How Familism and Hostile and Benevolent Sexism Shape Attitudes Toward Legal Abortion Among Latinx and non-Latinx Adults in the United States

Abstract People who strongly value family ties may see family support and interconnection as a reason to discourage women from seeking abortion. At the same time, sexist beliefs are often linked to negative views on abortion. Hostile and benevolent sexism are typically associated with anti-abortion sentiment; hostile sexism conceptualizes abortion as a challenge to traditional gender roles and benevolent sexism conceptualizes abortion as a rejection of women’s “natural” role as mothers. We examine how these two belief systems—familism and sexism—are linked to attitudes toward legal abortion among Latinx and non-Latinx U.S. adults. We used a national survey of 3,046 adults (1,183 Latinx; 1,863 non-Latinx) to assess endorsement of legal abortion across different scenarios. We find that familism is associated with lower endorsement of legal abortion in less socially accepted situations (like financial constraints) and with greater endorsement in cases involving health or sexual violence—especially among non-Latinx adults. Hostile and benevolent sexism are both linked to lower endorsement of legal abortion, though in distinct ways. Understanding how family values and gender beliefs shape abortion views can inform public conversations, advocacy efforts, and policymaking in the wake of changing abortion laws across the U.S.