Indigo Cox

Native Girl Rites Indigo Cox

I echo the sentiment of doctor and author Susan Wicklund, an abortion provider who referred to abortion as a "common secret" - an unspoken reality for many women for far too long. This code of silence has stifled honest and meaningful conversations between supporters of choice, supporters of life, and those in between. Like many topics that live underground in American culture, so many rumors, gross exaggerations, fears, and pain abound around this issue. Over the ten years that I have been doing this work, I have heard countless hurtful and stereotyped statements about reproductive care like, "Women who have abortions will get cancer," "Abortionist are not real doctors," "Rape does not result in pregnancy," "Abortions are the most dangerous procedures women can go through." These words are truly damaging and, like many stereotypes, they are destructive and mostly untrue. They only add to the shame and humiliation women feel while grappling with this real choice that is so commonly encountered during a women's life course. We often forget the facts about this issue, we forget the humanity behind this issue, and we forget that most of us have dealt with abortion at some level in our lives. Unfortunately, we often fail to remember that we all deserve love, understanding, and forgiveness, regardless of our stand on this issue.