Gender balance in the workforce and abortion attitudes: A cross‐national time‐series analysis

Abstract

AbstractThis article explores the relationship between gender balance in the workforce and attitudes towards abortion worldwide. Studies on macro‐level conditions related to abortion attitudes overlook the role of gender balance in the workforce—specifically the degree of female representation in a country's workforce. There are strong reasons why this factor could shape abortion attitudes. We argue that such a gender balance creates necessary conditions to break with traditional, anti‐abortion ideology and facilitates dissemination and public acceptance of pro‐choice views. We test this argument with two different datasets ‐ the Integrated Values Survey and three waves of the International Social Survey Programme—along with two outcomes: general tolerance towards abortion and tolerance towards abortion for pregnant women of low income. Using three‐level random intercept models and multiple controls for individual and country‐level conditions, the results support our hypothesis: In countries with higher gender balance in the workforce, individuals display higher tolerance towards abortion.