The Presentation of Abortion and Adoption in Marriage and Family Textbooks

Abstract

A content analysis of 27 textbooks on marriage and the family published in 1988-93 and used in undergraduate sociology courses in the US revealed substantial differences in the treatment of abortion verses adoption as pregnancy resolution options. Abortion averaged 16 indexed references per text compared to a mean of 3 references for adoption and 7 of the texts contained no reference to adoption. Approximately four times more page space was devoted to the discussion of abortion than adoption. References to abortion tended to be included in discussions of contraception and contraceptive failure while those to adoption occurred in the context of options for infertile couples. In addition discussions of themes such as public policy public attitudes and collective social movements tended to focus on abortion and exclude adoption. Finally the textbooks favored a micro-level presentation of adoption with an emphasis on the personal experiences of adoptive parents while abortion was constructed from a macro perspective with emphasis placed on the social context of the abortion decision. Overall these textbooks--which are significant determinants of student attitudes--foster a view of adoption as an issue of relevance only to those involved in the adoption triad while abortion receives attention as a substantial public issue. Marriage and family professionals are urged to create a greater balance in their presentation to these issues including more emphasis on the social implications of adoption and the individual experience of abortion.