It can feel uncomfortable to keep telling our abortion stories – but it is still essential

Many experiences are like mine: unexceptional, not ‘deserving’ or ‘worthy’. The more of those testimonies we hear, the stronger we are in our fight to protect women’s rights

Emma Beddington
Mon 16 Nov 2020

One of the last things I did before lockdown was attend a rally supporting the protests against Poland’s constitutional court ruling that introduced a near-total ban on abortion. Hardening the country’s already terrifyingly restrictive current law, it would, if enforced, remove one of the few narrow exceptions still permitted: termination in the event of congenital birth defects.

The scale of protests in Poland has been extraordinary – and hopeful. With up to 100,000 people gathering nightly in Warsaw, they seem to have forced a pause in implementation of this appalling ruling. My damp, local version was less impressive – there were fewer than 100 of us (including dogs and babies), carefully distanced, in cagoules and masks – but no less moving, hearing young Polish women and men stand up and denounce a sclerotic, repressive ancien regime I’m desperate to see them sweep away.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/16/it-can-feel-uncomfortable-to-keep-telling-our-abortion-stories-but-it-is-still-essential

UK – ‘I don’t regret my two abortions’

'I don't regret my two abortions'

By Anna Adams and Pete Walker, BBC Victoria Derbyshire programme
2 July 2019

UK attitudes towards abortion are becoming more liberal, a poll suggests.

Sam says financial worries were a driving force in her choice to terminate her pregnancies.

And several women the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme have spoken to say the same.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48838008

02.07.2019

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USA – The Good Surprises of My Two Abortions: The Story Behind 2+ Abortions @AboboBravado

The Good Surprises of My Two Abortions: The Story Behind 2+ Abortions @AboboBravado

January 19, 2019

This is a picture of me in the moment I realized my friend Martha had orchestrated a surprise birthday party when I turned 36. The feeling of electric delight from the shock was uncontainable. I still marvel that everyone involved had been able to keep the party a secret.

But here’s the thing. I had my own secret, and it wasn’t delightful. Soon enough, my constant companion named Shame would lean in and whisper into my ear: “You had two abortions. If they knew, they wouldn’t have come to the party. They wouldn’t even want to be near you.”

Continued: http://www.abortionconversationproject.org/blog/2019/1/19/the-good-surprises-of-my-two-abortions-the-story-behind-2-abortionsabobobravado

UK: Attitudes to women who have more than one abortion need to change

Attitudes to women who have more than one abortion need to change

October 16, 2017
Carrie Purcell

One in three women in the UK will have an abortion in her lifetime. But despite being a common medical procedure, abortion – which was partially legalised 50 years ago this month – continues to be stigmatised in the media and elsewhere in many different ways, meaning it is rarely talked about.

One abortion may be viewed as a reasonable “get out of jail free” card; having more than one abortion is often presented as beyond the pale. A woman might be able to decide she cannot continue with a pregnancy once, but to do so more than once speaks of her irresponsibility, fecklessness and failure to use contraception.

Continued at source: https://theconversation.com/attitudes-to-women-who-have-more-than-one-abortion-need-to-change-85707

16.10.2017