Most
abortions involve coercion, which comes in many forms, often from all sides,
and can escalate to violence.
Most abortions involve coercion,2
which takes many forms and typically involves multiple factors working in
synergy against women who want to have their babies or against individuals
and families seeking answers, guidance and personal or practical help.
Coercion may involve an abusive
partner, family or authority figure; negligent or coercive professionals in
schools, hospitals or social service agencies; a negligent, coercive or even
violent support network; deceptive, agenda- or profit-driven experts
presenting false information as fact ... often during a narrow window of
vulnerability when women are seeking answers, guidance or a helping hand.
Coercion can escalate to violence, forced abortion or even homicide
– the #1 killer of pregnant women. Employers and
others have threatened or inflicted physical harm, loss of job or financial
support, abandonment, or even death when women resisted an unwanted
abortion. (See Forced Abortion in America.)
One mother was turned away from a homeless shelter unless she would have an
abortion. In other cases, it is an abuser who seeks abortion to cover up his
crimes. In still other cases, it is parents who force their daughters to abort.
One mother literally pushed her daughter at gunpoint into a clinic, telling
staffers to "ignore her if she gets a little teary." In another case,
parents literally locked their daughter in her room for two weeks until it
was time for her appointment.
Published research exposes the synergy of coercion that is, for many, just the tip of the iceberg:
BEFORE ABORTION -- THE SYNERGY OF
COERCION
Feeling rushed and pressured, yet
not counseled
"There were about 100 women in the waiting room and no one was talking."
"We were herded like cattle."
"I had so many questions. The doctor told me to be quiet."
"Every Tuesday a scheduled bus took students to the clinic. It was all so organized."
"The school counselor said, 'One day you'll back on this and laugh."
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52% felt rushed, 54% uncertain,
-
64% feel pressured to abort, yet
-
67% had NO counseling beforehand,
-
79% were not told of available alternatives1
-
84% were not given enough information to make an informed choice.1
-
Coercion can escalate to violence (see
Forced Abortion in America report)
AFTER ABORTION -- SERIOUS HARM
AND HEARTBREAK
Harm and heartbreak, from PTSD to higher maternal death rates
"My sister was crying as she entered the clinic, she cried throughout the procedure, and she was crying as she left. Three children are growing up without their Mom because nobody wanted to ask questions." -- sister of post-abortion suicide victim
"She typed her last words on a synthesizer: 'Get in touch with my Dad. Tell him I love him." -- Susanne, was paralyzed by and eventually died from abortion complications
"Many, many girls and women have wound up in the emergency room of hospitals bleeding uncontrollably or deathly sick from infection because the doctors botched their abortions. Many, many of these girls and women have had to undergo hysterectomies. Quite a number have died.: -- Kevin Sherlock in The Scarlet Survey
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65% suffer symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
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31% suffered health complications, some of which are life-threatening
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65% higher risk of clinical depression
-
Death rates from all causes are
4.5 times higher
-
Suicide rates are 6 times higher
Coercion an internationally
recognized human rights abuse7 that is common,
even in free nations. Post-abortion issues are
also a concern for many women, men and families among us. Teens are
especially at risk of coercion or post-abortion issues, including suicide.
A human rights abuse that endangers both the unborn and women |
Abortion is a human rights abuse that endangers and disregards the rights and lives of both the unborn & women
Helpful resources to share to educate others about The UnChoice: that most abortions are unwanted or coerced. Many are deceptively informed or forced. Before, during or after abortion, it is - literally and figuratively - killing women, too.
Women have been subjected to unthinkable abuses, torture and even death for resisting abortion. Homicide is the leading killer of pregnant women. Women and others hurt by abortion are often at a loss for words to describe the experience. Words that do come up often are "silenced," "nightmare," "humiliating," "degraded," "dismissed," "herded like cattle," "part of me died," and, ironically, "I was never given a choice."
The aftermath is equally heartbreaking and deadly. Please download and share the user-friendly, research-based educational materials on this site:
Portraits of Coercion flyer
Forced Abortion in America fact sheet,
flyer or 22-page Special Report
What Every American Needs to Know
Top 10 Reasons it's The UnChoice
The UnChoice Definition (postcard or flyer)
Teens Risks Fact Sheet
Physical and Psychological Risks (these evidence-based fact sheets help deter those who may be pressuring a woman or family toward abortion.)
Special Report on Coercion Inside
the Abortion Industry
Find other free, easy-to-share resources here.
Coercion includes expert deception, negligence, personal pressure or even violence |
Voices of coercion, not support ...
“I screamed that I didn’t want the abortion.”
“They said I made the right decision, but I was never given a choice.”
“The nurse said this was not the time for questions.”
“My husband exploded in anger ... ‘Have an abortion or I’ll leave you.’ ”
“Our pastor assured us that abortion was ok.”
“The doctor leaned across his mahogany desk and snapped, ‘It’s not a baby!’ ”
“My parents locked me in the house and made the appointment.”
“No one told me there were places I could go for help.”
“The counselor drew a micro-dot ... I feel so betrayed.”
