You're the Only One I've Told: The Stories Behind Abortion

by Meera Shah

Some find it hard to believe, but one in four women in America has an abortion in her lifetime

Politicians are exploiting a health care issue that’s foundational to reproductive, social, and economic freedom for millions of people.

Abortion will always be accessible for affluent people, white people—even conservative ones—and those publicly fighting against abortion access.

Low-income people, especially low-income people of color, have the highest rates of unintended pregnancy.

Studies consistently show that a lack of or poor sex education translates to unprotected sex.

In 2019, the Trump-Pence administration cut funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs and continually promotes abstinence-only education, policies that have long been proven ineffective by years of research.

Comprehensive sex education has been shown to reduce teen pregnancy without increasing rates of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted infections.

Black women are three to four times more likely to die from childbirth than white women.

The Turnaway Study researchers discovered through their work that when someone is turned away from a desired abortion, they are four times more likely to live below the federal poverty line and less likely to have aspirational life plans in the coming year (among many other barriers to a thriving life). They are less likely to be employed and more likely to rely on public assistance. 4

Men really are stakeholders and beneficiaries when it comes to their partner’s reproductive decisions, and they should be out there marching because abortion access is “their issue” too.