Women are sharing their abortion stories with the hashtag #OneInFour
On July 9th, President Donald Trump announced Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his Supreme Court pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. If Kavanaugh is approved, the balance of the court will shift, with five solidly conservative justices to four liberal ones. This impending change has caused supporters of reproductive rights to worry that Roe v. Wade will be overturned. And to advocate for a woman’s right to choose, Twitter users are sharing their experiences with abortion using the hashtag #OneInFour.
#OneInFour began appearing on Twitter shortly before Trump announced Kavanaugh’s nomination. The hashtag reflects the statistic from the Guttmacher Institute that one in four women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old. Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Dawn Laguens was among the first to tweet using the hashtag.
I am one of the #oneinfour, and I will fight forever to make sure every person can make their own personal health care decisions. https://t.co/GVXQ1KEcwv
— Dawn Laguens (@dawnlaguens) July 9, 2018
It’s not clear if Kavanaugh would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade or not. As Vox pointed out, in his 2006 confirmation hearing for the D.C. District Court of Appeals he pledged to uphold the case as precedent, but as a Supreme Court justice, he would have the ability to overturn precedent if he chooses. And Kavanaugh did not say whether or not he agreed with the decision made in Roe v. Wade.
I am one of the #oneinfour, and I will fight forever to make sure every person can make their own personal health care decisions. https://t.co/GVXQ1KEcwv
— Dawn Laguens (@dawnlaguens) July 9, 2018
Regardless, tweets began pouring in, demonstrating just how many have benefited from access to safe and legal abortions.
NARAL President Ilyse Hogue shared her experience.
Our fearless leader is one of the #OneInFour—and so are many others that we love. Abortion is normal. 💜 https://t.co/8g3MFb3MLT
— NARAL (@NARAL) July 9, 2018
So did Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour.
I’ve been overwhelmed by your messages over the last week sharing stories of being among the #oneinfour women who will have an abortion. (I’m #oneinfour too.)…. pic.twitter.com/2WmO86vlxY
— Cindi Leive (@cindi_leive) July 9, 2018
And countless others shared their experiences, too.
In my early 20’s, I had an abortion. I wasn’t ready to become a mother. So grateful I was able to get a safe abortion. My father, a surgeon, told me stories of the women he wasn’t able to save when they tried to give themselves an abortion. We must protect this right. #oneinfour pic.twitter.com/P4DtnVnQe3
— Tiffany Shlain (@tiffanyshlain) July 9, 2018
I had an abortion when I was 19 from a wonderful, caring provider. It was the best decision for me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have access to care. I am one of the #OneInFour who will have an abortion. I refuse to be silent about my story.https://t.co/baXtNEqbuB pic.twitter.com/K2q6H5wPvs
— Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) July 9, 2018
@SenTinaSmith @SenAmyKlobuchar @GOP I would have lost my mother at age 2. My brother & sister would have no mother, my father no wife. Legal abortion saves my mother’s life. Please oppose all SCOTUS nominees who don’t affirm support for #RoevWade #OneInFour
— Moms Demand Action (@DarrellynDenver) July 9, 2018
A thread about abortion:
My mother is #OneInFour women who has had an #abortion. Her abortion story is also my story, which is why I am sharing it now.
My mom, brother (6 yrs old) + I (3 yrs old) came to the USA to be reunited w my father who had come a few months earlier.
— Paola Mendoza (@paolamendoza) July 9, 2018
This is courageous and right. I'll add my voice. I had an abortion when I was in my twenties. I have never been so grateful to have a choice about my body and my life. A choice we must preserve. #oneinfour https://t.co/C5uPU4XMsQ
— Anne-Marie Slaughter🇺🇦 (@SlaughterAM) July 1, 2018
If you aren’t #OneInFour who has had an abortion in the US, then you know and love someone who is. Fight for Roe v. Wade and demand your Senators oppose Kavanaugh.
— Lauren Rankin (@laurenarankin) July 10, 2018
The outpouring of #OneInFour tweets shows just how common abortion is and just how many people would be affected if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Everyone deserves the right to make decisions about their own bodies, families, and reproductive health. If you want to voice your support for Roe v. Wade, call your senators or representatives and let them know how you feel.
