What Happens When We Deny People Abortions? | Diana Greene Foster | TED

Summary

This talk explores the impact of unintended pregnancies through the personal narratives of the speaker's grandmothers and the results of the 'Turnaway Study.' It challenges the myth that abortion causes mental health harm, revealing no such harm and instead showing negative outcomes for those denied abortions. The study also highlights the physical health risks and socioeconomic disparities faced by women who carry unwanted pregnancies to term. The speaker advocates for safe, legal abortion access and comprehensive support for pregnant people, emphasizing the importance of personal choice in childbearing for family well-being and life aspirations.

Takeaways

• 👩‍👧 The speaker shares the personal stories of her grandmothers, who faced unwanted pregnancies under different circumstances, highlighting the impact of limited abortion access.
• 📉 Research shows no mental health harm from abortion; instead, women denied abortions experienced higher anxiety, lower self-esteem, and life dissatisfaction initially.
• 👶 Women who were denied abortions faced worse physical health, including higher rates of chronic pain and complications such as hemorrhage, hypertension, and even death.
• 💰 Economic hardships were more prevalent among women who were denied abortions, leading to more debt, lower credit scores, and higher chances of eviction and bankruptcy.
• 📚 Women who received abortions were more likely to set and achieve aspirational goals, like leaving abusive relationships, pursuing education, and having planned pregnancies later.
• 👩‍👧‍👦 Over 95% of women who received abortions said it was the right decision for them, and fewer than 10% of women who gave birth chose adoption, countering assumptions made by Supreme Court justices.
• 🌍 The speaker emphasizes that access to safe and legal abortion is crucial globally and advocates for policies supporting low-income families to reduce the need for abortions due to economic reasons.
• 🚨 The post-Dobbs decision in the U.S. has led to greater hardships for people unable to access abortions, especially for those with limited financial or social resources.
• 🍼 Adoption is not a simple solution, as suggested by some justices. Women who chose adoption were more likely to struggle emotionally compared to those who parented their children.
• 🔑 The overarching message is that control over childbearing decisions is essential for women’s physical, economic, and emotional well-being, allowing them to pursue desired life outcomes.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the Turnaway Study mentioned in the script?

The Turnaway Study aimed to compare the outcomes for women who received abortions with those who were denied abortions due to arriving too late in their pregnancy, to understand the impacts on their mental health, physical health, and socioeconomic well-being.

What were the key findings of the Turnaway Study regarding mental health?

The study found no mental health harm from abortion. Instead, it observed higher anxiety, lower self-esteem, and lower life satisfaction for those who were denied abortions, but these differences diminished over time.

How did the physical health of women who were denied abortions compare to those who received them?

Women who were denied abortions and carried their pregnancies to term experienced worse physical health, including higher chronic pain, more hypertension, and overall worse physical health compared to those who received abortions.

What socioeconomic differences were observed between women who received abortions and those who were denied?

Women who were denied abortions faced more hardships, including an increase in public assistance, loss of full-time employment, and falling below the federal poverty level. They also had more debt, lower credit scores, and a greater chance of eviction and bankruptcy.

How did the study's findings challenge the assumptions made by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2007?

The study's findings directly contradicted Justice Kennedy's assumption that abortion causes mental health harm, as it found no such harm and instead showed negative outcomes for those denied abortions.

What was the speaker's personal connection to the issue of unintended pregnancy?

The speaker's grandmothers had unintended pregnancies, with one seeking an illegal abortion and the other giving birth and placing her child for adoption, which influenced the speaker's career path as a demographer and professor studying unintended pregnancy.

What international trend regarding abortion laws does the speaker mention?

The speaker mentioned that the overwhelming international trend is towards liberalizing abortion laws, in contrast to the United States which has been imposing new restrictions.

What support does the speaker suggest is needed for low-income families to prevent unwanted pregnancies for economic reasons?

The speaker suggests that more generous and less punitive supports are needed, such as income supports, extended periods of health care coverage, child care, and parental leave.

How did the speaker's grandmothers' experiences with unintended pregnancy reflect the findings of the Turnaway Study?

The speaker's grandmothers' experiences, one getting an abortion and the other giving birth and experiencing complications, mirrored the study's findings that those who received abortions fared better in various aspects of life compared to those who were denied.

What was the impact of the 2022 Supreme Court Dobbs decision on abortion access in the United States according to the speaker?

The Dobbs decision overturned Roe and ended federal protections for abortion rights, leading to a situation where people experiencing unwanted pregnancies, especially those without resources to travel or access medication, face hardships similar to those documented in the Turnaway Study.