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I Took Portraits Of 17 Women Who Had Abortions To Show It Has Many Faces And Many Reasons
As the #youknowme movement takes off, I'm reminded of my project that I created with Jennifer Baumgardner more than ten years ago, about women activists who had abortions. This photo series is still relevant today as many find abortion a taboo subject, and won't talk about their experiences.
I wanted the series to be straightforward so that the simplicity of the women's portraits would standout. This is not a faceless issue. I wanted the viewer to see these women's incredible stories behind the t-shirt. Among the portraits is one of my own mother. The goal is to spark discussion and debate, and not just between people that already hold similar views. This is an issue that is a part of us all. And by speaking up, and telling our stories, we make abortion a less confrontational topic in American society.
Please share your stories and let's start talking.
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Florence Rice
Florence Rice, 86 (at the time the photo was taken), was raised in the foster care system in NYC. She saw her mother only a handful of times throughout her childhood. When she got pregnant as a young single woman in the 1930’s she decided to have the baby. A few years later as a working single mother, she found herself pregnant again and knew that she didn’t want to be like her mother, unable to take care of the child, so she had an abortion. She got a serious infection afterwards from her illegal, unclean abortion. In 1969 when feminists began speaking out about their abortions, Florence was one of the first to do so. Her story underscored a class divide: richer women got safer abortions, poorer women were more likely to end up at a butcher.
Liberty Aldrich And Joe Saunders
Liberty Aldrich and Joe Saunders with their sons. Liberty and Joe had an abortion together early in their relationship, stayed together and eventually had two sons when their lives were better equipped to have children.
Makes perfect sense. Not every abortion is a scary story about an abusive relationship or strict family or medical emergency. Sometimes you’re just not ready, and will get to it later.
Jenny Egan
Jenny Egan, 25 (at the time the photo was taken), was raised in a rural Oregan town in a Morman family. When she was 16 she got pregnant by her boyfriend from sex that was not totally consensual. After the abortion, which she had without telling her family, her parents received a letter from a group called the Brotherhood informing them of her procedure. Her mother was horrified and ordered her to leave the house.
Sebastiana Correa
Sebastiana Correa, 28 (at the time the photo was taken), got pregnant as a foreign exchange grad student in Connecticut. Signficantly Sebasitan’s mother is an ardent pro-life activist who runs an orphanage for the children of unwed mothers in Brazil. As scared as Sebastiana was, her first thought when she found out she was pregnant, was “thank God I’m in America where I can have a legal abortion”.
I like how they don’t give an excuse or reason. She just wanted one so she got one. Even this highly educated woman who is clearly smart still wanted an abortion.
Holly Fritz
Holly Fritz, 35 (at the time the photo was taken), got pregnant living at home as a high school student in Buffalo, NY. She just assumed that she should get married to her boyfriend and embark on a life not unlike her mother’s who also had gotten pregnant by her high school sweetheart, got married, and had Holly. When Holly turned to her mother for advice, she was surprised that her mother urged her to have an abortion, rather than a shotgun wedding. Holly is now a high school teacher in NYC, married, and is the mother of a toddler, Zoe, pictured in the photograph with her.
Barbara Ehrenreich
Barbara, 64 (at the time the photo was taken), has had two abortions and two children. She is a grandmother, best selling author and columinist. Her column “Owning Up To Abortion”, published last summer in the NY Times op-ed section was part of the idea that sparked my project. In the article, she writes: “Honesty begins at home, so I should acknowledge that I had two abortions during my all-too-fertile years…Choice can be easy, as it was in my case, or truly agonizing…But assuming the fetal position is not an appropriate response. Sartre called this “bad faith,” meaning something worse than duplicity: a fundamental denial of freedom and the responsibility that it entails. Time to take your thumbs out of your mouths, ladies, and speak up for your rights. The freedoms that we exercise but do not acknowledge are easily taken away.”
Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem, 71 (at the time the photo was taken), entered the feminist movement the day she covered Red Stockings abortion speak-out for New York magazine, and finally owned the abortion she had had several years earlier. She describes her abortion as the first time she acted in her own life, rather than let things happen to her. She had her abortion when she was 22. Gloria went on to found several pro-choice organizations, including Voters for Choice and Ms. Magazine and considers reproductive freedom to be the most significant contribution of the 2nd wave
A’yen Tran
A’yen Tran, 25 (at the time the photo was taken), was raised by a single mother in a progressive NYC household. During her teenage years she had a “radical” boyfriend who was emotionally and sexually abusive, and isolated A’yen from her community. She got pregnant, and began waking up to how bad her relationship was. She had a methotrexate abortion and a few days later spoke publicly about it at a Judson Church event emulating the 1969 speak-outs. Even though she is a self-identified abortion activist, she was surprised by how hard it was to talk in personal terms about abortion.
I've found it easier to speak about mental illness than about abortion.
Jennifer And Gillian
Jennifer and Gillian –Jennifer, 35 (at the time the photo was taken), left, journalist and activist, has written about abortion for more than a decade. She was frustrated that all the reporting on the issue, including her own, devovled into a “debate” between pro-life and pro-choice forces. She felt that what was being lost were the voices and faces of people that had abortions. In 2003 she started making t-shirts, resource cards, and working on a film that put the spotlight back on the women. Gillian and Jennifer have been close friends since they lived together in Boluder, CO in 1992. Gillian, 36, had an abortion in 2000 with the man who was to later become her husband and with whom she now has a daughter. She is also a film maker, and Jennifer asked her to direct a film on women’s abortions stories from the campagin. They collaborated, and the result is “Speak out: I had an abortion” film.
Dana that is an InfoWars video. And it was filmed in Austin. That's about as close to being an Onion video without being an actual Onion video.
Rosalyn Baxandall
Rosalyn Baxandall, 65 (at the time the photo was taken), had an abortion in the 1960s and then again when she thought she was in menopause. She was the first speaker at the famed Redstockings abortion speakout in 1969.
Depending on what you consider abstinent, one can still get pregnant if ejaculation occurs even without penetration. Nothing is 100%.
Henrietta Levner
Loretta Ross
Loretta Ross, 51 (at the time the photo was taken), is a major figure in the reproductive justice movement. She is the co-author of Undivided Rights and organized women of color for the 2004 March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C., an event that brought unprecedented support from communities of color. She got pregnant in high school and had the son, losing a scholarship to Radcliffe in the process. At a student at Howard University in 1970 she found herself pregnant again. In D.C., abortion was legal, but Loretta needed her mother’s signature in order to have the procedure. Her mother refused and Loretta ended up forging her signature and having a very late term abortion.
Why add negative comments. If you dont like this story, move on. This is an awareness piece not something everyone can be judgemental on.
Marion Bazahf
Ani Difranco
Dawn Martin
Andrea Sheffield, you do understand that not everyone had a choice to have sex right.
Roberta Todras
So glad Colin is here to mansplain everything to us women who don't know anything...
Amy Richards
It’s real easy to sit back and judge others. Just throw “Cause God said so” in there and somehow that just makes your point of view valid. That’s weak sauce.
If you are anti-abortion, you should be required by law to adopt a minimum of one child out of the foster system. Or shut up. The system does not need more unwanted children. There are too many already.
It is beyond me how anyone can think it is okay to ban abortions. There are thousands of kids waiting to be adopted. There are thousands of kids who suffer from neglect and emotional and/or physical abuse because the parents aren't fit to be...parents and who never wanted kids but ended up having than anyway because 'AbORtions KiLL baBieS'. And there are so many women out there suffering from having a child as a result of rape. The whole system is f****d. We need those brave and amazing women to speak up against those who have absolutely no f*****g clue what they are talking about...