“It doesn’t look like you have much choice.”
“He destroyed our apartment ... he was killing me with his words.”
“My boss threatened to push me down the stairs if I didn’t abort.”
“They would just look down their noses at me for being pregnant.”
“The abortionist strapped me down and said, ‘Shut up and quit that yelling.’ ”
“All the people that mattered told me to abort. No one would help me.”
“Everything in me was yelling, ‘No! No! No!’” >> download Portraits of Coercion flyer
Coercion is common, traumatic ... and dangerous |
Forced Abortion in America Special Report
| Coercion can escalate to violence. Many women have been forced into unwanted abortions; others injured or killed for resisting. Some suffer unthinkable abuses, even torture. The rhetoric of choice suggests no pressure, no desperation, no coercion ... personal or professional ... direct or indirect, such as that reflected in withholding support or even blackmail, ultimatums and threats. Concealing relevant information or deceptive information presented as fact also acts coercively. |
Click here to download the Forced Abortion in America Report (22-page booklet, pdf) | Pressure often comes inside and outside the clinic. In addition to deceptive and otherwise coercive counseling practices, pressure from partners, family, friends or even abusers is significant and often synergistic. |
A former abortion clinic security guard testified before the Massachusetts Legislature that women were routinely threatened and abused by the boyfriends or husbands who brought them to the clinic.3
Many pregnant women have been killed by partners trying to prevent the birth, and women are more likely to be attacked while pregnant.4 Homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women.5
For more information, see the Forced Abortion in America fact sheet,
flyer or download the free 22-page special report
A husband's choice, a wife's plea, and, ultimately, healing and a new beginning
My wife and I had been married for about two years when we conceived our first child. We had been having some serious difficulties in our marriage (I'd recently had an affair with one of her good friends), and we were attempting to put our shattered marriage back together. But things were still extremely rocky between us.
Then, to top it off, my wife and I both became unemployed. We both lost our jobs within weeks of the conception of our baby. I suddenly got scared and starting looking for an easy way out of the pressure I was feeling. My thoughts immediately turned to abortion. Ours was no longer the perfect situation, so to my thinking, abortion became the preferred option.
When my wife refused my suggestion that she have an abortion, I started to threaten her. I told her that I'd leave her if she didn't have the abortion. Since this was all happening so soon after my infidelity, she had no doubt that I meant business. To say she was confused and frightened would probably be an understatement. The more she pleaded for the life of our baby, the more certain I became that this was the best solution. She would cry and carry on so much that I felt more and more certain she was unstable and couldn't possibly be a good mother anyway.
After weeks of my emotional blackmail, she finally relented and gave into my demands. I thought now our troubles were over. We could find work, get on with our lives, and not have to worry about adding the burden of a baby to our stressful situation.
But our troubles were only just beginning. After the abortion, I watched my wife sink into a depression that lasted for years. Every day, she would cry and grieve for our baby. She was almost fired from a job for crying in the restroom at work. She was working at a medical laboratory where the local hospitals sent the "products of conception" to be checked before disposal. more (off-site link)
Articles & News:
Learn more
about the resources and help from the Center Against Forced Abortions
Abortion Exploits and Enslaves Women, Expert Warns
Study Linking Poor Pre-Abortion Counseling and PTSD Shows Need for New Legislation
Holding Abortion Providers Accountable - legislative initiative to protect women's rights
Judge: Abortion Provider Rushed Abortion on Sexually Abused Teen
Off-Site Articles:
Planned Parenthood to Pregnant Women -- Can't Help You without Abortion
Abortion Decisions and the Duty to Screen
Two Senseless Deaths - A Heartbreaking Example of Medical Coercion
Center Against Forced Abortions - Resources for Teens, Families & Pregnancy Centers
Abby Johnson: I Regret Selling Abortions at Planned Parenthood
Citations
1. For information on these and other cases, see the special report, Forced Abortion in America.
2. VM Rue et. al., “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004).
3. Brian McQuarrie, “Guard, clinic at odds at abortion hearing,” Boston Globe, April 16, 1999.
4. Julie A. Gazmararian et al., “The Relationship Between Pregnancy Intendedness and Physical Violence in Mothers of Newborns,” Obstetrics & Gynecology, 85 :1031 (1995); Hortensia Amaro et al., “Violence During Pregnancy and Substance Use,” American Journal of Public Health, 80: 575 (1990); and J. McFarlane et al., “Abuse During Pregnancy and Femicide: Urgent Implications for Women’s Health,” Obstetrics & Gynecology, 100: 27, 27-36 (2002).
5. I.L. Horton and D. Cheng, “Enhanced Surveillance for Pregnancy-Associated Mortality-Maryland, 1993-1998,” JAMA 285(11): 1455-1459 (2001); see also J. Mcfarlane et. al., "Abuse During Pregnancy and Femicide: Urgent Implications for Women's Health," Obstetrics & Gynecology, 100: 27-36 (2002).
6. See our Research Booklet for more on the physical and psychological effects of abortion.
7. United Nations International Conference on Population and
Development.
