Countering Anti-Abortion Messaging
Anti-abortion activists have unfortunately been effective at getting their messaging into legislation, media, and education. Non-medical, incendiary phrases like “born-aIive infants,” late-term abortion,” and “infanticide” have been injected into the conversation about abortion care by anti-abortion advocates 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 misinformed ideas.
Countering Common Messaging
The following are resources to help counter anti-abortion messaging. Anti-abortion activists frequently message-test and reframe their strategy so it’s important to keep up to date on the most threatening tactics.
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How to Identify and Combat Anti-Abortion Disinformation [NARAL Pro-Choice America, 6/19/23]
Countering the Antiscience of Abortion Regulation [American Public Health Association, 2/23]
The Turnaway Study [ANSIRH, 2022]
A narrative analysis of anti-abortion testimony and legislative debate related to Georgia’s fetal “heartbeat” abortion ban [Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 12/31/19]
Fetal pain, analgesia, and anesthesia in the context of abortion [Later Abortion Initiative, 4/18]
Mental health issues and abortion [Later Abortion Initiative, 4/18]
How to Respond to Tough Questions and Avoid Anti-Choice Traps [NARAL, Date unknown]
“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. Materials supporting the unfounded procedure have found their way into legislation, such as North Carolina’s Second Chance Act, which requires providers performing abortions to inform the patient about abortion pill reversal and direct them to a website filled with misinformation.
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Countering the Antiscience of Abortion Regulation [American Public Health Association, 2/23]
Medication Abortion “Reversal” Laws: How Unsound Science Paved the Way for Dangerous Abortion Policy [American Journal of Public Health, 9/28/22]
Understanding the Practical Implications of the FDA’s December 2021 Mifepristone REMS Decision [ACOG, 3/28/22]
EXPLAINED: So-called “Abortion Reversal” [Innovating Education in Reproductive Health, 3/12/18]
Facts Are Important: Medication Abortion "Reversal" Is Not Supported by Science [ACOG, Date unknown]
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Responding to “Abortion Pill Reversal” Rhetoric [SMFM; Accessible Upon Request Only]
Facts Are Important: Medication Abortion "Reversal" Is Not Supported by Science [ACOG]
The Reali-TEA of Fake Clinics and Abortion Pill Reversal Teach-In [Reproaction, 5/27/21]
Talking Points: Oppose SB 1243- “Abortion Reversal” Informed Consent [ACLU Idaho, 2/8/18]
“Born-Alive” Language
Anti-abortion activists have been unfortunately successful at injecting their biased language into abortion legislation, and the phrases “born-alive” or “abortion survivor” are great examples. There is no actual need to regulate the treatment of fetuses who survive an abortion procedure – this is an incredibly rare occurrence and there is already legislation addressing the issue. 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 receive, and frighten providers with increased liability.
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Trust, Brutality, and Human Dignity: How “Partial Birth Abortion” Helps Shape American Biopolitics [Cambridge University Press, 1/30/23]
Mother speaks out against born-alive referendum after loss of son [Independent Record, 11/3/22]
5 things to know about Montana’s ‘Born Alive’ ballot initiative [KFF Health News, 10/20/22]
Understanding the harmful nature of “born-alive” abortion bills [Later Abortion Initiative, 10/21]
Republicans are bringing back a bill to protect “abortion survivors” [Vox, 2/11/20]
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Responding to “Born-Alive” Rhetoric [SMFM; Accessible Upon Request Only]
How to Spot Anti-Abortion Propaganda [Rewire News Group, 2/24/21]