Liberal sexual morality, religion, and attitudes toward abortion in Turkey

Abstract

The present study examines the association between sexual morality, religion, and attitudes toward the practice of abortion in Turkey. Drawing upon data from the 2008-2010 European Value Survey in the case of Turkey, several hypotheses were tested concerning the role of liberal sexual relations and many aspects of religion on abortion attitudes. Findings reveal that support of liberal sexual relations demonstrates the strongest justification for abortion. As a religious determinant, prayer practice indicates the most robust opposition to the practice of abortion. Additional religious factors, personal religious identity, and personal faith were also found to be significantly associated with antiabortion attitudes. The findings are discussed and have implications for future research on attitudes toward abortion.

The Role of Opposition to Abortion in Shaping Policy Preferences: Unveiling Hidden Reproductive Goals

“…The Strategic Account notes that-insofar as abortion limits costs associated with casual sex-people who wish to restrict casual sexual behavior will be more likely to oppose abortion (Fidan et al, 2021;Pinsof, 2018;Weeden, 2003). Its key prediction, then, is that abortion opponents will not necessarily nor equally favor various policies that reduce abortion per se, but will have preferences for policies that prevent abortion by making casual sex more costly.…”

“…The Strategic Account expects that, insofar as abortion opposition is driven by sexual restrictedness (Fidan et al, 2021;Pinsof, 2018;Weeden, 2003), patterns of bill support will track the implications of each bill for the costs of casual sex. Thus, the more that people oppose abortion, (a) the more they will support bills making casual sex more costly (punishing abortion-seekers, abstinence-only sex education), and (b) the less they will support bills perhaps facilitating casual sex (comprehensive sex education)-despite all bills costing the same amount and purporting to prevent the same number of abortions/save the same number of lives.…”