People Are Using The Hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion To Speak Out About Choice

Women Are Using The Hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion To Speak Out About Choice

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by Contributor |
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The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion gathered pace this week after two American writers, Lindy West and Amelia Bonow, took to Twitter hoping to spark a new conversation about how society thinks about abortion.

Their posts are in response to recent attacks on Planned Parenthood, that followed the Republican party debate about defunding the clinics.

Lindy and Amelia's posts hopes to reverse the idea that the medical procedure is something to be "whispered" or ashamed about and encourage women to share the stories behind their decision.

Hundreds of women have now shared their abortion stories using the hashtag and used it as a backlash to critics, including Lindy.

While many rallied in support of the campaign, some men and women objected, arguing that enocouraging women to 'shout' about abortion glorifies the procedure.

Amelia insists that the aim of the campaign was to promote discussion and to remove the stigma surrounding abortions. She told Buzzfeed: "There is nothing about #ShoutYourAbortion which glorifies abortion, although I do not think there is anything remotely immoral or murderous about the procedure.

"#ShoutYourAbortion changes the way society talks about abortion, and helps women who have abortions feel they are free to speak about them however they choose without fearing stigma."

As Amelia says, sparking conversation about an experience shared by hundreds of women can only be a good thing. Women should be able to talk about their abortions freely in whichever way is right for them - whether they want to shout about it or confide in someone they know.

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