Good on these women for speaking out. No one should have the right to judge a women on the decision she makes regarding her body. Most People who claim they are pro life are liars, they are pro birth coz they don’t care what happens after the birth, they don’t care about the life of the mother. Just love that people put the rights of a fetus with no identity, cant live outside the uterus, has pretty much no legal rights, no relationships with families and friends, that doesnt have a personality etc over the rights of a living, breathing human being. Some people’s priorities are completely skewed. Forcing someone to do something that they can’t physically, emotionally, financially or mentally cannot handle, is abuse. Do you really think most women make the decision to abort lightly, you are seriously mistaken if you think so. Taking peoples rights away from their own body should not even be a debate.
My Mother was 16 when she decided to go to a home for pregnant girls, give birth to me, and give me up for adoption. I have had a wonderful life ... I found her when I was 18 and discovered that she, too, has had a beautiful life. Her decision was very hard on her, but she had no regrets over putting her life on hold, missing out on high school (she got her diploma while pregnant with me), and having to go back to her rural community and lots of awkward questions. I honor her for choosing to give me my life.
Look at these women. Are they monsters? No. Some of them are mothers. Some had children after their abortions. Some went to great lengths, including seeking out "back alley" butchers or forging their parents' signatures. Women are going to have abortions no matter what. Anti-choice activists don't give a rat's a*s about those who are already born. They are totally focused on embryos and fetuses, but once the babies are born their concern drops to zero. Are they fighting for universal health care, affordable education and housing, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, making sure expectant mothers get adequate prenatal and perinatal care, making sure that every mouth is fed and every body sheltered? Are they doing anything to combat climate change and prepare for its worst effects? If not, they are liars and hypocrites.
I still think that adoption over abortion is better. I understand that some of these women are afraid of putting their lives on hold for a child or have safety issues that a child should not be subject to..and no one is asking them to accept the burden of caring for a child. But if there is anyway to adopt the child out to people that can't have kids of their own, please do so. It's heartbreaking to give a child up to adoption..I have first hand knowledge of that...but I'm happy my daughter is with a family that couldn't have kids..and now she has an older brother and a home with stable income (adoptive father is a doctor.) I don't think abortion should be banned. It is necessary when pregnancies, relationships and safety are in danger. But if the circumstances are right to allow for adoption over abortion, please consider giving someone else the gift of parenthood.
If they post a story like this I would like to see both sides, people that regret the abortion and people that don't.
Abortion has always been around, since people have been around. Before it was legal or safe, women still had abortions. Since it was legalized, abortions are medical procedures performed in a sanitary, safe manner, by professional doctors. The back street and coat hanger abortions are a nightmare to think about.
Thank you to all of these women for telling your stories. You are brave and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I was together with a guy who told me he wanted kids. I wanted too so we tried to get pregnant. It worked immediately. Just a week after he knew it he panicked and left me. I am a freelance and afraid i couldn't be there enough for the kid. Also i was heartbroken so much i couldn't stop crying. And i knew it would be like that for all the pregnancy and that's not good for a child either.
I don't understand why this is even still an argument! What the hell happened to staying out of other people's business.... if you believe that an embryo is a life then DONT HAVE AN ABORTION, but by that same token the woman deciding to abort the embryo is literally not harming YOU in any way so leave them the hell alone! Why can't we just agree to disagree and you do you and I'll do me and if you don't agree thats ok with me? Are we all really so childish that we can't just let one another make the choice for themselves? We are truly a sad species of that is how society is going...
I really pisses me off that anti abortion people think all abortions are performed for the same reason, the woman simply doesn't want it. There are several reasons abortions are performed. For example, if the pregnancy put the mother's life in danger, or there's something seriously wrong with the foetus and won't survive the pregnancy. Despite different reasons, they're all incredibly difficult decisions to make. I had an abortion because my boyfriend raped me when I was passed out from visiting the emergency room that night as o fell and smashed my face open and resulted in me being pregnant. I was suffering with severe depression at the time and was in absolutely no mental state to carry a child to term and give it up for adoption. I sincerely believe, had I been forced to do that, it would’ve pushed me over the edge and I would’ve ended up aborting myself after the birth. I didn’t want to do that to myself. I couldn’t have done that to myself.
