73. Are We Defending Life or Not? Abortion Advocacy Through Data w/Lina López
The discourse around abortion is complex, encompassing layers of legal, social, and health dimensions. In our latest exploration, we delve into the multifaceted issues surrounding abortion rights across the globe, with a spotlight on the experiences of Salvadoran women and the overarching criminalization of abortion. This discussion aims to illuminate why abortion is fundamentally a public health issue that speaks to broader questions of reproductive rights, maternal health, and social justice.
The Plight of Salvadoran Women and Miscarriage Criminalization
Between 1999 and 2011, 17 Salvadoran women were sentenced to up to 40 years in jail following reported miscarriages, charged with aggravated homicide. This case opens up troubling questions about the role of the government in prosecuting rather than protecting these women in what is essentially a healthcare matter. Miscarriages, indistinguishable from induced abortions medically, highlight the harsh criminalization implications in countries with stringent anti-abortion laws.
Abortion Stigma and Its Definitions
According to a paper by Kumar, Hassini, and Mitchel, abortion stigma has been defined as the negative attribute ascribed to women seeking to terminate a pregnancy, marking them as inferior to societal ideals of womanhood. This stigma not only affects the women making these decisions but also the healthcare providers involved. In Colombia, for example, despite legal rulings allowing abortion under certain circumstances, the stigma persists, deterring doctors from performing necessary procedures.
Navigating Abortion Laws in Latin America
Latin America presents a tapestry of abortion laws ranging from total bans in places like Nicaragua and El Salvador to more liberal frameworks in Colombia and Argentina. The variance in legal provisions and the accompanying stigma create environments where safe abortion access remains perilous, often compelling women to seek clandestine and unsafe services.
Data as a Tool for Advocacy
Lina Lopez, our expert guest and founder of abortiondata.org, emphasizes the critical role of data in de-stigmatizing abortion narratives. By presenting comprehensive statistics, such as the correlation between unintended pregnancies and income levels, her work provides a clearer picture of how abortion is intertwined with public health and social justice. Her efforts underscore the need to distinguish abortion as a non-political issue and highlight the importance of healthcare and autonomy in women’s reproductive choices.
Stories from the Ground: Real-life Impacts of Abortion Laws
Personal stories, like those of the 17 women from El Salvador or individuals forced to travel across borders for safe procedures, poignantly illustrate the human impact of restrictive abortion laws. These narratives bring to light the broader implications of such legal frameworks on maternal mortality and women's health advocacy.
Resources & Links
The story on 17 Salvadoran women charged with homocide: https://globalvoices.org/2014/12/16/el-salvador-imprisons-17-women-who-lost-their-newborns-as-murderers/
Learn more about abortion laws in your state by going to: reproductiverights.org/maps
Learn about abortion laws and restrictions in other countries here: https://www.abortiondata.org/abortion-worldwide/
Tell your abortion story anonymously here: https://www.abortiondata.org/your-abortion-story/
PAPER: Abortion Stigma: A Reconceptualization of Constituents, Causes, and Consequences
BOOKS: Unpregnant, The story of Jane, Invisible women
New York Times Piece: My Day as an Abortion Care Provider
Lina López (She/Her) is a sociologist with a postgraduate degree in Social Innovation and a joint Erasmus Mundus Master's in Women's and Gender Studies. She is an abortion activist, and director and founder of abortiondata.org and Viva Futura. Lina has served as a multilingual abortion counselor and Partnerships Coordinator for Latin America at Women First Digital.