Changing The Reproductive Rights Conversation | Jessica Waters | TEDxBaltimore

Summary

The speaker shares her personal journey and professional experience in reproductive rights, highlighting the complexities of women's decisions regarding pregnancy. She narrates two contrasting stories of her own life, emphasizing the diverse choices women make under different circumstances. Advocating for a nuanced conversation beyond the pro-choice versus pro-life dichotomy, she calls for an acknowledgment of both women's autonomy and the sanctity of life, urging society to respect the multifaceted realities of women's lives.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🎓 The story revolves around a woman who faced different reproductive choices at different stages of her life, highlighting the complexity of decisions women make regarding pregnancy.
• 🤰 The woman, in her late 20s, chose to have an abortion after an unexpected pregnancy due to a medication side effect and her mental health struggles post-sexual assault.
• 💔 In her late 30s, she faced a difficult decision when her unborn child was diagnosed with a severe heart condition, which led to a 20-50% chance of survival after the age of two.
• 🏥 Despite being advised to consider abortion, she and her partner chose to continue the pregnancy, demonstrating the courage and hope that can exist alongside difficult circumstances.
• 🤝 The speaker's professional experience in reproductive rights, including litigation and lobbying, provides a personal and informed perspective on the debate surrounding abortion.
• 🔍 The speaker critiques the polarized 'pro-choice' vs. 'pro-life' debate, suggesting that it oversimplifies the nuanced realities of women's reproductive decisions.
• 🌈 The speaker introduces the concept of a 'Technicolor' space, representing the multifaceted and colorful reality of women's lives, as opposed to the black-and-white portrayal of the abortion debate.
• 🚫 The current discourse is criticized for its divisiveness, with abortion becoming a litmus test for political candidates and judges, and for its failure to reduce unintended pregnancy rates.
• 🤰 The speaker calls for a new conversation that respects both women's autonomy and the sanctity of life, challenging the audience to move beyond entrenched positions.
• 🙏 The narrative includes diverse stories of women, such as those who choose adoption, those who continue pregnancies despite challenges, and those who face economic hardships, to illustrate the breadth of experiences.
• 💪 The speaker concludes with a call to bravery, urging the audience to acknowledge the complexity of reproductive decisions and to respect the moral agency of women in all their diversity.

Q & A

What was the woman in her late 20s dealing with after her sexual assault?

The woman was dealing with depression and PTSD after her sexual assault.

Why did the woman decide to have an abortion when she was in her late 20s?

She decided to have an abortion because she was not prepared to become a mother, and the man involved was not prepared to become a father.

What was the situation of the woman in her late 30s when she met Mike?

When she met Mike, they were in a relationship and had an unexpected pregnancy, but they were also joyful and made plans to start a family together.

What devastating news did the couple receive at their 19-week ultrasound?

They learned that their daughter had a severe heart abnormality with a 20 to 50% chance of survival after the age of two.

What were the factors the couple had to consider before making their decision about the pregnancy?

They had to consider the health of their daughter, the emotional, mental, and financial impact of raising a child with special needs, and the effect on their family.

What is the speaker's professional background in relation to reproductive rights?

The speaker has worked in the field of Reproductive Rights for 20 years, including being a litigator, a lobbyist, and counseling women who were pregnant.

Why does the speaker feel that the current debate on reproductive rights is unsatisfactory?

The speaker feels the debate is unsatisfactory because it is framed in polarities, which has led to a deeply divided public opinion and has not substantially decreased the unintended pregnancy rate.

What does the speaker suggest as a solution to move beyond the current polarized debate?

The speaker suggests diving into the space in between the polarities, acknowledging the complexities and realities of women's lives, and having a conversation that recognizes both the value of autonomy and the respect for life.

What percentage of American women will have an abortion in their lifetime according to the speaker?

One-third of American women will have an abortion in their lifetime.

How does the speaker propose to change the conversation about reproductive rights?

