Using a Feminist Paradigm (Intersectionality) to Study Conservative Women: The Case of Pro-life Activists in Italy

Abstract

This article builds on ethnographic research concerning the Italian pro-life movement and argues for the use of intersectionality theory in studying conservative women. The article suggests, first, that understanding conservative movements necessitates linking their political claims to the social identities of their activists, as would be the case for any other social movement (e.g., feminism). These social identities are as complex and intersectional as any other: a white, upper-class pro-life activist is no less intersectional than a black feminist from a poor background. Concomitantly, there is no unique feminism, but rather a plurality of feminisms, a diversity that intersectionality facilitates the identification of. The same is true for pro-life movements, but scholars tend to use the singular form to talk about conservatism; in this article, I explore the use of the plural to show that pro-life women do not constitute a monolithic group. On the contrary, these women are diverse in terms of their reproductive stories, their working status, and their class, race, and sexual practices, and this diversity translates into different ways of being pro-life. Second, recognizing this complexity does not suggest a natural link between feminism and conservatism. Alternatively, I suggest that a better understanding of conservative women can only be reached if they are studied on their own terms.

Multiple Cases of Pro-Life Volunteering in a Neo-Aristotelian Ethical Approach

“…For example, while in the North American context the issue of abortion has been discussed more pragmatically and several Confederate states allow abortion, in Japan celebrities have expressed pro-life values and were met with public support (Morgan, 2017). Furthermore, both pro-life and prochoice movements are much more heterogeneous than is often assumed (Avanza, 2020;Munson, 2018).…”

“…The literature review conducted by Avanza (2020) allows observing the plurality of the pro-life movement in Italy when compared to other contexts. The women who are part of the pro-life movement do not form a monolithic group.…”

“…This is the case of the pro-life movement. It aims to defend life from conception, which, because it is framed as contrary to the pro-choice agenda, may be regarded as homogeneous, conservative, and patriarchal (Avanza, 2020;Faúndes, 2015;Sterud, 2020). However, two issues about pro-life organizations deserve attention.…”

“…However, two issues about pro-life organizations deserve attention. Most of the available studies address rhetoric (Sterud, 2020) or legal aspects of it (Álvarez & Mosquera, 2017), analyzing with little depth the daily actions of volunteers (Avanza, 2020;Hussey, 2014). Individual outreach, one of its performance formats (Munson, 2018), is regarded as invisible (Hussey, 2014).…”

“…Individual outreach, one of its performance formats (Munson, 2018), is regarded as invisible (Hussey, 2014). Furthermore, in certain contexts, most pro-life volunteers are women who assume that their primary motivation is to help women in vulnerability (Avanza, 2020).…”