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More on the Stigmatization of Abortion
Abortion stigma, the process of stigmatization and efforts to destigmatize abortion are topics that are getting increasing attention both from academics and in the popular press.
This list gathers some interesting articles and other resources on the topic. It is far from complete. Please send other items to add to connect@preterm.org.
• Charlotte Taft, director of the Abortion Care Network, wrote an article called “Silencing 50 Million Women” that inspired our own examination of the topic. (Charlotte also discusses stigma here.)
• In her article, Charlotte mentions Dr. Jeannie Ludlow, whose work stresses the difference between stigma and stigmatization. Her article “The Things We Cannot Say: Witnessing the Traumatization of Abortion in the United States” is not available online but can be previewed here. Ludlow also recommends works of poet/activist Judith Arcana as useful for thinking about destigmatization (referenced along with other interesting materials here).
• This recent piece in Newsweek discusses efforts to destigmatize abortion: "Outing Abortion, From Town Halls to Twitter."
• Quoted in the Newsweek piece is Kate Cosby from ANSIRH (Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health) at the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at UCSF. Cosby and her ANSIRH colleague Carol Joffe wrote a piece called "The Loneliness of the Abortion Patient."
• Carol Joffe also has a new book, Dispatches from the Abortion Wars, which deals with stigmatization. Preview it here.
• ANSIRH is doing a lot of work investigating emotional aspects of abortion and stigmatization. More on the project's research goals here.
• The zine Our Truths - Nuestras Verdades has explored the issues of stigmatization and destigmatization in several issues.
• For the more academically inclined, check out this fascinating article by IPAS researchers Anuradha Kumara, Leila Hessinia, and Ellen M.H. Mitchell: "Conceptualising Abortion Stigma."
• And finally, for a look at how stigma affects doctors: "Abortion Stigma Affects Doctors' Training And Choices." (An interesting follow-up is the recent article in the New York Times Magazine, "The New Abortion Providers.")
