Abstract
“Abortion is normal” is a theme that runs deep throughout the book Shout Your Abortion. The book is divided into five diverse sections: (1) Formation which describes how the Shout Your Abortion movement began; (2) Shouts which includes 42 essays and 3 comics for a total of 45 abortion stories; (3) Providers which consists of four interviews of people who work at abortion-providing facilities; (4) Inspiration which consists of images of pro-choice buttons, posters, projections, tattoos, and fashions; and (5) Reverberation which lists resources for those wanting know more about the movement and possibly get involved. Each of these five sections harmoniously works together to shape the central message of the book that abortion is normal and to highlight the power of choice.
The book is based on the Shout Your Abortion movement that began in 2015 when one of the book’s editors, Amelia Bonow, shared her abortion story on social media. In Formation, readers can read the social media message exchanges between Lindy West and Amelia, which led to the formation of this movement. The notion of “shouting” or sharing your abortion is creative, and it works by busting the stigma surrounding this safe and legal medical procedure. In Inspiration, images are shouted or displayed in several ways, and many of these images read “abortion is normal.” By normalizing the word “abortion,” a safe space is being carved out for those to speak about their experience.
A strength of this book is the diversity in the 45 abortion stories that are shared. No two stories were the same, and the writers (people sharing their story) were in different stages of their lives when they had the procedure. The writers included a few well-known figures including former Texas senator Wendy Davis as well as those who are not. Each story is accompanied by a photo(s). The photos are of those telling their stories, and sometimes we do not see their faces. Some tell their stories anonymously, some only use their first names, while others use their full names and even include their families in the story or the photo(s). The variations in disclosure of personal identity illustrate the different levels of comfort with sharing their stories.
While no two shouts were the same, there was a slight Pacific Northwest focus when it came to the Shouts section with many being from Washington. However, there were also shouts from those who obtained the procedure in different U.S. states including Ohio and even in different countries such as Israel. One writer described how they sped up their decision to relocate from the South to the West Coast just to be able to afford the procedure. It would have been interesting to read more shouts from those who had abortions in Midwestern and Southern states where numerous restrictions to abortion access exist. Balance is given to the Shouts section by Providers. In Providers, all of the providers interviewed work in southern states. Hearing from providers on issues like targeted regulation of abortion providers laws gives readers insight into the obstacles that these providers face daily and what motivates them to continue to provide abortion care despite these challenges.
At the beginning of the book, there is “A note on the language used in this book” which was much appreciated. The note informed readers that each writer “used their own language” to tell their story, and this sometimes meant “referring to people who can have abortions as ‘women,’” when not all people who have abortions identify as women. This note promoted gender inclusivity and is a reminder that gender-nonconforming and trans individuals can and do have abortions.
Shout Your Abortion is highly relevant at a time such as this when abortion restrictions are ever-increasing and there is a possibility that Roe v. Wade could be overturned. This book is working to break down a stigma that has lasted for far too long, and it highlights the importance of self-determination, especially when it comes to making medical decisions regarding your body. It puts faces, names, and firsthand accounts to how the writers and in some cases their loved ones benefited from them being able to exercise power and control over their body.
