A just-released 2021 study of 1,000 men by LifeWay Research has confirmed what pro-lifers have long known: That men are generally the primary influencers when it comes to abortion decisions. Nearly four in ten post-abortive men with a partner (wife or girlfriend) told researchers that they had been the main influence when it came to deciding whether or not to abort their baby.
The study was sponsored by Care Net, a well-known Christian network of crisis pregnancy centers, and CEO Roland Warren noted that the findings were consistent with a 2015 survey on the same subject. “In 2015, when we surveyed women who had an abortion, they indicated men were the most influential factor in their decision,” he observed. “Care Net recognized that despite this influence, the role of men had not yet been explored. This new study directly examines their feelings and experiences when the decision to have an abortion was made.”
According to the study’s findings, 74% of men said their partner talked about abortion with them before making the decision, with 48% reporting that their partners talked to a medical professional and 38% indicating that the woman considering an abortion talked to her mother. (Incidentally, a mere 4% of men said that their female partner discussed the matter with an abortionist, indicating that the decision is generally made before they arrive at the abortion center.)
The study also reaffirmed that it is often men who are pushing for abortion in the first place. A full 42% of men “suggested” or “strongly urged” that their partner abort their baby, with a mere 8% “strongly urging” against abortion. This means that less than 10% of men are willing to stand up for their baby in a life and death scenario when a decision is being made. Another 31% said they gave their partner no advice whatsoever. We know from other surveys that women often interpret this silence as an indicator that they are supposed to “take care of it,” and that they are waiting for men to stand up and promise support.
