“Abort the government!” Alliances between diverse groups and collective action intentions as a response to threat evoked by abortion bans

Abstract

Recent abortion restrictions in the US and Poland sparked widespread protests. This research examined how personal threat influenced collective action intentions through alliances with men and the LGBTIQ+ community (from women’s perspective), and alliances with women (from men’s perspective). It focused on two representations of intergroup cooperation: recategorization as one group and coalitions between distinct groups. In both countries, higher threat levels were linked to greater collective action intentions. For women, this was mediated by coalitions with men in Poland, but not in the US, while coalition with the LGBTIQ+ community mediated the relationship in both countries. Recategorization as one group mobilized women only in Poland when involving the LGBTIQ+ community. For men, coalitions with women mediated the link between threat and collective action in both countries. The findings suggest that coalitions preserving distinct group identities are more effective in advancing women’s rights than recategorization, especially when involving advantaged allies.