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Shout Your Abortion
Following the U.S. Congress's attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion became a viral conduit for abortion storytelling, receiving extensive media coverage and positioning real human experiences at the center of America’s abortion debate for the first time. This online momentum quickly launched a grassroots movement, inspiring countless individuals to share their stories in art, media, and community events. Shout Your Abortion is a collection of photos, essays, and creative work inspired by the movement of the same name, a template for building new communities of healing, and a call to action. This book sheds light on the individuals who breathed life into this movement, illustrating the profound political power of defying shame and claiming sole authorship of our experiences.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2018
28 people are currently reading
1531 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 26, 2019
I could not stop reading this!!! One of my favorite quotes from the book:
This book was powerful. These are stories from people who have had an abortion, in their own words, and also interviews with people who work to provide abortions too those who need them. I was already vocal about being pro-choice before this book, but now I'm amped up!! Knowing that if I were to ever end up pregnant I would get an abortion, I feel more at ease knowing just how many people have my back even outside of my own support circle.
Anti-choice protesters are a human comment section. Don’t waste your light.
This book was powerful. These are stories from people who have had an abortion, in their own words, and also interviews with people who work to provide abortions too those who need them. I was already vocal about being pro-choice before this book, but now I'm amped up!! Knowing that if I were to ever end up pregnant I would get an abortion, I feel more at ease knowing just how many people have my back even outside of my own support circle.
October 8, 2024
"Privilege means that those of us who need it the least often get the most help." - Lindy West
A solid collection of essays from people who have had abortions. I love seeing people make efforts to normalize reproductive healthcare. ♥
February 24, 2019
I hope one day this book will serve as a relic of a strange time where legal reproductive rights were under threat by a small but vocal minority of people, and that time and courts extinguish the threats, and we return to a new normal where people have access to the broad spectrum of medical services they might need. I hope we can look back at the stories and read about the stigma and wonder how our society was ever in a state where providers were attacked for providing medical care for patients. I hope.
If this fantasy does not come true, this book will serve as a banner for folks who _do_ support reproductive rights. It contains honest, unflinching stories that cross through different decades and varying faiths and even emotional outcomes. No story is the same, but the outcomes are: all the people were able to access the services they needed. It's powerful and I'm so appreciative for all of the people that have risen out of the Shout Your Abortion community.
If this fantasy does not come true, this book will serve as a banner for folks who _do_ support reproductive rights. It contains honest, unflinching stories that cross through different decades and varying faiths and even emotional outcomes. No story is the same, but the outcomes are: all the people were able to access the services they needed. It's powerful and I'm so appreciative for all of the people that have risen out of the Shout Your Abortion community.
December 21, 2018
I think I need to actually write a review for this one, not just give my stars. I loved the concept of this book: normalizing and demystifying abortion through sharing stories. However, the execution felt only so-so to me. The stories got repetitive, and were not super well written (which makes sense since they were coming from all types of women, not necessarily writers). I got the impression that the book was hastily put together since so many women were from Seattle and/or friends with the editors. Which is fine — this is a project whose importance is urgent. So 3 stars instead of 2 because I loved the concept and am grateful to the authors for sharing their stories, but not more because honestly I didn’t really enjoy reading it.
October 9, 2021
I've been loud about the abortion I had, especially when I was still living in KY, a state that only had one independent (non-PP) clinic at the time bc of anti-abortion legislation closing the Planned Parenthood. But the only person who's told me they also had an abortion was my momma.
I picked up this book on a whim in the library to get a little taste of what it would feel like to have a conversation with someone else in-person about our experiences with abortion. The stories were difficult to read at times but mostly cathartic, many made me feel seen & held.
Most of the stories do lean toward people who got abortions in Seattle with much less restriction, but I really appreciate that all the Provider stories are from folks in the US South.
I picked up this book on a whim in the library to get a little taste of what it would feel like to have a conversation with someone else in-person about our experiences with abortion. The stories were difficult to read at times but mostly cathartic, many made me feel seen & held.
Most of the stories do lean toward people who got abortions in Seattle with much less restriction, but I really appreciate that all the Provider stories are from folks in the US South.
January 4, 2024
I'm not rating this book because I rate books based on content. But the whole point is I read this book to learn about the opinions of people I disagree with. (Edit: I gave it three stars, which is exactly in the middle, so that my review will be more easily visible for those searching through them)
It was cool to read something from people who are just so on the opposite of the opinion spectrum from me, honestly. Some of the arguments were a bit weak - they try the 'healthcare' argument, only to then say they would want abortion to be legal in any case, whether or not it's necessary for health, whatever reason the mother has. But on the other hand, these are stories from lots of different people.
Artistically, this looked great.
