the landmark passing of Roe v. Wade in 1973 through the 2024 election and into 2025.
The authors ask, "What role do Americans want their government to play in protecting, regulating, or restricting abortion access?" and, "How will changing attitudes on abortion reshape American politics?" They offer cohesive, theoretically grounded explanations for both the continuity and the change in Americans' attitudes on this contentious topic. Using national data, they take a deep dive into the personal experiences and social forces behind these changes.
Not Going Back ends with an examination of the consequences of these changes for election outcomes. While there has been a striking reversal in the prioritization of abortion as an issue among Democrats and Republicans, the full impact of this shift in thinking will be influenced by future policies, court decisions, and party reactions.
Author Biography
Laurel Elder is Professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the Institute of Public Service at Hartwick College. She is the author of several books, including The Partisan Gap: Why Democratic Women Get Elected But Republican Women Don't.
Steven Greene is Professor of Political Science at North Carolina State University. He is the coauthor of The Politics of Parenthood: Causes and Consequences of the Politicization and Polarization of the American Family. Mary-Kate Lizotte is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University and author of Gender Differences in Public Opinion: Values and Political Consequences (Temple).
