Women Challenge Abortion Stigma on Social Media Using #ShoutYourAbortion

A recent survey from the Public Library of Science found that 95 percent of women who have had an abortion don’t regret their choice. However, rarely is that choice ever advertised out of fear of public scrutiny and harassment. That may soon change. A new trending hashtag is combating the stigma of abortions by encouraging women to share their stories on social media using the #ShoutYourAbortion.

It all started when Seattle writer Amelia Bonow mustered the courage to share her experience having an abortion  on Facebook. She was inspired after hearing about Republicans in Congress attempting to defund Planned Parenthood, and felt a need to act.

She told Vice that after writing the post she texted her friend, writer Lindy West, about it, and West took a screen-shot of her post and tweeted it to her more than 60,000 followers with their agreed hashtag #shoutyourabortion.

The campaign to defund PP “relies on the assumption that abortion is to be whispered about.” #ShoutYourAbortion pic.twitter.com/r1ilpCVr30

— Lindy West (@thelindywest) September 19, 2015

Women quickly began reacting to the tweet by favoriting it and even sharing their own abortion stories highlighting the impact their decision had on their lives.  Here are some of the stories women bravely shared using the hashtag:

18 & broke + pregnant = bad. Abortion + 3yrs later + married + stable job = a great life for my baby. #ShoutYourAbortion — Sophia (@SophiaSkySays) September 21, 2015

My abortion was in ’10 & the career I’ve built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now. #ShoutYourAbortion

— Lindy West (@thelindywest) September 20, 2015

My abortion was in 2008. It saved my life and allowed me to escape an abusive, emotionally and physically violent man. #ShoutYourAbortion — hi, is this meagan? (@mgnwrites) September 21, 2015

1000’s of reasons people need abortions which is why we must protect access at all cost. I had one and that is all. #ShoutYourAbortion — Lizz Winstead (@lizzwinstead) September 22, 2015

I’ve never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I’m thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion — favianna rodriguez (@favianna) September 21, 2015

But I think this woman silenced opponents perfectly in one tweet saying,

No woman wants to have an abortion, however majority of those who have had one were thankful for CHOICE. PERIOD. #ShoutYourAbortion

— Bimm #StandwithPP (@bimmerella) September 22, 2015

The hashtag trended for a few days, in the middle of an intense political debate over Planned Parenthood funding. While the political conversation is still in the works, women who participated in the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag certainly made their voices heard.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.