Patterns and implications of language used in restrictive state abortion laws

Slater, Luna J (2023) Patterns and implications of language used in restrictive state abortion laws. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Following the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and turned abortion regulation over to the states, many states across the country have banned or restricted abortion. While a significant amount of coverage has been afforded to the reactions of both pro-choice and anti-abortion politicians and activists surrounding the ruling, as well as the subsequent policy changes in various states, there has been an overall lack of attention paid to the actual language used in restrictive state abortion laws, both in popular media and academic literature. Thus, this thesis examines the patterns and themes present across language used in these laws, as well as the potential implications of this use of language. An exploratory qualitative textual analysis approach was utilized to identify important themes that appeared throughout the data, including selective humanization, exceptions to abortion restrictions, and moral appeals. These themes were then interpreted and discussed in the context of the reproductive justice framework and intersectional feminism, as well as other relevant social and political contexts.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Abortion law and legislation; Pro-choice; States' rights;
Subjects:	K Law > K Law (General)
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Criminology and Criminal Justice
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2025 17:00
Last Modified:	16 Oct 2025 17:00
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6213

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