Abortion Healthcare

Introduction

It’s a fact – abortion is an essential component of women and pregnant people’s healthcare and just like any other person in need of healthcare, abortion seekers are entitled to privacy, dignity, respect, support, and advocacy. 

Good health policy and practice is based on scientific, fact, evidence, and experience and not stigma, myths and barriers to access. For that reason, within this topic, we have provided some useful information on medical abortion, how to use abortion medication safely and effectively and what to expect. 

But that’s not all!   

We can’t ignore the fact that abortion is often treated as something other than healthcare (we actually call it ‘the othering effect’). Even within healthcare settings and society in general, there is a refusal from some quarters to treat it as healthcare. A feminist approach to the provision and practice of abortion healthcare is a must and seeking abortion healthcare doesn’t mean surrendering the knowledge and dominion we possess when it comes to our own bodies. So, within this topic we also explore the necessity of decolonising our bodies and ensuring that the innate sensuous wisdom we possess as feminists is harnessed as power when it comes to dismantling prevailing patriarchal structures and stigmas within healthcare. 

There’s a collection of learning resources for you to explore, including interviews, activities, presentations, podcasts and the ‘Lucht Cabhrach’ abortion companion booklet.

Enjoy and empower!