It was cool to read something from people who are just so on the opposite of the opinion spectrum from me, honestly. Some of the arguments were a bit weak - they try the 'healthcare' argument, only to then say they would want abortion to be legal in any case, whether or not it's necessary for health, whatever reason the mother has. But on the other hand, these are stories from lots of different people.
Artistically, this looked great.
February 6, 2019
So wonderful to hear the testimonies and stories of other women and providers. This is an important book that is long overdue. Thank you for creating it!
December 7, 2018
Shout Your Abortion is a diverse collection featuring the stories of 45 women of varied ages, races, experiences, and sexual orientations, and it also features interviews with abortion providers. It pushes back against the societal narrative that abortion is always a painful or difficult choice and instead focuses on showing how every person and every choice is different. The editor Amelia Bonow acknowledges that not everyone has the social or economic privileges to talk freely about their abortions and that her experience is that of a privileged white woman, but she hopes to weaponize her privilege for the greater good. This book is a must for anyone who is passionate about reproductive rights.
March 9, 2019
I just couldn’t stop reading this ... staying up way too late to finish the whole thing! This is an anthology of different little essays from personal experience (of people choosing to have abortions), several interviews of providers, and a collection of memorabilia from the recent movement to protect a woman’s right to choose (primarily) in America. It was surprisingly more profound, cathartic, and less angry than I had expected.
Steering far away from the politics of the matter, I will simply say that it is a wonderful book for anyone who has been forced into feeling shame for doing what they absolutely reckoned was best choice for their own body/life. I have never once regretted my own decision, but I feel like I have been silenced and shamed. Reading the stories of others was incredibly freeing.
My only qualm with this book is that I am wondering if there could have been more variation between the participants. Or perhaps, this subject is simply one that unifies people who have chosen to have an abortion, rather than drive us apart as the politics do.
Steering far away from the politics of the matter, I will simply say that it is a wonderful book for anyone who has been forced into feeling shame for doing what they absolutely reckoned was best choice for their own body/life. I have never once regretted my own decision, but I feel like I have been silenced and shamed. Reading the stories of others was incredibly freeing.
My only qualm with this book is that I am wondering if there could have been more variation between the participants. Or perhaps, this subject is simply one that unifies people who have chosen to have an abortion, rather than drive us apart as the politics do.
January 14, 2023
I thought this was a really important book and it did make me realize something: trying to say that a woman doesn't use abortion as birth control goes against the whole pro choice movement. Abortion IS a form of birth control and that is okay. And there should be no judgement if a woman has more than one. I am very passionately pro choice and loved the VERY wide range of stories. They were from all types of women with different reasons for why they did it, different feelings about it and even different numbers of abortions that the women had.
I will say though that towards the end, the stories started to become a bit repetitive and I skimmed the last few because they were going on too long.
Great read though.
I will say though that towards the end, the stories started to become a bit repetitive and I skimmed the last few because they were going on too long.
Great read though.
January 7, 2020
A few testimonials in I thought "Why did I buy this? I get it. Abortion is normal." But then something amazing happened: the testimonials stirred something in me. They grew more diverse, surprising, funny, touching. They were followed by comics, interviews with doctors, resources, information. This book is for your friend or relative who is on the fence. It's for your children who don't understand why bodily autonomy is controversial. And it's for the people like me who, even though the volunteer occasionally and support the cause, want to feel moved and connected.
March 19, 2021
One goal I’ve set for myself in my thirties is to dig deeper into large-scale issues that affect lots of people but that I have no experience with myself. Prisons, immigration, abortion. The writing isn’t perfect, but the stories are written with a vulnerable authenticity, and that makes me think this belongs in the hands of a lot more people. It isn’t easy to read, necessarily, but it was thought-provoking and helped me see several things more clearly, or at least think more generously.
July 13, 2019
I really loved this book. I was very happy to see it prominently displayed at my local public library.
This is a collection of stories of women and their abortions.
I hope in the future, the narrative can be as simple as, "I was pregnant. I didn't want to be pregnant. I got an abortion." Enough said. No justification needed.
This is a collection of stories of women and their abortions.
I hope in the future, the narrative can be as simple as, "I was pregnant. I didn't want to be pregnant. I got an abortion." Enough said. No justification needed.
March 12, 2020
I borrowed this book from a friend and immediately had to have it. I read it in a sitting, highlighted, notes and all. The format was perfect, the diversity and gender inclusion was stunning. It's an amazing work, done by phenomenal people. Forever in my heart and on my bookshelf.
September 14, 2019
What I do with my body is my business and what you do with your body is your business.
End of story.
And yes I loved this!
End of story.
And yes I loved this!
February 27, 2021
Shout Your Abortion and the continued work for reproductive rights gives me a feeling of empowerment to continue the work as a full spectrum doula!
May 6, 2021
Truthful. Bitter. Honest. A must read for all women
January 5, 2019
I'm staunchly pro-choice, but this opened my eyes to some of my own beliefs and judgments. It helped me stretch my thinking about the subject and included a lot of great resources.
