Roe's Echo: Mapping Feminist Identities and Group Activism across State Lines

• In Event: Abortion Politics after Dobbs

Abstract

In a post-Roe United States, what does it mean to be an American feminist? The landmark Dobbs-Jackson ruling of 2022 created fundamentally different political climates from state to state for women's issue activism, bringing to bear more than ever how "women's representation" in policy can vary depending on the women in question. Moreover, recent research on women's leadership on conservative, anti-abortion issues has called into question the complex relationship between partisanship, ideology, and women's interest representation. This nuanced reality underscores the critical need to examine how diverse contexts and ideologies shape individuals' perceptions of feminism and their willingness to engage with it.

Building on this emergent literature, this article utilizes a survey experiment to delve into these critical questions. I investigate how the inclusion of reproductive freedom in descriptions of a women's advocacy group influences individuals' (from both pro-choice and pro-life states) likelihood of categorizing it as "feminist." I am therefore able to gauge the central role that reproductive rights play in shaping perceptions of feminism across diverse political spectrums at both the state and individual level.

In turn, recognizing that definitions are only the first step in understanding political identity and engagement, my analysis also examines how these varying interpretations translate into concrete political action. I measure individuals' willingness to engage with the organization on a broader range of women's issues, including those beyond abortion, such as joining, contributing, or offering support. This broader scope allows me to assess the potential for mobilizing women's political participation across a wider range of concerns, independent of their stance on the abortion debate.

The findings of this research hold significant implications for understanding the evolving landscape of feminist identity politics in post-Roe America. By illuminating the nuanced ways state-level contexts and individual ideologies influence how women define and engage with feminism, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of this multifaceted movement. Furthermore, examining individuals' willingness to engage on issues beyond abortion sheds light on the potential for forging broader coalitions and mobilizing women's political participation in a fractured landscape. Ultimately, this study seeks to answer the urgent question of what it means to be an American feminist in a divided nation, offering vital insights into the future of women's activism and advocacy in the years to come.

Author

• Elizabeth Wiener, Occidental College