Personal positions (on ANY issue) aside, I think some things are simply no one else's damn business and to wear a t-shirt proclaiming your conduct or deeds is the definition of supremely cringe-worthy. How 'bout a shirt that says "I *heart* shoplifting" or "boogers are delicious" or "I have a tattoo of Oprah on my s*****m" or "I save my toenail clippings" ...?
I am a Canadian feminist and disability rights activist. I had an abortion. When I talked about it publicly many years ago, another disability rights activist who was a man who I had known for many years called me a baby killer. What an a*****e he was. Happy to fight for the rights of disabled folks but not for women.
At work one day a few years ago, a woman who was newly hired walked up to me in the break room and said, "I think women who have had an abortion are not good mothers. Don't you agree?" I don't know what prompted this and blurted, "My sons don't think so." And she left me alone and she was gone that afternoon as she was overheard by some other people who reported her. I just ignored her, feeling vaguely sorry for someone who had been fed a line of BS.
Hear me out. I am pro-life. That doesn't mean I think abortion should be illegal. A woman should ALWAYS have the opportunity to abort in cases of rape or if it would be detrimental to her health to have the baby. Or if they didn't have access to birth control. Otherwise, I would hope that they put their child up for adoption. I am adopting two children later this month because I realize how corrupt the foster system can be. I just want people to realize that not all pro-life people are completely against abortion. (Also, I completely agree with you, Anne.)
I believe everyone deserves a shot at life. No we aren't just wombs, and yes our choices should be our own. However, I believe that life precious. Babies are precious. It's not fair that it's a baby when you want it and an unwanted pregnancy when you dont. It's always a baby. However, that being said, our choices should be our own. Women have suffered too much.
What I find the most idiotic about some people who think that a fetus is a "life that should be protected" think that way unless it's part of a minority group..
I'm happy seeing these brave womans ! Its easer to judge, because it's harder to think and understand . Every woman have right to her body, physical and mental health and life choices, even if that choice is abortion. Birth control sometimes fails (I know case when was used contraception and condom and still got pregnant ).What ever reason is it's her life, her choice, and its not easy at all.To want have kids or not want them it's equal decision. There is so many left babies, just because they don't have your DNI it does mean they didn't deserve family. To give birth to new life is miracle, but to give family for abondend child it's not less miracle too . About new abortion law in USA, I heard one of the reason was like white people is about to extinct.Sounds ridiculous and even it's is true, USA killed half of nation in war and now forcing woman and young girls to pregnancy even if they are rape victims and even when rapist is family member. It's sick... No words to describe this madness. Say whatever you wan but babies should come in to this world with love and pure wanting ,planing and waiting,preparation, not from rape and forced pregnancies.
I liked this a lot. I hear "I'm pro-choice but personally, I would never get an abortion" all too often.
It is a sad day in our society when women are boldly proud of killing their innocent unborn children. We live in a time where evil is considered good, and good is considered evil. God has been patient for too long.
"Us all"..? I thought it was just a certain section of society that needed educating.
Also available now!: "I cheated on my husband." - "I stole groceries today." - and the best seller: "I kicked a puppy."
they used to drown unwanted pups and kittens in a bath or bucket years ago...now, there'd be an outcry
If you are anti-abortion, you should be required by law to adopt a minimum of one child out of the foster system. Or shut up. The system does not need more unwanted children. There are too many already.
