Social Actors and Discourse on Abortion in the Mexican Press: the Paulina Case

Figures & data

Table 1 Actors named in the Paulina case in press headlines

Actor	No. of references
Paulina	107
Isaac (Paulina's son)	17
Paulina's allies	62
Baja California state government officials	70
Catholic Church hierarchy	35
National Action Party (PAN)	47
Pro-life	13
Leaders of left-wing political parties (PRD, PT, PDS)	15
National Human Rights Commission	22

Table 2 Headlines with Paulina's name

Headline	Newspaper	Date
Paulina, human rights and abortion: the next torment	El Dı́a	5/4/2000
Paulina's via crucis	La Crónica	7/4/2000
Paulina: double violence	Reforma	14/4/2000
The drama of Paulina	La Jornada	17/4/2000
Paulina's other rape	Milenio diario	17/4/2000
The wound of Paulina	La Jornada	27/9/2000
No more Paulinas	Reforma	15/4/2000

Table 3 Headlines with the demands of Paulina's allies

Headline	Newspaper	Date
Government of BC accused of pressuring an adolescent	Ovaciones	23/3/2000
Intellectuals ask for response in the Paulina case	La Jornada	6/4/2000
Communicators demand justice for the young Paulina	La Crónica	17/4/2000
Paulina's case condemned at the UN (Mexican women's NGOs)	Reforma	7/6/2000
Ministry of Health criticized for lack of support in the Paulina case	Reforma	31/7/2000

Table 4 Headlines defining the denial of abortion as negligence

Headline	Newspaper/magazine	Date
Irregularities and negligence in the case of a raped minor	La Jornada	25/1/2000
Rape and prejudice convert a minor into a mother	La Jornada	6/3/2000
A teenager, victim of anti-abortionist fanaticism in the government of Baja California	Proceso	2/4/2000
Paulina: double violence	Reforma	14/4/2000
Paulina's other rape	Milenio diario	17/4/2000
Astorga “Violates a secular state”	Milenio diario	4/8/2000
Paulina's case: violation of her rights	Reforma	8/8/2000
Attorney General of BC violated the individual rights of Paulina del Carmen	Excélsior	26/9/2000
History of deceit and impunity	El Universal	27/9/2000

Table 5 Headlines referring to the Catholic Church

Headline	Newspaper	Date
Church condemns abortion; rape is not an exception	El Heraldo de México	13/4/2000
Rape does not justify abortion, confirms the Church	El Heraldo de México	17/4/2000
The Church condemns abortion, even in cases of rape	El Sol de México	20/4/2000
Bishop calls for prohibition of abortion under any circumstance	La Jornada	25/4/2000
Clergy supports the penalization of abortion in any circumstance	La Jornada	7/8/2000

Table 6 Headlines about the Catholic Church and the PAN

Headline	Newspaper	Date
Mochismo,^amachismo and PANismo	Milenio diario	10/8/2000
Monotheism dressed up as the PAN	La Jornada	12/8/2000
Integrismo^bin the PAN	Reforma	12/8/2000

a Mochismo is a colloquial term, which roughly translates as extreme religious tendencies. The headline is saying the PAN members are ultra-Catholic and that they undervalue women.

b Integrismo is a Spanish political party founded at the end of the 19th century to preserve national traditions and way of life. Comparing the PAN with this party is equivalent to saying that the PAN is ultra-conservative.