Reactance, rationalization, and women's rights for safe abortion: Evidence from Roe vs. Wade's overturn

Abstract

This study explores the societal response to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and its potential impact on abortion rights. We use data from Google Trends and Twitter engagement to comprehensively analyze public responses. Analysis of Google search trends and Twitter activity reveals a significant surge in public interest and concerns immediately following the news of the overturn. The findings demonstrate a clear polarization of sentiments, with expressions of both pro-choice and pro-life perspectives. Additionally, a heterogeneity analysis indicates that reactions vary among states, with states hostile to abortion rights exhibiting heightened negative sentiment. Overall, our findings highlight an intense but short-lived public reaction to the ongoing debate surrounding abortion rights, which may have broader social implications.