Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma

#ShoutYourAbortion is now trending in Ireland.

TENS OF THOUSANDS of women are sharing their abortion stories on social media in a hashtag campaign to end the stigma attached to the procedure.

Writers Amelia Bonow and Lindy West started the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag after the US House of Representatives voted on Friday to defund Planned Parenthood, an American non-profit that provides reproductive health services including abortion.

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Bonow told Buzzfeed that she first posted her abortion story to Facebook “on a whim” because it was an “incredibly positive experience”.

Capture Amelia Bonow / Facebook Amelia Bonow / Facebook / Facebook

Now, over 90,000 people have taken to Twitter to share their own experiences, causing the hashtag to trend in Ireland, as well the US, UK and Australia.

Many said they felt no regret about ending their pregnancies.

I was 15, single with little stability at home. Both financially and emotionally. I don't regret my decision. #ShoutYourAbortion
— ya nina o Marian (@angrybolivian) September 21, 2015

marian / Twitter

I was 20, in school and my bc failed. I did not want a child. It was the right choice and I've never regretted it. #shoutyourabortion
— tamelioness.bsky.social (@tame_lioness) September 21, 2015

Tame Lioness / Twitter

I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion
— favianna rodriguez (@favianna) September 21, 2015

favianna rodriguez / Twitter

Others used the hashtag to criticise pro-life campaigners…

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Why do old men want women they don't know to have babies they don't want? #shoutyourabortion
— Catherine Deveny (@CatherineDeveny) September 21, 2015

Catherine Deveny / Twitter

… who had strong words for those sharing their stories.

They can't shout their abortion because you killed them. #ShoutYourAbortion
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 22, 2015

Ben Shapiro / Twitter

#ShoutYourAbortion is vile.
Proudly proclaiming you were irresponsible and your solution was murder for convenience?
I'm utterly disgusted
— ₿ Michelle Ray ₿ (@GaltsGirl) September 21, 2015

Michelle Ray / Twitter

For West, though, it’s clear why the campaign has been getting so much attention.

“It’s because we are right, and however glacially society evolves, it is evolving in the right direction,” she wrote in the Guardian.

Abortion is common. Abortion is happening. Abortion needs to be legal, safe and accessible to everyone. Abortion is a thing you can say out loud.

I am not sorry.

Read: An Irish solution: These are your abortion stories

Read: More than a quarter of people say abortion will sway their vote

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