Abortion Stigma
Abortion stigma is a societal barrier to abortion care that harms people who have had abortions and people deciding on if they want to have an abortion. A powerful way to combat abortion stigma is to be unapologetically pro-abortion and for people who have had abortion(s) to share their stories.
Stigma from Our Side
Abortion stigma is perpetuated by pro-choice supporters. Regardless of intention, they’re setting conditions for what they believe is the right reason to have an abortion. Any and all reasons to have an abortion is the right reason. If you hear of a friend or family member unknowingly using stigmatizing language, remind them that everybody has the right to choose if, when, and how to have a family and nobody should have to explain or justify their reasons for having an abortion.
Abortion stigma can look like this:
- “I’m pro-choice, but…”
- “I’d never have an abortion, but support those who do.”
- “Abortion is always a difficult choice.”
- “Of course, no one wants to have an abortion.”
- “While the need for abortion is tragic…”
Our friends at We Testify—an organization build by & for abortion storytellers— recommend redirectly the conversation. Shutting down stigma could look like:
- “That’s a common misconception, but the truth is…”
- I have heard that before too, but it’s not true…”
- “If you want to keep talking about this, you need to hear me when I say.”
- “I appreciate you sharing. I want to make sure that you understand…”
Abortion stigma only helps the anti-abortion side.
Abortion stigma creates discomfort around abortion, which contributes to misinformation and lack of knowledge about abortion. That misinformation and pervasive stigma are weaponized to build and maintain barriers to abortion — like laws that restrict access, institutions (like insurance companies and medical schools) that limit knowledge, and popular media that perpetuates misleading representations. In fact, anti-abortion advocates readily fill this information void with inflammatory disinformation.
Impact of Abortion Stigma
Stigma harms people who’ve had abortions, people thinking of getting an abortion, and people who provide abortions. It causes shame, silence, and isolation. It makes it harder for people to get care or ask for support when they need an abortion.
Say This
Not This
Here's Why
Abortion
Euphemisms like “women’s healthcare” and “reproductive choice”
Using euphemisms for the word abortion gives opposition control over the narrative, makes our language less clear, and makes “abortion” a taboo word. If you’re talking about abortion…say abortion!
Ohioan(s), person, patient, abortion seekers, they/them
Women, she/her
Gender-neutral and gender-inclusive language is necessary. People who aren’t women get abortions and face even more barriers. It is important to include and even center them in this work.
The decision to have an abortion
“The choice to have an abortion”
A decision is definite while choice seems more flippant. It gives the false sense that everyone has this option and plays into a conservative narrative.
It’s okay to be pro-abortion
“No one is pro-abortion”
If you support abortion, then you support abortion! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being proabortion. It’s important that we challenge abortion stigma, starting with our language!
Everyone should have access to the abortion care they need, when they need it.
“I support abortion, but not after [specific number of weeks or point in pregnancy].”
Every person & pregnancy is different. There’s no point in someone else’s pregnancy where you, us, or the government know better than that person. People get abortions later in pregnancy for many reasons, including being denied care earlier or needing to end a wanted pregnancy. Placing judgment on abortion seekers only helps antiabortion extremists restrict abortion for us all.
I support someone’s decision to have an abortion or multiple abortions!
“It’s irresponsible to get an abortion” “No one should have multiple abortions.”
Everyone’s situation is different and there are a lot of systemic issues at play that make my experiences different from someone else’s. It’s unrealistic to think that someone won’t experience more than one unintended pregnancy in their lives. We are in no position to decide what is best for someone else– bodily anatomy is full bodily autonomy without conditions.
Abortion is safe health care that should be available, accessible, and affordable in all zip codes. Visit plancpills.org to learn about safe at home abortions.
“We don’t want to go back to back-alley abortions.”
Illegal abortions do not mean unsafe abortions like they did before Roe. Self-managed abortions by pills are safe. We do not want to reinforce anti-abortion talking points and misinformation that self-managed abortions are dangerous, scary, and harmful.
Abortions must be available and affordable no matter the reason.
“Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.”
Suggesting abortion should be rare stigmatizes abortion and restricts access.
I like abortion– actually I love abortion! Abortion is freedom!
“Nobody likes abortion.”
1 in 4 Americans who can get pregnant will have an abortion in their lifetime. We should normalize a common, safe medical procedure, and not make assumptions about how people feel abortion.
Black and Brown people lead the most powerful abortion fund network in the country that ensures people can access abortion.
“We need to create an underground railroad to get people abortions now that Roe has fallen.”
Using “Underground Railroad” to describe work already being done by Black and Brown women coopts and whitewashes their work and the legacy of the Underground Railroad, another movement led by Black women.
Abortion is safe regardless of its legality! Visit plancpills.org to learn about safe at home abortions.
The end of Roe v. Wade isn’t the end of abortions, but the end to safe abortions.
Spreading the misinformation that all illegal abortions are unsafe limit people’s knowledge of options when they are pregnant. Illegal abortions do not mean unsafe abortions like they did before Roe. Self-managed abortions by pills are safe.
N/A
Using coat hanger imagery
We do not want to reinforce anti-abortion talking points and misinformation that self-managed abortions are dangerous, scary, and harmful. If abortion were to be illegal in the US, we are not going back to pre-Roe conditions! Self-managed abortions by pills are safe and available by mail in all 50 states.
N/A
Using imagery from The Handmaid’s Tale
Implying that with the fall of Roe, now we are in the dystopian future or past ignores the reality that Black people, Brown people, people who are undocumented, and people with low income have always had their reproduction controlled and oppressed in America