A survey of 1,000 American men has revealed the significant influence they had in women choosing to have abortions. Studying the survey, SPUC has said that it is an important contribution revealing how abortion has been “a catastrophe for everyone involved”. Men “must act now” to create a better world for mothers and their babies.

A revealing study commissioned by Care Net, a network of evangelical crisis pregnancy centres, surveyed 1,000 American men whose partners or spouses had an abortion after they made them pregnant. In every case, the men knew about the pregnancy before the abortion.

The survey was carried out by Lifeway Research last year.

Care Net CEO Roland Warren said: “In 2015, when we surveyed women who had an abortion, they indicated men were the most influential factor in their decision… 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.”

Men’s responses to pregnancies resulting in abortion

In general, men’s responses to pregnancy news, preceding abortions, were negative, and this had a clear impact on the decision to seek an abortion.

For example, 42% of the surveyed men said they were “scared”, while 14% said they were “angry”. Among men whose partner had an abortion, a significant number influenced their partners in favour of having an abortion in some way, with 12% saying “I strongly urged her to have an abortion”, while 30% “suggested she have an abortion”. 31% gave no advice, and 27% either suggested or strongly urged the woman not to abort.

Of those men who remained silent, a majority said they did so because they believed it was the woman’s choice and were ready to support her decision either way.

Among men who suggested or urged women to have an abortion, the biggest reason for abortion was financial, at 46%, while 39% said it was because they were not ready for fatherhood. 24% said they did it was because they did not expect their relationship to be long-term.

Another key finding was that the surveyed men considered themselves the most influential factor (38%) in a woman choosing to abort a child, followed by a medical professional (18%).

Other significant findings in the survey include:

• 34% were married to the woman and 29% were living together at the time of the abortion.
• 47% say they were attending a Christian church at least once a month at the time of the first abortion.
• 29% say men and women should have equal input into the choice to abort, while 21% said men should have no input. 46% say it is the woman’s choice, but the man should have some input.
• Catholic men are more likely to be angry than Protestants (19% v. 13%) when reacting to pregnancy that preceded an abortion – and Catholic men were also found to be more likely to strongly urge a woman to have an abortion than Protestants (18% v. 8%).

A separate study, published in 2008, found that in 82% of abortion cases the father knew that the pregnancy had resulted in an abortion. 

Evidence of coercion 

SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “Around three-quarters of men said they discussed abortion with their partner before it happened. Of course, some men are likely never to have been aware of a pregnancy and subsequent abortion, but many men, it is clear, are aware of abortions due to pregnancies that they had at least 50% responsibility for, and a significant number of these men bring significant pressure to bear on women to abort. 

“This study underlines what SPUC has been saying for a long time – which the media and abortion advocates have largely ignored – that women’s ostensible ‘choice’ to abort is greatly influenced by men, in many cases to the point of coercion.

“It is no wonder, then, that another survey recently reported that 86% of GPs in Britain are concerned about the risk of women being coerced into an abortion under the Government’s DIY home abortion scheme.”

Another tragedy – No “choice” for fathers

SPUC’s Mr Robinson continued: “These findings indicate another tragedy, which is that, out of the thousand fathers in this survey whose child was aborted, hundreds were happy and excited about being fathers and urged the mother not to have an abortion. In 27% of cases, sons and daughters were aborted against the wishes of the father.

“While a significant number of men appear to coerce women into abortions, we must also recognise that a great many men who want to be fathers have been robbed of the joyful opportunity to welcome a new life into the world. Indeed, SPUC recently reported on the tragic story of Jean-Paul, whose child was lost to abortion. ‘Even though it happened a long time ago, I’ve lived with the guilt and grief ever since’, said Jean-Paul.

“This study also shows that many men think they have no right to a say over whether their own child lives or dies – a sad reality in a culture that supposedly places so much emphasis on the importance of ‘choice’.

“The truth is that good men are almost entirely excluded from the abortion debate, while bad men, seeking to coerce women into abortions, have almost free reign in an abortion culture that exploits their fears and worst instincts.”

“Abortion is the problem”

“Ultimately, abortion is the problem and is a disaster for mothers and fathers, as well as their unborn children. This important Care Net survey only scratches the surface, of course, of a vile abortion culture that has only ever been a catastrophe for everyone involved”, said Mr Robinson.

“Clearly, men have an important role to play in protecting women and their babies. We must act now to create a better world for everyone.”

For further comment on the vital subject of abortion, women and the importance of chivalry and fathers, see the SPUC opinion piece, Abortion, Fathers & Chivalry: Be the man you were born to be.