Areas of Common Ground
Despite partisan divides, most Americans agree on these key points:
- âś“Abortion is a serious moral issue that deserves thoughtful consideration
- âś“Life-threatening medical emergencies should allow for abortion to save the mother's life
- âś“Contraception should be accessible to prevent unwanted pregnancies
+ 7 more areas of agreement below
What's the Challenge?
Since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion has returned to state-level politics with a patchwork of laws across America. This issue involves deeply held moral, religious, and philosophical beliefs about when life begins and what rights women have over their own bodies. The debate is further complicated by medical situations including life-threatening complications, rape, incest, and fetal abnormalities. Most Americans occupy a middle ground that both extreme positions ignore.
Where Most Americans Agree
Abortion is a serious moral issue that deserves thoughtful consideration
Life-threatening medical emergencies should allow for abortion to save the mother's life
Contraception should be accessible to prevent unwanted pregnancies
Accurate sex education helps reduce unintended pregnancies
Supporting pregnant women with healthcare and resources is important
Adoption services should be improved and accessible
Parental consent laws for minors have substantial support
Late-term abortions (third trimester) should be rare and restricted
Cases of rape and incest deserve special consideration
Foster care and child welfare systems need improvement
Source: Pew Research Center 2024, Gallup Abortion Polling
Current Perspectives from Both Sides
Understanding the full debate requires hearing what each side actually argues—not caricatures or strawmen.
Progressive Perspective
- •Bodily autonomy is a fundamental right—government shouldn't control reproductive decisions
- •Abortion bans disproportionately harm poor women and women of color
- •Forced pregnancy is a human rights violation and form of state violence
- •Access to safe, legal abortion is essential healthcare, not a political issue
- •The anti-abortion movement seeks to control women, not protect life
- •Dobbs decision stripped away constitutional rights and threatens other freedoms
Conservative Perspective
- •Life begins at conception, and abortion ends an innocent human life
- •Roe v. Wade was unconstitutional judicial overreach, Dobbs correctly returned power to states
- •The unborn deserve legal protection just as born children do
- •Adoption is a loving alternative to abortion in virtually all circumstances
- •Abortion industry prioritizes profit over women's health and informed consent
- •Pro-life position is the ultimate defense of the vulnerable and voiceless
These represent current talking points from each side of the political spectrum. Understanding both perspectives is essential for productive dialogue.
Evidence-Based Facts
About 60% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases
Source: Pew Research Center 2024
91% of abortions occur in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy
Source: CDC Abortion Surveillance Report
Unintended pregnancy rates are highest among low-income women
Source: Guttmacher Institute
Since Dobbs, 14 states have near-total abortion bans while others expanded access
Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are higher than other developed nations
Learn More
Guttmacher Institute - Abortion Data & Research
Comprehensive research on reproductive health and abortion statistics
Guttmacher Institute
Charlotte Lozier Institute - Pro-Life Research
Research from a pro-life perspective on abortion and women's health
Charlotte Lozier Institute
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Medical perspectives on reproductive healthcare
ACOG
Questions for Thoughtful Debate
How do we balance a woman's autonomy with concerns about fetal life?
What restrictions on abortion, if any, do different gestational stages warrant?
How should state and federal roles in abortion policy be determined?
What support should be provided for women facing unintended pregnancies?
How do we handle medically complex situations involving maternal health risks?
What's the role of healthcare providers' conscience rights vs. patient access?
Can Americans with different moral views coexist with different state laws?