The 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs changed rules about abortion and had wide effects on women’s access to abortion and prenatal health care. The ruling also altered public discussion about the role of courts and elected officials in health and gender policy. Many people changed how they talked about these issues.
The book Not Going Back (Temple University Press, 2026) examines the political consequences of Dobbs. Coauthor Steve Greene, a professor of political science at NC State, and his colleagues use a large set of survey data to study how the decision influenced voters and public attitudes. The study looks at changes in voter behaviour and at attitudes toward political institutions such as courts and elected bodies.
The authors compare survey results over time to show both immediate reactions and longer-term trends. Their research offers a starting point for understanding what Dobbs means for elections, public confidence in institutions, and future policy debates. It is not yet clear how lasting all of these effects will be.
Difficult words
- abortion — medical process to end a pregnancy
- prenatal — related to care before a baby is born
- ruling — official decision by a court
- survey — set of questions to many people
- institution — organization such as courts or governmentinstitutions
- trend — a change or pattern over timetrends
- attitude — a feeling or opinion about somethingattitudes
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might changes in public discussion about abortion affect voters in future elections?
- Why is it important to study public confidence in institutions after a major court decision?
- What kinds of follow-up studies would help show whether these effects are lasting?
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