Staff Writer- Evangelyn Hill

Last week, Gustavus Adolphus College welcomed scholar and author Carol Mason to campus to give a presentation on her recent book, From the Clinics to the Capitol: How Opposing Abortion Became Insurrectionary. 

According to the The University of California Press’ website, “From the Clinics to the Capitol breaks down the political strategy of the anti-abortion movement and the ties between the movement and white nationalism. Antiabortion stories, images, and policies have primed Americans to embrace attitudes and politics once deemed extreme. Abroad, US antiabortion tactics, personnel, and funds have contributed to a global rise of the Right.”

Political Science Professor Jillian Locke arranged Dr. Mason’s visit to campus. Locke explained that she holds the James McPherson Chair, “a fund for collegewide programming.”

“[This semester I’m] teaching a seminar on abortion care after Dobbs v. Jackson. I came across Dr. Mason’s new book in the fall, and after giving it a quick read… I decided to use my McPherson funds to bring her to campus for a conversation with our students about some of the challenges we’re facing as a democratic society,” Locke said.

Locke noted that Dr. Mason’s work is highly interdisciplinary. 

“Her work is at the intersection of English literature, American studies, Appalachian studies, and Gender and Women Studies,” Locke said. 

Locke also explained that readers may find From the Clinics to the Capitol a very approachable book.

 “[Dr. Mason] is not afraid to deploy humor and talk about personal experience, and it makes her work very readable and engaging,” Locke said. 

The presentation itself involved a short introduction to From the Clinics to the Capitol by Mason, who was then joined by Locke to discuss the book and answer audience questions. The conversation began with a discussion about the gradual shift in abortion narratives. 

“There’s this idea that abortion is a clash of the absolutes,” Dr. Mason explained. 

However, she continued, that wasn’t always the case. The 1990s were when abortion began to be framed as “satanic,” as opposed to just sinful or problematic, and this reframing spread to other countries across the world, Mason’s research found.

The discussion continued by digging into one of the main points of From the Clinic to the Capitol, which is the connection between the pro-life movement and extreme right-wing movements such as white nationalism. Mason noted that the anti-abortion movement often frames abortion as an “assault on their unborn,” or an attack on specifically white babies. 

Mason made it clear that she doesn’t believe all pro-lifers are racist. She upholds people’s rights to religious viewpoints, but does not support them imposing that belief on others. 

Locke noted that Mason’s research for Clinic to the Capitol connects the anti-abortion movement with right-wing movements in multiple scenarios. 

“I was fascinated by the parallels [Dr. Mason] draws between the January sixth insurrection and the attacks on abortion care facilities,” Locke said. 

The students attending Mason and Locke’s discussion were likewise interested in Mason’s research. First-year Sam Rude began reading the book prior to attending the event. Rude said that the book “uncovered a truth” and was “very eye-opening.” 

“[Mason] was very personable, and she provided very good insight into topics that aren’t really talked about,” Rude commented.  

Some students at the event were enrolled in one of Locke’s courses, such as her abortion seminar. First-year Brett Hoyer is attending Locke’s politics of race and racism class.

While the course Hoyer is taking is not directly related to abortion care, Hoyer still began reading From the Clinic to the Capitol. Hoyer was also one of the students to have breakfast with Mason to welcome her to campus. 

“I’ve read the intro, it was pretty good,” Hoyer commented. In all, Gustavus was more than delighted to host Mason and facilitate a conversation with Locke. Students are encouraged to check out Mason’s book, From the Clinics to the Capitol: How Opposing Abortion Became Insurrectionary, sold at major book retailers and available for checkout at the Gustavus Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library.