Ambivalent Sexism, Minority Threat, and Support for the Criminalization of Abortion

Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, abortion access in the United States has become increasingly restricted. Drawing on ambivalent sexism and minority threat perspectives, this study examines support for abortion criminalization. Using data from a national survey of U.S. adults (N = 1494), this study examines whether ambivalent sexism and perceived racial and ethnic minority threat are associated with support for criminal sanctions against abortion, controlling for political, religious, and contextual factors. Respondents evaluated abortion scenarios that varied key features, including the woman’s presumed race or ethnicity, the reason for the abortion, and gestational stage. Results indicate that both ambivalent sexism and minority threat are independently associated with greater support for abortion criminalization. Moreover, these beliefs interact such that support for punitive abortion laws is highest among individuals who endorse both sexist and racist ideologies. These findings situate abortion attitudes within theories of punishment and social control, suggesting that support for criminalization may function as a mechanism for maintaining existing social hierarchies.