In the upcoming US presidential election, the issue of abortion rights is emerging as an important factor influencing the voting preferences of Indian American women.
This demographic group, which is part of the second largest immigrant community in the United States, is showing a strong inclination toward supporting candidates who advocate for reproductive rights.
Meeta Damani, an Indian American documentary filmmaker living in the New Jersey area, is working in the community with a special focus on women and children.
“This is an important issue for both men and women in the Indian American community. It is interconnected such as if there is a woman and the child is born unhealthy, it will impact the entire family. Ultimately today, it is about freedom and It’s about one’s choice, I think women voters will make their voices very clear.”
Given the clarity of opinion on this topic among Indian American women, it is not surprising that abortion and reproductive rights have become a top-level policy issue in the 2024 election cycle.
Priya, a marketing professional, is also a vocal member of the Indian American diaspora in the New Jersey area. He believes this should not have been an issue.
“Who would have thought that coming to a first world country like America, abortion rights would also be an issue for women. If it’s my body, it should be my choice. It’s as simple as that. As women voters ,If you have the opportunity to support a party that wants to keep your rights intact, you will definitely do so,” he said.
In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The decision eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, allowing states to ban or restrict access to abortion. After this, restrictive abortion laws came into force in various states.
The possibility of further limitations on reproductive rights is making it an important issue among women in the country. Most of the public rejected this decision. Many Democratic-led states have taken action to protect abortion rights, and some have become sanctuaries for people seeking out-of-state care.
IT professional Supreet says that this has affected women in many ways. She also thinks that many employers in the US need to find ways to reduce the challenges faced by female workers.
“The good thing is that a lot of employers are coming up with policies that support women. So even if the company is in a state where it’s illegal, they’re giving them the means to move to other states. The good thing is that Supreet said, “Corporate America is pro-women, but the government may or may not be. Therefore it is important to look at it seriously. “I certainly think women voters will support a party that is pro-abortion.”
The Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) conducted a nationally representative online survey of Indian American citizens between September 18 and October 15. It has identified a new, striking gender gap in voting preferences.
According to the survey, 67 percent of Indian American women intend to vote for Kamala Harris, while 53 percent of men, significantly less, say they plan to vote for Harris.
When further disaggregated by age, this gender gap appears most pronounced with younger voters. In the age group above 40, more than 70 percent of women and 60 percent of men plan to vote for Harris.
Sonal Sharma, an immigration lawyer who works with a large Indian American population, has asked for caution. She believes that although women feel strongly about the issue of abortion, it is not the only thing that matters to others.
“It’s a complex issue, with abortion being so sensitive yet the polls are split 50-50. So, one can see it’s not the only issue that’s important to people. However we looked at states where the legislature has passed more strict abortion laws. Tried to bring laws, they were rejected, we have to see what happens,” he said.
The importance of abortion rights for Indian American women has not gone unnoticed by political campaigns. Harris has made abortion rights a central part of her campaign strategy and reproductive rights advocacy groups are actively engaging Indian American voters.
There are more than 5.2 million people of Indian origin in the United States today. It is the second largest immigrant group in the United States and has emerged as an important political actor. Women are a very important subgroup of this entity and as the election approaches, the issue of abortion rights is likely to remain a key factor in mobilizing and influencing this important demographic.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