The speaker proposes to change the conversation by acknowledging the intense gravity of deeply held beliefs on each side, respecting both women's autonomy and potential life, and recognizing that all decisions can be moral.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Personal Stories of Reproductive Choices

The speaker shares two contrasting stories about the same woman at different stages of her life. The first story recounts her decision to have an abortion after being sexually assaulted and dealing with depression and PTSD during college. The second story takes place years later when, despite facing a high-risk pregnancy due to a severe fetal heart abnormality, she and her partner choose to continue with the pregnancy. The speaker, with extensive experience in reproductive rights, emphasizes the complexity and deeply personal nature of these decisions.

05:00

🔍 Beyond Polarized Debates: The Need for a New Conversation

The speaker critiques the polarized 'pro-life' versus 'pro-choice' debate, noting its divisive impact on society, including the Supreme Court's decisions and political discourse. She points out the fear that prevents constructive dialogue and suggests moving beyond entrenched positions to explore the 'space in between.' The speaker argues for acknowledging the multifaceted nature of women's lives and the importance of both autonomy and life, calling for a more nuanced and empathetic conversation.

10:03

🌈 The Technicolor Reality of Women's Lives

The speaker challenges the audience to recognize the diverse and complex decisions women make regarding abortion, adoption, and childbirth. She uses the term 'Technicolor' to describe the rich spectrum of women's experiences, which contrasts with the black-and-white portrayals in current debates. The speaker shares various stories to illustrate the different circumstances women face, such as a young woman in an abusive relationship, women choosing adoption, those struggling with infertility, and low-income women. She calls for an end to the presumptions and stereotypes that undermine the integrity of these decisions.

15:03

💪 Embracing Complexity and Challenging Assumptions

In the final paragraph, the speaker calls for bravery in acknowledging the complexity of reproductive decisions. She asserts that valuing women's autonomy and respecting life are not mutually exclusive and can coexist. The speaker encourages the recognition that all reproductive choices—abortion, adoption, or childbirth—can be moral decisions. She challenges the audience to move beyond simplistic narratives and to appreciate the difficult choices women make, which can be excruciating, relieving, joyous, or simply necessary. The speaker concludes with a call for a new conversation that respects the 'Technicolor' reality of women's lives.

Keywords

💡Reproductive Rights

Reproductive rights refer to the legal rights and access to reproductive healthcare, including family planning, contraception, and safe abortion services. In the video, the speaker discusses her work in the field of reproductive rights, emphasizing the importance of women's autonomy over their own bodies and decisions. The narrative highlights the complexities and personal nature of these rights, as they are deeply intertwined with the individual's life circumstances and choices.

💡Abortion

Abortion is the medical or surgical termination of a pregnancy. The video script presents various perspectives on abortion, from personal experiences to broader societal and legal implications. It is central to the discussion of reproductive rights and is portrayed as a deeply personal decision that can vary greatly depending on the individual's situation, as illustrated by the two contrasting stories of the same woman at different points in her life.

💡PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, often leading to severe anxiety and emotional distress. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions that one of the women she discusses was dealing with PTSD as a result of a sexual assault, which is a significant factor in her decision-making process regarding her pregnancy. This term underscores the emotional and psychological challenges faced by individuals in such situations.

💡Polarities

Polarities refer to the extreme positions or viewpoints on a subject, often leading to a divisive and uncompromising debate. The video script critiques the polarized nature of the abortion debate, which is often framed as 'pro-choice' versus 'pro-life.' The speaker argues for a more nuanced conversation that acknowledges the complexities of women's lives and the multifaceted nature of reproductive decisions.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy in the context of the video refers to an individual's right to make decisions about their own body and life without undue external influence or control. The speaker emphasizes the importance of women's autonomy in reproductive decisions, arguing that it is essential for women to have control over their own lives and futures. This concept is central to the discussion of reproductive rights and is contrasted with the opposing viewpoint that prioritizes the sanctity of life.

💡Unintended Pregnancy

An unintended pregnancy is one that is either mistimed, unwanted, or both. The video script mentions that about 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, highlighting the prevalence of this issue. Unintended pregnancies often lead to difficult decisions regarding whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy, and they are a significant factor in the broader conversation about reproductive rights and healthcare access.

