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The American abortion debate

The war of morality Republicans and Democrats talked into being

ORCiD logo with link | University of Warwick
Published online: 5 September 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.23189.fra
Abstract
This paper examines metaphor in the American abortion debate. It takes a systematic and fine-grained approach to analysing war conceptualisations in abortion-related speeches and statements from the Republican and Democrat parties between 2009 and 2023. Analysis focuses on the conceptual framing abortion debate is war, and how various linguistic features constitute this world. This approach demonstrates how conceptual metaphors can be used to shape social attitude and justify political action — in the case of abortion, demonstrating how war conceptualisation has enacted a culture conducive to polarisation and partisanship.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Metaphor theory and the abortion debate is war concept
    • 1.2The conceptual foundations of American conservatism and liberalism
    • 1.3Abortion policy in the United States
  • 2.Methodology
  • 3.Analysis
    • 3.12009–2017: The abortion debate is war concept in Democrat and Republican data
      • 3.1.1The Democrat world of war
      • 3.1.2The Republican world of war
    • 3.22017–2021: The abortion debate is war concept in Democrat and Republican data
      • 3.2.1The Democrat world of war
      • 3.2.2The Republican world of war
    • 3.32021–2023: The abortion debate is war concept in Democrat and Republican data
      • 3.3.1The Democrat world of war
      • 3.3.2The Republican world of war
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (24)
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