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Hey John,
As we're all reeling from last week's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe, it's important to make sure we’re talking about abortion without shame or stigma. That's why I wanted to share some important facts and tips for you to use as you talk about abortion in your community:
- We say the word abortion. Abortion is not a bad word—it’s health care, health care that’s vital for everyone to determine their reproductive destinies. Using euphemisms like “choice” can actually further stigmatize abortion care. When you talk about abortion, don't hide behind these euphemisms when you mean the word abortion. It’s never too late to be loud and proud about an act of self and community care like abortion!
- There are a million reasons to have an abortion, and all of them are valid. People have a whole range of reasons why they seek abortion care and and we should honor all people who seek abortion care by supporting that decision free from government interference. All decisions to have an abortion are valid, not just those rooted in traumatic experiences. Only bringing attention to stories based in trauma can give merit to the idea that abortion bans are okay, as long as they have “exceptions” for these tragic scenarios. We want to remember that barriers prevent ALL folks who don’t want to be pregnant from accessing what they need.
- Say abortion should be accessible, legal, and available in all communities instead of safe, legal, and rare. Wanting abortions to be rare not only creates stigma, but also increases support for restrictions. Abortions are safe and effective—whether you are self managing your abortion at home with pills or getting an abortion in a doctor's office. Anyone should be able to have an abortion, for any reason, at any time, just like any other medical procedure.
No matter what the Supreme Court or state legislators do, people will always need abortion care; hopefully, these tips make communicating that a little easier. Together, we can work to build a world where abortion care is always available and always accessible to everyone.
Thank you for being in this fight,
Jade Hurley
she/her/hers
Creative & Digital Strategies Associate
National Women's Law Center
P.S. If you’re interested in continuing to destigmatize abortion: check out our other posts and TikToks in the series!
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