February 16, 2019
I love the concept, the art, and the spirit of unity through contribution to a movement that is of vast importance. That being said, my eyes were a little glazed over by the end of it. Maybe there can be something said about the repetitiveness of the stories. An unwanted pregnancy, an abortion, life carried on with no regrets. It’s the stuff that no one wants to read over and over again, but needs to be read to appreciate the value of what it really is. I wish that the people who need to read this the most were the people who are reading it. For everyone else, it’s a 3/5. Nothing to write home about, but an effort appreciated and supported.
December 29, 2018
SYA is a wonderful collection of each individual’s experiences with abortion. It simply states the truth and what they went through. Some stories are sad, most are happy, some are hilarious while others are mundane & routine to show that it’s simply a medical procedure. I love the vulnerability and strength of these writers and the storytelling is brave and so interesting. There are stories, comics, pictures and drawings all dedicated to making it okay for people to Shout Their Abortion because abortion is normal and there’s nothing to debate here.
November 28, 2019
"Shout Your Abortion stems from the idea that abortion is normal and we are allowed to talk about our abortions however we want... Abortion has been a normal part of reproductive life since the beginning of time. Why wouldn't it be?... SYA (Shout Your Abortion) is about much more than abortion; it's about unlearning the idea that we are not supposed to talk about the things that happen to us. Part of the reason the taboo surrounding abortion is so strong is that it often touches so many other forbidden subjects sexual violence, mental illness, poverty, addiction, incest, abuse... Here's the thing: the anti-choice movement has baited us into playing a game of respectability politics, and the game is rigged. They will never respect us, no matter how small we make ourselves and how sorry we pretend to be. So we might as well just talk about our abortions however we want, and the truth is, a lot of us are jubilant. A lot of us are proud of the people our abortions have allowed us to become. That's not just okay, it's revolutionary." pgs. xii, xiii, 208
The ability to be raw, vulnerable and soul-baring on the page is challenging at the best of times, so to do that on a topic that continues to be so volatile and divisive is beyond courageous and speaks to the power of the Female Spirit to continuously arise. More than anything the SYA Movement has been a catalyst in defeating the stigmatization of reproductive choice and bringing the truths of a diversity of Women to the forefront of the collective consciousness. With 1 in 4 Women choosing abortion, this is an opportunity for all those who've never made that choice to listen with compassion and magnanimity knowing that in order to move forward there has to be an acceptance that this is no longer a debate. I'm Shouting My Abortion... Are you?
The ability to be raw, vulnerable and soul-baring on the page is challenging at the best of times, so to do that on a topic that continues to be so volatile and divisive is beyond courageous and speaks to the power of the Female Spirit to continuously arise. More than anything the SYA Movement has been a catalyst in defeating the stigmatization of reproductive choice and bringing the truths of a diversity of Women to the forefront of the collective consciousness. With 1 in 4 Women choosing abortion, this is an opportunity for all those who've never made that choice to listen with compassion and magnanimity knowing that in order to move forward there has to be an acceptance that this is no longer a debate. I'm Shouting My Abortion... Are you?
Read
September 16, 2019Shout Your Abortion is the book of a new kind of abortion-positive (?) movement that originated on social media with people who had had abortions sharing their stories and a focus on how their abortions had positively impacted their lives. There are 48 testimonies, alongside 4 from abortion providers, some background information on the movement, inspiration, activism ideas, art, and other things.
A major premise of the movement is that people who have had abortions have been forced because of stigma to remain silent, and, for those who do speak about their abortions, they have tended to speak sombrely, as if their abortions were necessary evils. In contrast, the SYA movement thinks this obscures the real benefits that abortions have brought to people's lives. Whether this will convince abortion critics remains to be seen. Surely hearing firsthand accounts from those who have had abortions will give debates a much needed human character. I wonder though if the abortion positivity has been neccessarily overstated (turning to an extreme in order to combat an extreme). Is there a place for acknowledging how abortion care has improved the lives of many but also looking at how lack of sex ed, poverty, rape culture, among other things, mean that some abortions happen where they shouldn't need to (of course, these factors do not cover all abortions)? And is there a place for acknowledging that, at least after a certain stage of fetal development, surely this is a cost-benefit decision rather than something that is unquestionably good? Readers should keep in mind nonetheless that the book does not present a single viewpoint (even if there are common themes).