💡Moral Decisions

Moral decisions are choices made based on an individual's ethical or moral beliefs. The video script explores the idea that decisions surrounding abortion, adoption, and childbirth can all be considered moral decisions, depending on the individual's values and circumstances. The speaker challenges the audience to recognize that these decisions are not inherently selfish or selfless, but rather complex and deeply personal.

💡Technicolor

In the video, 'Technicolor' is used metaphorically to describe the rich, varied, and multifaceted nature of women's lives and experiences. It contrasts with the 'black and white' or binary way in which reproductive rights and abortion debates are often framed. The speaker uses this term to encourage a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the realities faced by women when making reproductive decisions.

💡Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and has significant influence over the interpretation of laws, including those related to abortion and reproductive rights. The video script mentions the Supreme Court in the context of legal battles over reproductive rights, emphasizing the high stakes and far-reaching impact of these decisions on women's lives and the broader societal discourse.

💡Fear

Fear is a powerful emotion that can drive people to avoid difficult conversations or maintain entrenched positions. In the video, the speaker suggests that fear is a barrier to moving beyond the polarized debate on reproductive rights. She encourages the audience to confront their fears and engage in more open and honest discussions that acknowledge the complexities and moral considerations inherent in reproductive decisions.

💡Complexity

Complexity in this context refers to the multifaceted and often conflicting factors that influence individual decision-making, particularly in matters of reproductive rights. The video script argues for an acknowledgment of this complexity, rather than oversimplifying the issue into binary choices. The speaker uses personal stories to illustrate the many layers of emotion, morality, and practical considerations that women must navigate when making decisions about their reproductive health.

Highlights

A woman in her late 20s, dealing with depression and PTSD after a sexual assault, chose to have an abortion due to her unpreparedness for motherhood.

The same woman, in her late 30s, faced a different decision when she was pregnant but received devastating news about her baby's severe heart abnormality during a 19-week ultrasound.

Despite the doctor's recommendation to consider abortion, the woman and her partner agonized over the decision, considering the health of their daughter, their own emotional and financial impact, and the future of their family.

With family support, the couple decided to continue the pregnancy, embracing the joy and struggle that came with it.

The speaker, with 20 years of experience in reproductive rights, shares her personal journey from litigator to lobbyist, and her own experiences with pregnancy tests, reflecting the complexity of the issue.

The debate is often framed in polarities such as pro-choice vs. pro-life, which has led to a deeply divided public opinion and political landscape.

The speaker challenges the audience to move beyond the polarities and to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of women's lives, where morality and emotion coexist.

The speaker calls for a brave conversation that respects both women's autonomy and the sanctity of life, recognizing that women's decisions are often complex and deeply personal.

The speaker shares stories of women like Sarah, who chose abortion at 16 due to an abusive relationship and drug abuse, and went on to graduate from college, illustrating the diverse outcomes of reproductive choices.

The narrative includes women who choose adoption, those who struggle with infertility and make difficult decisions to protect the life of one baby, and those living in poverty who choose abortion.

The speaker emphasizes the need to respect the deeply held beliefs on both sides of the debate and to provide better support for women and their families.

The speaker admits her own beliefs in women's autonomy and the need for them to make reproductive decisions, while also expressing a deep respect for life and potential life.

The speaker calls for an end to the presumption that women must be selfless and that moral women choose to continue pregnancies, acknowledging the relief, joy, or necessity that abortion can bring to some women.

The talk concludes with a call to action to change the conversation, to be brave enough to acknowledge the complexity and the 'Technicolor' of women's lives, and to respect the moral decisions that women make regarding reproduction.

