Voices of the Latina Institute: When you hear the word abortion

By Silvia Henriquez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word abortion? For me it is relief. Deciding what was best for me at that time was a relief.
I know that not everyone shares my perspective or opinion. What I do know is that abortion and pregnancy stir up a variety of emotions, regardless of whether you consider yourself pro-choice or not. According to the Guttmacher Institute, ½ of pregnancies are unplanned—that means that many of us, at some point, have purchased a home pregnancy kit. For some women the little blue line is a blessing and for others it is a source of anxiety or fear. Regardless—we know that it is a life changing moment.
As a Latina who works in pursuit of reproductive justice, I am constantly searching for the perfect way to talk about abortion. I understand that our communities are somewhat conflicted on this issue. At the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH), we include abortion within a broader social justice framework. Abortion is just one of the many reproductive health and rights issues facing the Latina community. However, as the only national Latina organization advocating for abortion rights, we have a responsibility to not just protect and expand this right, but also foster dialogue and create a safe space to talk about abortion.

Over the past 10 years, I have listened to women in our community talk about abortion. I hear conflict, I hear confusion and I also hear, “I had an abortion and I felt isolated and alone.� Recently, NLIRH partnered with the Reproductive Health Technologies Project on an abortion messaging project. The nation-wide survey that over-sampled Latinos, found that these concepts best expressed how Latinos feel about abortion.

“Women have abortions for many different reasons. Some of those reasons may not seem right to us, but even if we disagree, it is better that each person be able to make her own decision.�
“I believe that abortion ends a life or a potential life, but I still feel I can’t make that decision for someone else.�
“I don’t like abortion, but it’s not my place to tell someone they should or should not have an abortion.�

What I like about these concepts is that they finally put abortion in the context of real life. These concepts, I think, do not just reflect how some Latinos feel, but also how many people, regardless of race or ethnicity, may feel about abortion.
We may never agree when life begins. But if we acknowledge that people have mixed emotions and nuanced positions, we have the potential of protecting our right to a safe and legal abortion. If we continue, however, down the path of debating fetus vs. baby, pro-choice vs. pro-life, we will continue to see restrictions and anti-choice initiatives. People should explore their own personal feelings but should not judge others for feeling differently. We all should have the ABILITY and the RIGHT to make our own decisions and we must support, not stand in the way, of women who seek an abortion.
If anything, the work that NLIRH and others are doing will get the conversation started. For Latinas, that is a critical first step and for some women it may bring relief.