Pro-choice? Then you probably hate John Roberts. Pro-Life? Then you’re probably a supporter, right? The judicial nominee’s prior record has largely been been overshadowed by speculation on his beliefs and position regarding Roe vs. Wade. Whether that debate will become clearer in the months preceding the nomination process remains to be seen, but in light of NARAL Pro-Choice America’s recent advertising misstep, this is a good time for men and women who consider themselves advocates of legal abortion to reconsider their tactics.

The language surrounding the abortion debate has become increasingly militant.  Activists from both sides pose it as an either/or: either you’re for it, or you’re against it, and as the conservative right positions themselves in what they claim as moral high ground, pro-choice activists have allowed themselves to be pulled into a debate over fetal life. A woman’s right to choose trumps a fetus’ right to live, or vice versa, depending on what camp you belong to.  But this is not a winnable debate. In allowing themselves to be handcuffed by this language, the pro-choice community has eliminated the in-between space many women dwell in when confronting decisions about their pregnancies.

Abortion is a reality because each year, “almost half of all pregnancies among American women are unintended. About half of these unplanned pregnancies, 1.3 million each year, are ended by abortion.” Each of these 1.3 million women and girls is making a decision, and, like all intimate decisions, the myriad emotions surrounding this choice are individual to each woman.  No one, despite the caricatures painted by the pro-life movement, approaches abortion happily.  The pro-choice community has been reluctant to admit that abortion is often tragic or dreaded, and often unpleasant. But in order to remain a viable political entity, they need to both acknowledge that truth and find room in their rhetoric for the voices of women who have or have not chosen abortion, as well as those who provide medical services.

And that’s what some parts of the movement are doing on websites like Abortion Conversation, which encourages men and women to talk about their experiences and feelings surrounding the issue.  Everyone, regardless of their opinion, should read Abortion Clinic Days, a blog written by Bon and Lou, two unnamed abortion providers. The providers write about their experiences with patients, many of whom are conflicted about their decisions. Bon writes, “Ultimately, the burden of choice is heavy for some women, crushing even for some, and for most, quite bearable.”  As the debate surrounding John Roberts and the Supreme Court continues, the pro-choice community must reposition itself to include all these women.

llouison