Knowing Someone Who Has Had an Abortion Correlates with Increased Support for Abortion Rights

By Arielle Swernoff

Abortion and bodily autonomy are human rights, and these rights are currently being rolled back in the United States. Since 2011, states have passed hundreds of restrictions on abortion care, including Indiana’s nearly total abortion ban in August, and the anti-choice/forced birth movement secured a major victory earlier this summer when the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion with its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Abortion restrictions and bans have devastating impacts on pregnant Americans, their families, and their communities. According to the groundbreaking Turnaway Study, conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco, people who sought and were denied an abortion were more likely to live in poverty, struggle to cover basic household expenses, experience bankruptcy and low credit, remain in contact with a violent partner, and suffer from health problems than those who received a wanted abortion. In addition, if the people denied an abortion already had children, these children were less likely to hit developmental milestones.

Restrictions and bans have a greater impact on Black, brown, and low-income people, young people, queer and trans people, immigrants, and people who are incarcerated. These individuals face additional barriers to accessing abortion care, which is often costly and may require traveling long distances.

Data for Progress recently surveyed likely American voters on their attitudes toward abortion rights and the Supreme Court. Critically, we find that support for abortion rights is higher among people who personally know someone who has had an abortion. However, the majority of people who don’t personally know someone who has had an abortion also support abortion rights.

We also find, consistent with previous polling from both Data for Progress and other outlets, that the majority of American voters support protecting abortion rights. Additionally, our polling finds that people want a federal law protecting abortion rights, as well as limits on the power of the Supreme Court.