Transcripts

[Music]

I want to tell you a story about a woman

I recently met about 15 years ago she

was in her late 20s she had just

graduated from college and when she was

in college she had been sexually

assaulted as a result of that sexual

assault she was dealing with depression

and

PTSD and unbeknownst to her one of the

medications she was taking to deal with

that

trauma interfered with her birth

control and she found herself

unexpectedly

pregnant she knew at that time that she

was not prepared to become a mother

and she knew that the man involved was

not prepared to become a

father so at that time she made the

choice to have an

abortion I want to tell you the story of

another

woman she's in her late 30s and about a

year ago she met a man who will call

Mike and after a few dates they were

pretty sure they were going to spend the

rest of their life together

so when early on in their relationship

they realized they had an unexpected

pregnancy they were surprised and a

little scared but they were also

joyful and they made plans to start a

family

together but at their 19 we ultrasound

they got devastating

news they learned that their daughter

had a severe heart

abnormality one that would require

multiple surgeries as soon as she was

born

and one that had a 20 to 50% chance of

survival after the age of

two and she told me that the next few

weeks were the most agonizing of her

life as she and her partner considered

every possibility because their doctor

had told them they should consider

abortion and what they had to consider

was

this they had to consider the health of

their

daughter and what their daughter might

go

through they had to consider the impact

this would have on them the emotional

and mental and financial impact of

raising a child with special

needs and they had to consider what this

would do to the family they desperately

wanted ultimately with the support of

their family they decided to continue

their

pregnancy and next week their baby

daughter is due

these two women are actually the same

women she is the same person who made

very different decisions at very

different points in her

life I've worked in the field of

Reproductive Rights for the past 20

years I've been a litigator I've been a

lobbyist I've counseled women who were

cons and I've also written briefs before

The Supreme Court

and like many of you here

today I've been a woman who has taken

pregnancy tests desperately hoping not

to be pregnant we all find God in those

right we think please God I'll never

have sex again if I'm not

pregnant and I've been a woman taking a

pregnancy test desperately hoping to be

pregnant and I'm lucky enough to be the

mother of two beautiful little boys

when you work in this field you aren't

unsure of your

position you don't walk in to Nal or the

national right to life committee or

Planned Parenthood looking for a job and

say yeah I'm not really sure how I feel

right that's no way to get a job what we

do is we commit we dig in we are in

trenched because we care because we are

passionate and we surround ourselves

with people

who share and buttress our views because

that's what we do right we collect

people who tell us that were

right but over the last few

years I began to feel that something was

missing I was finding myself

increasingly not satisfied with the

debate because the debate has always

been framed as one of polarities

pro-choice

pro-life

pro-abortion

anti-abortion

anti-ab probab

proman

anti-woman and where has that left

us it's left us with a supreme court so

sharply divided on this issue that

decisions are often

54 whether it's on an issue of abortion

restrictions or access to contraception

it's left us with a reality that

abortion is a litmus test for political

candidates or federal

judges it's left us with a House of

Representatives that is willing to shut

down the federal government over funding

for Planned

Parenthood and it's left us with a

public that is deeply divided on this

issue a recent Gallup poll found that

47% of Americans identify as as

pro-choice and 46 as

pro-life and it has also left us with an

unintended pregnancy rate that has not

substantially

declined currently about 50% of

pregnancies in the United States are

unintended

50% that's 3.4 million unintended

pregnancies every

year and

40% of those pregnancies end in abortion

no one is winning with these

numbers so what do we do how do we move

Beyond this now as a lawyer I like to

break things into discreet Parts I like

a path I like a plan and I think the

questions are three

one what's the

problem two what's the barrier to fixing

the problem and three how do we move

that

barrier start with the first one what's

the problem I think we've identified it

it's the

polarities it's the entrenched positions

that are seemingly not

reconcilable so what's the barrier why

are we still there and I would pait that

that barrier is

fear because we are so intrenched we are

scared to have a real

conversation because as someone who is

worked on these issues for years and

taken positions I don't want to see it

any

ground I don't want to go backwards I

don't want to lose the

fight we're

scared how do we get beyond that what's

the

solution I would posit that what we have

to do is dive into the space in

between we have to get out of those

polarities and see what's in the

middle now I'm sure some of you are

thinking she's going to say oh this

issue is in black and white in fact it's

really gray and that's right but it

doesn't get us very

far because that space in between isn't

gray because that space in

between is the reality of women's