A major premise of the movement is that people who have had abortions have been forced because of stigma to remain silent, and, for those who do speak about their abortions, they have tended to speak sombrely, as if their abortions were necessary evils. In contrast, the SYA movement thinks this obscures the real benefits that abortions have brought to people's lives. Whether this will convince abortion critics remains to be seen. Surely hearing firsthand accounts from those who have had abortions will give debates a much needed human character. I wonder though if the abortion positivity has been neccessarily overstated (turning to an extreme in order to combat an extreme). Is there a place for acknowledging how abortion care has improved the lives of many but also looking at how lack of sex ed, poverty, rape culture, among other things, mean that some abortions happen where they shouldn't need to (of course, these factors do not cover all abortions)? And is there a place for acknowledging that, at least after a certain stage of fetal development, surely this is a cost-benefit decision rather than something that is unquestionably good? Readers should keep in mind nonetheless that the book does not present a single viewpoint (even if there are common themes).
August 2, 2019
I hope, one day this book will serve as a relic of a strange time. Where legal reproductive rights were under threat.
I hope we can look back at the stories, read about the stigma and wonder how our society was ever in a state?
I hope this book will not be needed one day.
Till then, this book is honest and raw to it’s core.
This book serves as a megaphone for folks who _do_ support reproductive rights.
It shows a multitude of stories and art from voices so little heard.
No story is the same, but the outcomes are: all the people were able to access the services they needed. I wish that could continue.
It's powerful and I'm so appreciative for all of the people that have risen out of the Shout Your Abortion community.
I hope we can look back at the stories, read about the stigma and wonder how our society was ever in a state?
I hope this book will not be needed one day.
Till then, this book is honest and raw to it’s core.
This book serves as a megaphone for folks who _do_ support reproductive rights.
It shows a multitude of stories and art from voices so little heard.
No story is the same, but the outcomes are: all the people were able to access the services they needed. I wish that could continue.
It's powerful and I'm so appreciative for all of the people that have risen out of the Shout Your Abortion community.
January 15, 2019
A powerful collection of personal abortion stories, in addition to "inspiration" (buttons, posters, projections, fashion) for those interested in SYA activism. The best portions of this book were the personal narratives. Normalizing abortion is so important. Abortion is an issue of choice, of bodily autonomy; it is an essential component of reproductive healthcare.
While recognizing the privileges of those who contributed, Shout Your Abortion presents a diverse array of abortion experiences. I liked that these narratives didn't all follow the same format. Each person's narrative was their own authentic depiction of their experience.
While recognizing the privileges of those who contributed, Shout Your Abortion presents a diverse array of abortion experiences. I liked that these narratives didn't all follow the same format. Each person's narrative was their own authentic depiction of their experience.
February 11, 2019
A very valuable and necessary book that breaks many myths of people obtaining abortions. It will challenge one's beliefs surrounding abortions (even maybe the most open-minded). I appreciate they do highlight the fact that abortion has been around since mankind and by making it illegal, you are making it more dangerous for all involved.
I did have trouble the layout. I liked the interviews and graphic style layouts at the end, but I would have probably suggested sprinkling the different layouts throughout the book.
I did have trouble the layout. I liked the interviews and graphic style layouts at the end, but I would have probably suggested sprinkling the different layouts throughout the book.
January 7, 2022
I love the idea, messaging, and normalizing of abortion in this book of anecdotal stories. It was at times both very diverse and also very homogenous in circumstance and tone. Everyone has unique experiences, and yet there are similarities in many stories that acknowledge privilege and access, and a feeling that an abortion is more acceptable if the story ends with future children. This is not the case for every story, of course, but enough that it gives an impression. On the whole, I was engaged and would generally recommend this book.
June 28, 2022
the first portion of the book consists of short narratives detailing the circumstances of the abortions for various individuals. shouting does not necessarily equivocate joy but it represents the lack of regret, feelings of gratitude, solemnness associated with their choice, and difficulties overcome following their procedure. the book attempts to diminish the shame individuals are subjected to concerning the abortion. the second half covers the motives of abortion care providers and how they believe they are instigating change
February 22, 2019
Meet the many faces of abortion.
While they differ in age, race, size, and class they have many things in common: abortion was the right choice for them. They do not regret their abortions. The lives (and often times children) they have now would not have been possible if they hadn't been able to get abortions.
Told with beautiful portraits of each person, and the description of the events as they choose to write them.
While they differ in age, race, size, and class they have many things in common: abortion was the right choice for them. They do not regret their abortions. The lives (and often times children) they have now would not have been possible if they hadn't been able to get abortions.
Told with beautiful portraits of each person, and the description of the events as they choose to write them.
July 4, 2019
Abortion 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 normal 👏🏻! This book is an absolute privilege to read. In a society and time that keeps all things abortion secret and demonized, these stories bring truth, power, and a face to abortion. Shout Your Abortion is monumental in shifting the conversation and fighting for reproductive justice and human rights. This book is powerful and beautiful!
March 11, 2019
This is an important book with a message that needs to be heard and accepted! Abortion is normal! I’ve been through an abortion 12 years ago-not ashamed at all,and it was absolutely the right choice for me! Pro-choice all the way ❤️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews