The Power of STORYTELLING
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many states have enacted laws that ban or heavily restrict abortions, as seen in Ohio when a ten year-old girl tried to receive an abortion. This young girl was raped and sought an abortion when she was six weeks into her pregnancy. There was an Ohio state law that was recently put in place before she went to her doctor that prohibited abortions after cardiac activity can be found in the fetus, forcing her to cross state borders into Indiana. This case quickly received the attention that it needed; however, critics on the right were skeptical of the case.
I cannot imagine what this young girl was going through mentally and physically. To experience sexual assault and pregnancy at such a young age is terrifying, and on top of that, not having people believe your story is heartbreaking. A large number of conservatives believed that her story was false. Ohio’s Republican Attorney General, Dave Yost, said that there were no police reports about a rape victim. I do not understand why they think her story is made up just because there is no report, as it is very difficult for women to open up about their experiences with rape and sexual assult, let alone a ten year-old girl. Then the host of Fox News, Jesse Watters, went on to say “The more you learn about this, the more unbelievable it becomes”. I disagree with Watters because I think the more you learn, the more you realize that these realities women have to go through (rape, incest, and sexual assault) are common. Some people do not understand the full picture and all the consequences that come along with carrying to term. Not only is pregnancy physically draining, but also mentally, and especially for young girls.
These stories about women who went through abortions are very powerful and necessary, as they can help inform people about why reproductive rights are so essential and reduce the stigma of abortion. When people are empowered to share their stories, these stories can truly change the tide of public opinion and remind others what is at stake. Articles like those in the Times and projects like #ShoutYourAbortion humanize and personalize movements like pro-choice advocacy. Whether you want to educate yourself or share your own story, we encourage you to check out hashtags similar to #ShoutYourAbortion and #MeToo and contribute to the fight for reproductive rights.
