#ShoutYourAbortion: Challenging The Stigma

Photo from ClashDaily

Abortion is not a topic thrown around lightly—or likely, not brought up at all. Despite being legal in the U.S., abortion has been on the spotlight in light of recent events. 

 There have been so many points raised by both pro- and anti-abortion supporters. But ultimately, it’s a choice—and one that women, more often than not, keep to themselves. That all changed when a hashtag became viral over Twitter recently.  

Writer Lindy West started the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion over the weekend with Amelia Bonow, who had posted on Twitter her reaction to the news on the scrapping of funding for Planned Parenthood (PP), a U.S. nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The organization has received flak recently when undercover videos of its officials talking about selling aborted fetuses were released to the public. 

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

West also tweeted her own story:

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

And several others followed suit.

Had an abortion procedure done at age 22 because I was WAY too young to parent. Have never, ever regretted it. #ShoutYourAbortion

— Mary Emily O'Hara (@MaryEmilyOHara) September 20, 2015

I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion

— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) September 21, 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

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

Women are not merely portals through which other human beings enter the world. They are fully as human as you are. #shoutyourabortion

— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) September 21, 2015

I'm not stoked about having had two abortions but I will always defend the right to choose. #shoutyourabortion

— Anna Spargo-Ryan (@annaspargoryan) September 21, 2015

It's about destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame,” says West in another tweet.

#ShoutYourAbortion was not just a trending topic on Twitter; it has become an online community of women sharing their personal stories. Even women (and men!) who have not had an abortion declared their support for having a say over their own body and their own life.

I haven't needed an abortion yet, but I don't know of ANY regrettable ones. If you need a ride to yours, let me know. #shoutyourabortion

— Taffy BrodesserAkner (@taffyakner) September 21, 2015

If you think #shoutyourabortion seems unnecessary, remember that in Knocked Up they couldn't even say the word "abortion."

— FakeZekeWilley (@ZekeWilley) September 21, 2015

However, pro-abortion supporters aren’t the only ones using the hashtag. Many anti-abortion supporters also took the opportunity to voice out their stand against it. Most of them tweeting messages of compassion for unborn children. Some of the messages are a call for more responsibility

I kept my baby. Because her divine right to live trumped my selfish desire not to take responsibility for my choices. #ShoutYourAbortion

— Trish (Queen Bossy) (@ExPoleDancer) September 22, 2015

When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? What a weak, shameless tag. smh #shoutyourabortion

— The Foo (@PolitiBunny) September 21, 2015

#ShoutYourAdoption should be trending, not #ShoutYourAbortion.

— Sister Toldjah (@sistertoldjah) September 21, 2015

The hashtag is not meant to glorify abortion, says Bonow in an interview with Buzzfeed. It merely aims to eliminate the stigma that women who have had the procedure done are slapped with.

Sources:

September 22, 2015. "Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion" (cnn.com)
September 22, 2015. “Two Women Started A Hashtag Encouraging Others To #ShoutYourAbortion" (buzzfeed.com)
September 21, 2015. "These Women Are Not Here For Your Abortion Stigma – Let Them Tell You Why" (mtv.com)
September 21. “#ShoutYourAbortion: The New Way Women Are Talking About Choice” (elle.com)