It is beyond me how anyone can think it is okay to ban abortions. There are thousands of kids waiting to be adopted. There are thousands of kids who suffer from neglect and emotional and/or physical abuse because the parents aren't fit to be...parents and who never wanted kids but ended up having than anyway because 'AbORtions KiLL baBieS'. And there are so many women out there suffering from having a child as a result of rape. The whole system is f****d. We need those brave and amazing women to speak up against those who have absolutely no f*****g clue what they are talking about...
Good on these women for speaking out. No one should have the right to judge a women on the decision she makes regarding her body. Most People who claim they are pro life are liars, they are pro birth coz they don’t care what happens after the birth, they don’t care about the life of the mother. Just love that people put the rights of a fetus with no identity, cant live outside the uterus, has pretty much no legal rights, no relationships with families and friends, that doesnt have a personality etc over the rights of a living, breathing human being. Some people’s priorities are completely skewed. Forcing someone to do something that they can’t physically, emotionally, financially or mentally cannot handle, is abuse. Do you really think most women make the decision to abort lightly, you are seriously mistaken if you think so. Taking peoples rights away from their own body should not even be a debate.
My Mother was 16 when she decided to go to a home for pregnant girls, give birth to me, and give me up for adoption. I have had a wonderful life ... I found her when I was 18 and discovered that she, too, has had a beautiful life. Her decision was very hard on her, but she had no regrets over putting her life on hold, missing out on high school (she got her diploma while pregnant with me), and having to go back to her rural community and lots of awkward questions. I honor her for choosing to give me my life.
Look at these women. Are they monsters? No. Some of them are mothers. Some had children after their abortions. Some went to great lengths, including seeking out "back alley" butchers or forging their parents' signatures. Women are going to have abortions no matter what. Anti-choice activists don't give a rat's a*s about those who are already born. They are totally focused on embryos and fetuses, but once the babies are born their concern drops to zero. Are they fighting for universal health care, affordable education and housing, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, making sure expectant mothers get adequate prenatal and perinatal care, making sure that every mouth is fed and every body sheltered? Are they doing anything to combat climate change and prepare for its worst effects? If not, they are liars and hypocrites.
I still think that adoption over abortion is better. I understand that some of these women are afraid of putting their lives on hold for a child or have safety issues that a child should not be subject to..and no one is asking them to accept the burden of caring for a child. But if there is anyway to adopt the child out to people that can't have kids of their own, please do so. It's heartbreaking to give a child up to adoption..I have first hand knowledge of that...but I'm happy my daughter is with a family that couldn't have kids..and now she has an older brother and a home with stable income (adoptive father is a doctor.) I don't think abortion should be banned. It is necessary when pregnancies, relationships and safety are in danger. But if the circumstances are right to allow for adoption over abortion, please consider giving someone else the gift of parenthood.
If they post a story like this I would like to see both sides, people that regret the abortion and people that don't.
Abortion has always been around, since people have been around. Before it was legal or safe, women still had abortions. Since it was legalized, abortions are medical procedures performed in a sanitary, safe manner, by professional doctors. The back street and coat hanger abortions are a nightmare to think about.
Thank you to all of these women for telling your stories. You are brave and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I was together with a guy who told me he wanted kids. I wanted too so we tried to get pregnant. It worked immediately. Just a week after he knew it he panicked and left me. I am a freelance and afraid i couldn't be there enough for the kid. Also i was heartbroken so much i couldn't stop crying. And i knew it would be like that for all the pregnancy and that's not good for a child either.
I don't understand why this is even still an argument! What the hell happened to staying out of other people's business.... if you believe that an embryo is a life then DONT HAVE AN ABORTION, but by that same token the woman deciding to abort the embryo is literally not harming YOU in any way so leave them the hell alone! Why can't we just agree to disagree and you do you and I'll do me and if you don't agree thats ok with me? Are we all really so childish that we can't just let one another make the choice for themselves? We are truly a sad species of that is how society is going...
