The aftermath of the fall of Roe v. Wade has ushered in a new era of challenges and complexities for Republican women in the area of political decision-making in 2024.
With 25 million women living in states with abortion bans or restrictions, the stakes are high, and values-driven voting is likely to be more critical than ever.
A number of personal issues most women typically embrace – personal freedom, parental and family freedom – should help shape Republican women’s values and priorities as they make political choices in this general election.
Despite what many state legislators may believe, Republican women hold diverse opinions on abortion and family matters that don’t seem to be reflective in states that are seeking to restrict reproductive and health care choices for their citizens.
The Republican Party, including its female constituents, exhibits a variety of opinions on abortion. According to Pew Research (2022), among moderate and liberal Republicans, 60% support legal abortion, highlighting the diversity of perspectives within the party. The party’s platform traditionally leans toward a more conservative stance on abortion, setting the stage for nuanced discussions and evolving viewpoints.
The recent success of Ohio’s Issue 1, a referendum that enshrined abortion rights in the state’s constitution, signals a potential shift in the attitudes of Republican women. Despite the traditional conservatism of the state, more than 56% of voters supported the measure, indicating a departure from the party line for some GOP women. This outcome suggests a growing divergence of views within the party, particularly among women.
When it comes to pro-family measures, Republican women seem to exhibit a middle ground.
In the Oklahoma Senate, a pro-family measure protecting women’s freedom to access birth control last year garnered significant support, including all five Republican women senators. The bill emphasizes the importance of family planning and women’s reproductive rights within a conservative framework.
In Idaho, a group of Republican women established The Idaho Contraceptive Education Network.
The women, including former state representatives and a Senate candidate, launched the initiative to create a safe space for Idahoans to learn about contraceptives, emphasizing the multifaceted roles contraceptives play in family planning and addressing various medical conditions. The network’s approach reflects a commitment to education, healthcare access, and support for expanded contraception options.
The opinions of Republican women on government oversight of medical or mental health care decisions for transgender children can vary widely, reflecting the diversity of perspectives within the GOP. Many Republican women, particularly those with conservative values, may be inclined to support limited government intervention in personal and family matters. They may prioritize individual freedom, parental rights and autonomy in making healthcare decisions for their children, including those related to transgender care.
Many Republican women in 2024 may find themselves at a crossroads, navigating a political landscape shaped by the fall of Roe v. Wade. As the Republican Party grapples with its stance on reproductive rights, the values-driven choices of women within the party should influence the party’s trajectory in the upcoming elections.
But that will happen only if GOP women are ready to use their voices and their votes to help direct the party back to its original common-sense conservative roots.
Cindy Allen 