How to report on abortion

Credit: Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

In many countries, abortion rights are back on the political agenda. Last summer, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, a landmark decision from 1973 that conferred the right to have an abortion.

According to World Health Organisation, six out of 10 of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion. When covering these stories, it is important to remember that abortion is a common and safe health procedure when carried out by a competent practitioner.

To help end the stigma, shame and secrecy surrounding this topic, the pro-choice organisation MSI Reproductive Choices created an abortion language guide for journalists. It unpicks commonly used words and suggests alternatives to harmful language.

The guide draws on best practices from reproductive rights organisations such as IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) and IPAS as well as the organisation’s own work and experience running stigma-busting workshops for journalists in the UK.

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Sarah Salkeld, associate clinical director at MSI Reproductive Choices, says that there are a few common tropes often seen in reporting on abortion. For example, describing anti-choice views as "pro-life", because by that logic, "pro-choice" could be inferred as "anti-life."

"This language can normalise views that are out of line with public opinion, adding to the stigma that is already pervasive around abortion," she says.

Abortion can be a polarising issue but that does not mean that all voices should be given equal airtime. According to a YouGov survey, nearly 90 per cent of people in the UK are pro-choice. So, when featuring anti-choice voices, journalists should put them in context.

Another common mistake the media make is treating abortion as a "culture wars" issue or as something that is up for debate rather than someone’s personal decision.

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It is also unhelpful to refer to those who want abortions as "mothers."

"The use of 'mother', 'father' or 'parent' during a pregnancy assigns roles that may not be correct," says Salkeld. "Not all pregnant women are mothers."

Using images of a heavily pregnant woman is as unhelpful as it is inaccurate, she continues. The majority of abortions occur during the first trimester, well before women have a visible bump. This kind of imagery perpetuates myths about how late in pregnancy can abortion take place.

Stigma and shame around abortion can create a culture of silence, meaning people who need services can lack essential information on where to access them, concludes Salkeld.

"Often coverage around abortion fails to cover the broad range of experiences and emotions that those seeking an abortion can feel. This needs to change."

Click here to see the guide

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