I really pisses me off that anti abortion people think all abortions are performed for the same reason, the woman simply doesn't want it. There are several reasons abortions are performed. For example, if the pregnancy put the mother's life in danger, or there's something seriously wrong with the foetus and won't survive the pregnancy. Despite different reasons, they're all incredibly difficult decisions to make. I had an abortion because my boyfriend raped me when I was passed out from visiting the emergency room that night as o fell and smashed my face open and resulted in me being pregnant. I was suffering with severe depression at the time and was in absolutely no mental state to carry a child to term and give it up for adoption. I sincerely believe, had I been forced to do that, it would’ve pushed me over the edge and I would’ve ended up aborting myself after the birth. I didn’t want to do that to myself. I couldn’t have done that to myself.
Personal positions (on ANY issue) aside, I think some things are simply no one else's damn business and to wear a t-shirt proclaiming your conduct or deeds is the definition of supremely cringe-worthy. How 'bout a shirt that says "I *heart* shoplifting" or "boogers are delicious" or "I have a tattoo of Oprah on my s*****m" or "I save my toenail clippings" ...?
I am a Canadian feminist and disability rights activist. I had an abortion. When I talked about it publicly many years ago, another disability rights activist who was a man who I had known for many years called me a baby killer. What an a*****e he was. Happy to fight for the rights of disabled folks but not for women.
At work one day a few years ago, a woman who was newly hired walked up to me in the break room and said, "I think women who have had an abortion are not good mothers. Don't you agree?" I don't know what prompted this and blurted, "My sons don't think so." And she left me alone and she was gone that afternoon as she was overheard by some other people who reported her. I just ignored her, feeling vaguely sorry for someone who had been fed a line of BS.
Hear me out. I am pro-life. That doesn't mean I think abortion should be illegal. A woman should ALWAYS have the opportunity to abort in cases of rape or if it would be detrimental to her health to have the baby. Or if they didn't have access to birth control. Otherwise, I would hope that they put their child up for adoption. I am adopting two children later this month because I realize how corrupt the foster system can be. I just want people to realize that not all pro-life people are completely against abortion. (Also, I completely agree with you, Anne.)
I believe everyone deserves a shot at life. No we aren't just wombs, and yes our choices should be our own. However, I believe that life precious. Babies are precious. It's not fair that it's a baby when you want it and an unwanted pregnancy when you dont. It's always a baby. However, that being said, our choices should be our own. Women have suffered too much.
What I find the most idiotic about some people who think that a fetus is a "life that should be protected" think that way unless it's part of a minority group..
I'm happy seeing these brave womans ! Its easer to judge, because it's harder to think and understand . Every woman have right to her body, physical and mental health and life choices, even if that choice is abortion. Birth control sometimes fails (I know case when was used contraception and condom and still got pregnant ).What ever reason is it's her life, her choice, and its not easy at all.To want have kids or not want them it's equal decision. There is so many left babies, just because they don't have your DNI it does mean they didn't deserve family. To give birth to new life is miracle, but to give family for abondend child it's not less miracle too . About new abortion law in USA, I heard one of the reason was like white people is about to extinct.Sounds ridiculous and even it's is true, USA killed half of nation in war and now forcing woman and young girls to pregnancy even if they are rape victims and even when rapist is family member. It's sick... No words to describe this madness. Say whatever you wan but babies should come in to this world with love and pure wanting ,planing and waiting,preparation, not from rape and forced pregnancies.
I liked this a lot. I hear "I'm pro-choice but personally, I would never get an abortion" all too often.
It is a sad day in our society when women are boldly proud of killing their innocent unborn children. We live in a time where evil is considered good, and good is considered evil. God has been patient for too long.
"Us all"..? I thought it was just a certain section of society that needed educating.
Also available now!: "I cheated on my husband." - "I stole groceries today." - and the best seller: "I kicked a puppy."
they used to drown unwanted pups and kittens in a bath or bucket years ago...now, there'd be an outcry