“Like a Fucking Blow to My Heart:” Understanding Women and Birthing People’s Abortion (In)Experiences Post-Dobbs

Abstract This study aimed to understand how the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision affected women and birthing peoples’ abortion (in)experiences. Specifically, we sought to examine how (a) women and birthing people understood and made meaning of the ruling; and (b) how this decision affected their abortion (in)experiences. A total of 18 predominantly white, heterosexual, cisgender women located throughout the United States participated in this study. Using a reproductive justice lens and reflexive thematic analyses, participants shared a significant amount of grief following the Dobbs decision. They understood Dobbs as a strategic effort to control reproduction as a means of upholding white supremacy, patriarchy, and Christian white nationalism. When seeking their abortions, many participants experienced heightened anxiety and fear of criminalization; unnecessary obstacles, urgency, and economic risk; and abortion stigma. Participants also described the ways in which the patchworked sociopolitical landscape affected their healthcare providers and the care they were able to provide. Despite many challenges, participants shared how they resisted abortion stigma and anti-abortion policy. Findings revealed the importance of continued advocacy that challenges anti-abortion policy, grassroots organizing, abortion storytelling, and coalition building.