Latchana, Julia P.

Abortion is an important yet divisive issue that has led to many discussions concerning its legality. In 1973, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade decriminalized abortion in the United States. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, jeopardizing abortion access. This study aims to gain insight into the public’s views on abortion through textual analysis of Reddit posts from a subreddit on abortion and interviews with Florida residents. There are two overarching themes present in both sets of results: the impact and effects of abortion bans and shifting gender dynamics. Analysis of Reddit posts reveal a shift in two sub-themes following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with increased posts related to “Abortion Experiences” and decreased posts in “Emotional Support.” Interviewees were found to lean pro-choice, echoing the results of recent national surveys on people’s perception of abortion, and they emphasized the impact of abortion bans and the importance of support systems.

Female sterilization is a medical procedure used to prevent pregnancy. Historically, women from disadvantaged socio-ethnic backgrounds in the United States have been sterilized at rates disproportionate to their numbers. For instance, a recent resurgence of forced sterilizations of migrant women has come to light. I will discuss how the concepts of fit vs. unfit that informed early anthropological theories and scientific racism describe why women in particular are targeted for reproductive control. Though these theories are now thoroughly discredited in anthropology, their lasting impacts still carry weight in modern-day policymaking. Current migrant laws and reproductive control of women, continue to allow these incidents to occur in the present day.