Echoes of Resistance : A Textual Analysis of Black Women’s Discourse on Reproductive Rights and Racial Justice in the Post-Roe Twitter Landscape

This thesis provides an in-depth textual analysis of Black women’s discourse on reproductive rights and racial justice on Twitter after the landmark 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Drawing on a dataset of 120,000 tweets collected from April 2022 to April 2023, the study employs a mixed-methods approach incorporating corpus, engagement, descriptive, thematic, and sentiment analyses to elucidate how Black women have used digital platforms to respond to and influence discussions on these critical issues. The corpus analysis highlighted specific linguistic features that emphasized resistance and advocacy, with frequent use of terms like “justice,” “rights,” and “fight,” pointing to a proactive stance in the discourse. Descriptive analysis indicated a significant peak in Twitter activity following major judicial announcements, reflecting the community’s immediate response to legal developments. The thematic analysis uncovered central themes around systemic barriers to healthcare, the intersection of race and gender in public policy, and the collective call for action within the community. These themes consistently emphasized the broader social and political implications of the rollback of reproductive rights. Furthermore, engagement analysis revealed that discussions were predominantly driven by activists and public figures, with high engagement rates on tweets that highlighted personal stories or called for legislative reform.

This analysis showed how specific narratives resonated within the Twitter community, generating substantial support and amplification. Also, sentiment analysis demonstrated a predominant expression of negative sentiment, highlighting a community in distress about the erosion of reproductive rights and its disproportionate impact on Black women and other marginalized groups. The negative emotional tone underscored the gravity of the discourse and the community’s urgent demand for social justice and policy change. By analyzing these interactions, the thesis illustrates the pivotal role of Twitter as a platform for advocacy and highlights the effectiveness of digital activism in shaping public discourse. This study not only contributes to our understanding of how Black women engage with issues of reproductive justice but also underscores the critical need for policies that acknowledge and address intersectional inequalities.