We were very lucky to talk with Renee Bracey Sherman, reproductive justice advocate, founder of We Testify, and author of the fantastic book: Liberating Abortion: Claiming our history, sharing our stories, and building the reproductive future we deserve. Her book is now out in paperback - you should check it out!
We have a great conversation with Renee about abortion storytelling and the dichotomy of which stories are elevated in the public discourse. She refers to what she calls stories that fit the “C” word - or compelling stories. These are stories, often of folks living in privilege, who need abortion care for a complication of a wanted pregnancy. While these stories are absolutely important, they don’t describe the majority of people who are needing ordinary abortion care. The vast majority of patients are in the 1st trimester, living poor or in poverty, and are people of color.
We Testify is an organization that Renee founded to help people share these ordinary abortion stories. Here’s a little more about We Testify from their website: “We Testify uses the power of real stories to change how people see abortion. Through the stories we tell, we build more than just awareness—we build community, leadership, and power. That’s why we support our abortion storytellers every step of the way: preparing them to share their stories, caring for them through the process, fostering community, and compensating them for their time and emotional labor. We focus on centering diverse voices, especially from people often left out of the conversation. When we share our abortion stories, people begin to understand the full human experience of abortion, break down stigma, and create a more compassionate culture.”
By elevating everyday abortion stories, we can change the conversation about abortion in our communities and decrease abortion stigma.
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