Induced Abortion as a Declaration of Bodily Autonomy of Arab Muslim Women in Israel

Introduction: Research has documented the motivations for abortion across different cultures and examined the sociopolitical position of Arab minorities in Israel. Understanding how Arab Muslim women make abortion decisions amid religious prohibitions, family authority, and the politicized context of Arab fertility in Israel is limited. This study examines the factors shaping these decisions and uses abortion to explore their social, religious, and political dimensions. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted during the years 2021 -2024 involving 40 married Arab Muslim Israeli women who underwent pregnancy termination within the past five years. Data were collected through semi-structured, participant-centered interviews conducted in Arabic. Results: Our findings show that Arab Muslim women exercise considerable autonomy despite intersecting marginalities. Key reasons for induced abortion include protecting health, relationship instability, economic concerns, and education. Abortions due to fetal abnormalities reflect responsibility toward self and fetus. These decisions resist gender inequality and traditional norms, with women asserting autonomy and protecting their future. Conclusions: This research reveals a shift in how Arab women in Israel reconcile religious observance with medical decision-making, as they increasingly adopt personalized strategies to navigate economic, social, and patriarchal constraints. Their reproductive choices serve not only as health decisions but also as expressions of autonomy, challenging social and gender norms, contributing to broader movements for Arab women's rights in Israel. Policy Implications: The findings support the need for Arabic-language contraceptive education, culturally sensitive genetic counseling, expanded mental health services, and couple-centered reproductive counseling to address spousal resistance and strengthen women’s reproductive autonomy.