Personal accounts of abortion can be extremely powerful. Abortion storytelling helps us see that abortions are common-place and something that real people experience every day. Sharing abortion experiences in the media and in advocacy spaces brings the reality of abortion into an often-abstracted debate.
Though sharing abortion stories can be a great way to inspire solidarity and empathy it can also bring risk. Abortion stigma is rife around the world, and those who speak about having had abortions may face backlash and sometimes abuse. In some contexts, a person sharing their experience of abortion may risk criminal prosecution, or ostracisation from a community.
How can we make sure that when we share stories about abortion, we do so in a way that is impactful but also ethical?
Why share abortion stories?
Research has shown that stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts or figures alone. Personal accounts of the harm caused by abortion restrictions can help to change hearts and minds. And in a world where there is so much misinformation and stigma surrounding abortion, it is powerful to hear from the women and others who actually have abortions. Hearing these stories in the media may help us to relate, and know we are not alone.
Telling an abortion story can be an opportunity to correct misinformation about the procedure, and even who has abortions. A US study of abortion on television found that “the demographic reality of who gets abortions continues to be misrepresented on screen, with middle class, wealthy, notably younger, and childfree white women making up the majority of characters who get abortions.” By telling real stories we have a chance to share a range of diverse abortion experiences.
We can also bring some nuance. Too often, the topic of abortion becomes a debate. Anti-abortion groups want to portray abortion as dangerous and damaging for women, and in turn, those of us who support abortion want to show that it is safe and leads to many positive outcomes. However, this can leave little space for the complicated realities of pregnancy decision-making. Sharing real stories can help show that experiences of abortion are diverse, sometimes painful, and can bring up a range of emotions. And that that’s OK.
How to support abortion storytellers
Interviews with public abortion storytellers found that 53% reported both positive and negative experiences after sharing their stories. Those of us supporting abortion storytellers should know that we cannot eradicate risk entirely, but we should be trying to reduce the chance of negative repercussions. Sharing your own experience of abortion is different to sharing someone else’s. The person who is sharing their story needs to be supported before, during, and after they recount their experience.
- Confidentiality
Speaking out about abortion is a brave act. Many people choose to do so because they want to harness the power of their experience. But those of us working with organisations publishing these stories have a duty to provide support and care. Make sure that those sharing their stories have a chance to talk in depth about what they are comfortable with in terms of sharing their real name, their image, or other identifying information. If people do not want to be identifiable, think of creative ways to share their stories – for example, this project created a composite of the experiences of young women in Zambia.
- Safeguarding
How are you working to reduce potential backlash for storytellers? If you are hosting an event online or offline, think carefully about how to vet attendees, and consider how you will moderate questions and comments. If you are publishing a written piece about someone’s abortion experience, can you offer to monitor comments on social media, so they don’t have to? Can you provide emotional support during and after? Is there a safe way you can connect abortion storytellers with each other?
- Compensation
Abortion storytellers are doing important advocacy work. Consider how you can value their time – for example, payment of an honorarium and covering travel expenses for speaking at an event. People are almost certainly sharing their stories because they care, are there other ways you can further involve them in the work of your organisation?
- Framing
Sometimes storytellers may feel pressured to share the ‘right’ kind of abortion experience. As organisations sharing abortion stories, we do a disservice to those having abortions when we engage in a hierarchy of experiences. To try to present ‘good’ or ‘neat’ abortion stories, when the reality is a diverse range of emotions and experiences. The person who has had abortion/s should control the narrative. Our role is to ensure that this person is supported and that information provided about abortion is accurate.
Many people seeking abortions look for information online, and they may come across your content. Think about how you can share practical information, including abortion care helplines and reliable sources of support.
Useful resources for abortion storytelling
We Testify is an organsiation “dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have abortions.” Founder Renee Bracey Sherman is an inspiring advocate for abortion storytellers, and is vocal about the intersections of race and class in the movement. Check out the guide she co-wrote with the Sea Change Programme: ‘Saying Abortion Aloud’.
IPPF has a comprehensive guide on abortion messaging – ‘How to talk about abortion’ – which is helpful for thinking about language, framing and visual imagery. Women on Web has also recently produced an Abortion Framing Toolkit. Those thinking about sharing their story may also like to use the Discussion Guide ‘Harnessing the Power of Stories’ to prepare.
By Laura Hurley, Communications Lead for the Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF).
Please note that the images in this post were kindly shared by SAAF grantee partners Neges Mawon and Tamtang Group but do not necessarily represent abortion storytelling.