Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion
What explains differences in public opinion about abortion around the globe? In Fetal Positions, Amy Adamczyk makes the case that abortion disapproval is not randomly distributed across the world. In fact, patterns can be found across nations. Adamczyk shows that cross-national differences in public opinion can largely be explained based on a handful of factors—overall levels of religious belief, Catholic proportion, economic and educational development, type of government and government history, and gender inequality.
Using large-scale surveys, in-depth case studies of the US and China, and an analysis of newspaper articles from more than forty countries, Fetal Positions examines the forces shaping cross-national abortion rates and personal abortion decisions, analyzes the links between attitudes and laws, and unpacks the pathways through which personal and country-characteristics shape views.
By offering important insights that can only be gleaned through cross-national analysis, Fetal Positions provides an international focus and fresh perspective on the abortion debate.
Co-recipient of the 2025 Steven F. Messner Outstanding Book Award:
Adamczyk, Amy. 2025. Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion. New York: Oxford University Press.
Awarded: November 12, 2025
“This book is not just timely, but also a crucial pioneering contribution that is bound to stimulate more multidisciplinary academic explorations and public discussion on abortion and various related issues on a global stage.”
“Adamczyk does a masterful job of unveiling how and why abortion disapproval varies across nations, as well as how these attitudes are changing over time.”
“Blending rigorous survey and media analysis research with compelling insights from experts, Adamczyk uncovers surprising patterns that challenge assumptions of how we may conceptualize abortion. Fetal Positions is an essential read for understanding the nuances of global abortion perspectives.”
Publicity and Press
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Abortion, Religion & Liberalism
In this timely episode James and Will welcome Amy Adamczyk, Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Amy discusses her sociological exploration of attitudes towards abortion, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), and the role that religious and other socio-demographic factors play in shaping these attitudes.
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Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion
Most people think about abortion in the context of the country they live in. In the U.S., abortion fuels debate, elections, and legislation. In China, abortion is often treated as a settled issue. Why and how do abortion attitudes vary across the world?
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Global Abortion Values & Religion
Sociologist Dr. Amy Adamczyk shares her research on how religion shapes abortion attitudes worldwide. She explores the complex relationship between religious beliefs and societal views on abortion.
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The role of religion in shaping political views, especially on abortion
In this episode of International Horizons, sociologist Amy Adamczyk of CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice discusses the role of religion in determining people’s attitudes on a range of issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
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One of the first cross-national studies on abortion and religion
Dr. Amy Adamczyk was featured for her cross-national research on abortion attitudes, presented at Columbia University and based on her forthcoming book Fetal Positions. Her findings show that national religious or secular cultures shape abortion views more than individual religious affiliation.
Listen to my New Podcast
The New Books Network just dropped Adamczyk’s podcast for Fetal Positions: Understanding Cross-National Public Opinion about Abortion, and it’s Book of the Day! 📚🎙️ Tune in for an inside look! They dive into the data, exploring how public opinion on abortion is shaped across countries—including a deep-dive case study comparing China and the United States. It’s a great chance to hear more about the research behind the book.