History
Many people in the U.S. work to protect the rights of pregnant women and to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect. But as a result of the divisive abortion debate, many of those advocates typically do not work together—or even speak to one another.
The anti-abortion movement has successfully used the abortion issue to divide the electorate, and a key part of their strategy has been creating the illusion that there are two kinds of women: those who have abortions and those who have babies.
The truth is that 61 percent of women who have abortions are already mothers, and another 24 percent will go on to become mothers. Over the course of their lives, 85 percent of all women bring life into this world and provide the vast majority of care for the lives of those around them—without compensation.
This means that whether someone is an abortion provider or pro- choice advocate defending the right to choose abortion—or a midwife, doula, or birthing rights advocate seeking to ensure that women have access to health care providers that listen to and support them—they are advocating for the same women, regardless of their position on abortion.
Finding common ground among these two groups, was one of the primary goals of the National Advocates for Pregnant Women when we organized the 2007 Summit to Ensure the Health and Humanity of Pregnant and Birthing Women earlier this year in Atlanta. The summit brought together over 300 maternal, birthing and reproductive rights/justice activists along with social justice activists, legal and policy experts and healthcare providers from 37 states, the District of Columbia, Mexico and Canada. It was co-sponsored by more than 60 organizations ranging from advocates for mother-friendly childbirth to those that advocate for the right to choose an abortion.
Participants moved beyond the divisive abortion debate to find common ground in the experiences of pregnancy and the increasing limitations to care and support that all pregnant and birthing women face. Part of the way they did this was by telling their stories about experiences with or in relationship to pregnancy, including the many different outcomes of pregnancy that are possible, and whether or not they had ever become pregnant.
The result was electrifying – creating space for connection, complexity, appreciation and even awe. We saw at the Summit that pro-choice advocates and birthing rights advocates can work together, whether they are identifying civil and human rights violations or formulating an agenda that genuinely values pregnant women, maternal health and motherhood. The stories helped everyone to move away from divisive (and inaccurate) “pro-life” and “pro-choice” categorizations and stand together recognizing the need for laws and policies that genuinely promote a culture of life—one that includes and values the women who give that life.
This project provides a way to encourage and support women who want to raise their voices and tell their stories. This project does this at time in US history when violence against abortion providers is increasing and when the rhetorical attacks on abortion providers and the women who seek their services demands an honest and meaningful response.
The vast majority of women who have abortions are also mothers. And even though the same women who have abortions are the ones who give life, anti-abortion activists portray us as murderers, baby killers, and worse.
It's time to tell our story:
the whole story.
If you have had an abortion and have given birth (vaginally, by cesarean surgery, in a hospital or somewhere else) experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, adopted or raised a child - tell us your story with a picture, a sign, a 1 minute or less video and we will post it.