Lee-Simpson, Becca, authorFaw, Meara, advisorLong, Ziyu, committee memberKelp, Nicole, committee member2024-05-272024-05-272024https://hdl.handle.net/10217/238440This study explores how United States health professionals who work in abortion care experience occupational stigma and enact stigma management communication (SMC; Meisenbach, 2010) in the wake of the repeal of Roe v. Wade. Through interviews with 24 current and former abortion workers, the results indicate that health providers experience stigma through stigmatizing messages, stress compounded by stigma, and socioemotional impacts. Workers manage stigma using a blend of SMC strategies including accepting, avoiding, transcending, and challenging. Further, the study uses intersectional analysis to identify seven factors that influence how workers manage stigma as it intersects with their social identities and context: state laws, service delivery, organizational culture, community attitudes, regional identity, privileged/marginalized identities, and reproductive experiences. The study concludes with discussion of theoretical contributions to the SMC model and practical recommendations for healthcare organizations providing abortion.born digitalmasters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.dirty workstigma management communicationintersectionalityabortion stigmaText