Women have been protesting for their rights since the early 1800s. They started by protesting about limitations that were placed on women after the American Revolution, and then that turned into the right to vote and representation in government, and then abortion rights. While these protests have been going on, they have also been met with backlash, and this is no different when it comes to protests for abortion access.
A study was done to see the effect of abortion protesters on women’s emotional response to abortion. This study consisted of nine hundred and fifty six women who were interested in obtaining an abortion being interviewed. These interviews occurred at thirty different abortion care facilities between 2008 and 2010. The result of this study found that, according to the patients, one third of the protesters were deemed aggressive toward patients. About half of the women interviewed actually saw protesters in front of their facility. Sixteen percent said they were “quite” or “extremely” upset as a reaction to the protesters. Women who initially were contemplating obtaining an abortion were more likely to be upset by the protesters. Although women were not affected emotionally about one week after the procedure. Each facility where the women from the survey obtained their abortion had a representative answer the following questions, “Does your facility regularly have antiabortion protesters who are visible to abortion patients? If yes, how often are these abortion protesters present on abortion clinic days? (always, very often, sometimes, rarely ever). Would you describe the tactics used by the protesters at your clinic on an average day as passive (for example, praying quietly from a distance), aggressive (such as shouting at women or attempting to hand them literature), or mixed? How frequently do staff comfort patients who are upset by protesters they encounter on the way into your facility? (regularly, occasionally, very rarely, never)” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010782412008153?via%3Dihub)
The results from the first question were that most facilities had protesters present. The second question’s results were that thirty five percent of women reported the protesters were aggressive, twenty two percent were passive, and forty four percent were mixed. The final question led to the results that most of the staff regularly comforted the patients.
Women who obtained an abortion were asked about their specific experiences with the protesters. Those questions included, “Did you see any antiabortion demonstrators outside the clinic when you entered? Did any of the antiabortion demonstrators talk to you? Did any of the antiabortion demonstrators try to stop you from entering the clinic? To what extent did the protesters upset you, if at all?” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010782412008153?via%3Dihub)
The results from the first question that the women were asked were fifty four percent of women saw no protesters, sixteen percent saw protesters, fifteen percent heard and saw protesters, sixteen percent reported that protesters tried to stop them from entering the clinic and obtaining an abortion.
Women have been extremely affected by these protesters, and it is dangerous to their mental health. Specifically, women who share their stories about abortion are subjected to negative and positive feedback. A study was done in which women who have shared their stories were surveyed about the responses they got both online and in “real life.”
Sixty percent of respondents reported experiencing “harassment and other negative incidents” after sharing their abortion story. This led to “emotional stress, problems with loved ones, and difficulties are work and/or school.” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590151620300046?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=7a879d411cb1fd7e) Even women who shared their stories only using their first name, an alias, or anonymous, were still subjected to negative attention. On the other hand, four out of five respondents received positive feedback that motivated them to continue sharing their stories.
Women shared their abortion stories in many different ways, sixty percent posted on social media, fifty one percent was a part of educational campaigns, twenty eight percent were quoted in news stories, twenty four percent were in first person articles in newspapers or websites, twenty three percent visited policymakers, and seventeen percent shared a public testimony. Additionally, it was found that fifty eight percent shared their abortion story within five years of their abortion, and forty two percent shared their abortion story six or more times. Fifty percent of these women attempted to hide their names to minimize the backlash they were afraid of receiving.
Negative experiences that these women experience include being called offensive names (forty eight percent), someone trying to purposely embarrass them (twenty five percent), receiving distressing images online (fifteen percent), receiving death threats (fourteen percent), being physically threatened (eleven percent), being sexually harassed (seven percent), someone posting their personal information online without their consent (five percent), and receiving threats of rape (three percent).
Women also shared “types of negative experiences as a result of sharing their story.” These include judgment and name calling, online harassment, problems at work, loss of relationships with family or friends, loss of community, and public harassment. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590151620300046?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=7a879d411cb1fd7e)
Although these women are faced with so much negativity, they continue to share their stories. These women also shared the positive feedback they receive, including receiving supportive responses from friends and/or family (sixty five percent), being thanked or praised for sharing their story (sixty four percent), receiving supportive comments from strangers online (sixty percent), making new friends or connections with other women (fifty percent), being told their story make someone think differently about abortion (forty eight percent), receiving supportive comments from strangers in person (forty one percent), and being led to new work or professional opportunities (twenty four percent).
Women also shared the “positive impacts of sharing their story.” These include defying the stigma, combatting isolation, pride in helping others, leadership opportunities, transforming a negative experience into something positive, shifting others’ views on abortion, forming friendships and community, impacting the political process, and feeling protective of others who are more vulnerable. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590151620300046?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=7a879d411cb1fd7e)
These women have bravely shared their stories, and although they have been met with negative feedback, they continue to stand up for what they believe is right. Women go to a clinic to receive a medical procedure and are met with protesters calling them names and threatening them. Women should not be subjected to this after receiving an abortion.
Work Cited:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010782412008153?via%3Dihub
I have had personal experiences where my gynecologist’s office also performs abortions and I couldn’t go in to get screenings or just a simple yearly wellness appointment for my prescriptions without getting yelled at by protesters that thought I was getting an abortion. I know most of the women had these issues with little protection. You could easily write about mandates in protecting these women though they have the right to protest, and require more boundaries.
The possibility of potentially being stopped from obtaining an abortion or any type of care in that area because of aggressive protesters honestly terrifies me. I agree with Ashlyn that there has to be some type of protection for those women.