Countering Misinformation
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Anti-abortion activists have unfortunately been effective at getting their messaging into legislation, media, and more. Misinformation and non-medical, incendiary phrases have been injected into the conversation about abortion care by anti-abortion activists with the express purpose of vilifying the service. It’s important that abortion advocates know what tactics and narratives abortion foes are deploying so we can effectively discredit misinformation.
TLDR: What to know about anti-abortion messaging
When faced with anti-abortion messaging and misinformation, here’s what to do:
Don’t repeat the false claims or phrases
Repeating a phrase with misinformation and/or incendiary language gives it merit - even if you are trying to discredit it. We do not want to inadvertently validate an anti-abortion talking point.
Redirect to real facts and talking points
Listen for something factual and use that to redirect the conversation to real facts and on-message talking points. If nothing factual is said, call out their language or question as misleading and then pivot.
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ACOG - Facts Are Important: Identifying and Combating Abortion Myths and Misinformation
Reproductive Freedom for All - How to Identify and Combat Anti-Abortion Disinformation
Reproductive Freedom for All - How To Respond to Tough Questions and Avoid Anti-Abortion Traps
KFF - How Abortion Misinformation Gives Rise to Restrictive Abortion Laws
Journal of Medical Internet Research - The Next Infodemic: Abortion Misinformation
Common misinformation topics:
Mental Health
The anti-abortion movement has long peddled the false idea that abortion care negatively impacts mental health. This is not true - research has even shown the opposite, that not being able to access abortion care has negative mental health repercussions.
Mental Health
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ANSIRH - The Turnaway Study
Later Abortion Initiative - Mental health issues and abortion
Science Advances - The impact of abortion restrictions on American mental health
JAMA - Anxiety and Depression Symptoms After the Dobbs Abortion Decision
“Abortion Pill Reversal”
Medication abortion is a primary target of anti-abortion campaigning. Abortion pill reversal – a scientifically unsupported procedure designed to halt a medication abortion mid-process – has been promoted nationally by anti-abortion activists and has found its way into legislation.
“Abortion Pill Reversal”
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SMFM - Talking Points: Responding to “Abortion Pill Reversal” Rhetoric
ACOG - Facts Are Important: Medication Abortion "Reversal" Is Not Supported by Science
American Journal of Public Health - Medication Abortion “Reversal” Laws: How Unsound Science Paved the Way for Dangerous Abortion Policy
American Journal of Public Health - Countering the Antiscience of Abortion Regulation
“Born-Alive” Language
“Born-Alive” Language
Anti-abortion activists have successfully lobbied across the country for bills using this stigmatizing language. “Born-alive” legislation is designed to interfere with the care patients seeking abortion care receive, and frighten providers with increased liability.
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SMFM - Talking Points: Responding to “Born Alive” Rhetoric
Later Abortion Initiative - Understanding the harmful nature of “born-alive” abortion bills
PPFA - FACT CHECK: So-Called “Born Alive” is Another Lie To Stigmatize Abortion