The Gender War That Wasn't

The demographic most in favor of abortion? Left-leaning women. The demographic least in favor? Conservative women

Photo by Andrea Woods on Unsplash

When it comes to abortion, many assume that men and women are locked into opposing camps. The American feminist Gloria Steinem famously quipped that “If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” The underlying idea? Because women bear the physical costs of an unplanned pregnancy, they naturally favor abortion rights; because men are less directly affected, they’re often indifferent or even antagonistic. This narrative has become a fixture of popular discourse.

But like many widely held beliefs, this one crumbles on closer inspection. In fact, the real divide isn’t between men and women at all. Instead, it’s within the group you might least expect: women themselves.