Secular Pro-Life
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet The Team
    • Mission and Vision
    • Stances
      • Abortion
      • Religion
      • Contraception
      • The Rape Exception
  • Content
    • Index
    • Blog
    • Myths
    • Research
      • Abortion Law and Abortion Rates
      • Abortion Law and Pregnancy Rates
      • Later Abortion
      • Embryonic Hearts
      • Abortion Views and Gender
    • Collections
      • For the biology textbook tells me so
      • Fixed that meme for you
      • They can hear you
      • Parents can hear you
      • Our children’s heartbeats
      • Becoming Pro-Life
    • Publications
      • Overview Brochure
      • Why Secular People Should Care
    • Store
  • Contact
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Donor Opportunities
    • Why support SPL?
  • Donate
  • Menu Menu

Another factor in the plummeting abortion rate

August 12, 2016/0 Comments/in Research, Uncategorized /by Kelsey Hazzard

Abortion reporting is always a few years behind; the best data we have is from 2011. In that year, the abortion rate in the United States hit a record low. As the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute notes, abortion rates have fallen even in states that are traditionally hostile to the right to life. The plummeting demand for abortion is a major factor behind the closure of abortion businesses nationwide.

That leads to an obvious question: what’s causing the lack of demand? You might point to increased contraceptive use/better methods, increased public support for the pro-life stance (particularly among young people of reproductive age), or the growth of pregnancy resource centers. I have no doubt that all of the above play a role. But let’s not place ourselves at the center of the universe. Sometimes, the abortion rate is impacted by random societal factors that have nothing to do with deliberate pro-life or pro-choice strategies.

Case in point: a study published earlier this month shows that young adults are increasingly abstaining from sexual intercourse. More precisely, “among those aged 20–24, more than twice as many Millennials born in the
1990s (15%) had no sexual partners since age 18 compared to GenX’ers
born in the 1960s (6%).” Fifteen percent may not seem like much in absolute terms, but the shift presents a significant challenge for the abortion industry; a third of its customers are between the ages of 20 and 24.

Surveys have repeatedly shown that organized religion is less important in the lives of Millennials compared to older generations. So it’s no surprise that the 15% of abstinent early-20-somethings appear to be motivated primarily by personal, rather than religious, considerations. The Washington Post’s coverage of the study offers several potential reasons for the drop in sexual activity, including women becoming more empowered to say no, fewer opportunities for in-person (as opposed to online) social interaction, student loan debt and poor economic recovery causing Millennials to prioritize work over dating, and fear of intimacy.* Anecdotally, as a single woman myself (albeit a tad older at 28), I’d say that’s pretty accurate.

If this trend continues—and as the Washington Post notes, studies of the teen cohort suggest it will—unplanned pregnancies will of course decline, and abortion businesses will struggle to stay afloat. No wonder they’re itching for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment to turn on a spigot of taxpayer money.

*Concerns about pregnancy or STDs didn’t make the cut. After all, they’ve been around a lot longer than 24-year-olds have, so they can’t explain an increase in abstinence.

Related Posts

Tags: data & studies, religion, secularism
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
  • Link to Instagram
https://secularprolife.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SecularProlife2.png 0 0 Kelsey Hazzard https://secularprolife.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SecularProlife2.png Kelsey Hazzard2016-08-12 11:31:002022-01-11 19:53:37Another factor in the plummeting abortion rate
You might also like
Scatterbrained Sunday: Help with research
Why would a woman want an abortion?
News briefs
Support your local march for life
Greetings from New Zealand!
SBA List poll shows pro-life majority in vulnerable districts
Quick News Roundup: 09/23/10
Jen Roth on Point of Inquiry
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow via Email

* indicates required

Categories

  • Ableism
  • Administrative
  • Adoption and Foster Care
  • Biology
  • Bodily Rights
  • en español
  • Late-Term Abortion
  • Legislation, laws, and court cases
  • Medication Abortion
  • Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss
  • Personhood
  • Philosophy
  • Pro-Life Demographics
  • Rape Exception
  • Religion
  • Research
  • SPL Emails
  • Uncategorized
  • We Asked You Answered
  • Your Stories

Archive

As the national conversation on abortion intensifies, it’s more important than ever that we demonstrate that anyone can–and everyone should–oppose abortion. Thanks to you, we are working to change minds, transform our culture, and protect our prenatal children. Every donation supports our ability to provide nonsectarian, nonpartisan arguments against abortion. Please donate today.

DONATE
© Copyright 2023 Secular Pro-Life. All rights reserved. Website Design by TandarichGroup

Related Posts

Tallulah film review Tickets available for Life/Peace/Justice Conference
Scroll to top