lives it is the joy and the struggle it

is the multi-layered

complexities it is the decision she has

to make every day and in that space in

between that's where morality lives and

that's where emotion lives and that

space that space of women's

lives is

Technicolor so how do we get

there how do we move the conversation

forward when I think about

this

I think I should argue I should give you

facts and what would I tell you I would

say that one-third of American women

will have an abortion in their

lifetime I would tell you that abortion

is safer than child birth 14 times safer

in fact and I would talk to you about

autonomy I would say that a woman who

cannot control her reproductive

decisions cannot control anything in her

life and that may all be

true

but the person in the other

polarity is having a completely

different

conversation because while everything I

just said may be true for

her what is most

important is valuing and respecting life

for

her she feels a duty to protect life and

for her abortion is taking a

life

we're having different

conversations and underlying those

arguments on both sides are dangerous

presumptions presumptions that women who

choose abortion don't respect

life and presumptions that those who

oppose abortion don't respect

women we are having different

conversations so here's my challenge to

you

can we acknowledge that valuing autonomy

and respecting life are not

competing can we acknowledge that both

can live in that technocolor space

because that is where women live women

are not one side or the other women are

complex women are dealing with the

realities of their everyday life because

in that Technicolor space are real

women women like

Sarah Sarah was 16 years

old and she was stuck in an abusive

relationship and she was abusing drugs

and she found herself unexpectedly

pregnant and at that time she knew that

she could not be a mother and she chose

abortion she ended up graduating from

high school going on to college and just

last year graduated from a major 4-year

University in that Technicolor space are

the

women who find themselves unexpectedly

pregnant and make the heroic decision to

choose

adoption in that space are the women who

try for years to get pregnant and cannot

who want nothing more than to have a

child in that space is

Mary Mary tried for years to get

pregnant underwent grueling fertility

treatments and when her doctor told her

that she was pregnant with twins and

that the best chance for one of her

babies to survive was to end one of the

pregnancies that's what she did so that

she could protect the life of the baby

she so desperately

wanted in that Technicolor space are the

40% of women who choose abortion who are

living below the federal poverty

line and in that space is

Janice Janice is one of the 113 women

who just last week submitted a brief to

the suprem

court and in that brief they told the

court of their deeply personal abortion

decisions and how making that decision

shaped the trajectory of their careers

and their

lives in that space are the deeply

religious

women who choose adoption or choose

child birth and the deeply religious

women who choose

abortion

and in that space are the 60% of women

who choose abortion who were already

mothers who know what it means to be a

mother we have to be brave enough to

acknowledge the intense gravity of the

deeply held beliefs on each side because

women and their families deserve better

than both camps have been giving

them now I said in the beginning of this

talk that when you work in this field

you don't go in

undecided and I'm no

exception I stand Here proud to tell you

that I deeply believe in women's

autonomy and deeply believe that they

need to be able to make reproductive

decisions because if they cannot they

have no control over any other aspect of

their

life but here's where it gets scary and

here's where it gets hard I need to move

beyond that I need to get out of those

polarities I need to be brave enough to

say I respect women's autonomy but I

also respect life I also respect

potential life I need to acknowledge

that life is sacred and potential life

is sacred and the women who choose

abortion are making a

sacrifice because I am a woman who is

looked at an ultrasound as 7 weeks of

pregnancy saw a fluttering heartbeat and

thought that's my

baby and I'm a woman who's looked at an

ultrasound early in pregnancy

desperately hoping to see a heartbeat

and was devastated when there wasn't

one I viscerally understand that

connection to life to potential life and

love for that potential life can happen

in an

instant and can someone in the other po

poity be brave enough to say I respect

life I value life and I also value

women's

lives can she be brave enough to say

that choosing adoption or choosing child

birth or choosing abortion can all be

moral

decisions can we acknowledge that all of

those decisions are

moral can we get

away from the presumption that women

must be

selfless and that selfless women good

women moral

women choose to continue

pregnancies and those who have abortions

are

selfish can we be brave enough to

say that women who find themselves

pregnant

are often making some of the hardest

choices of their

life can we be brave enough to say that

for some

women that choice will be

excruciating for some women it will be a

relief for some women it will be

joyous and for some it will just be what

she needs to

do

we need to move beyond the debate we've

been

having we need to be brave enough to

acknowledge the

complexity we need to be brave enough to

acknowledge the

Technicolor we need to be brave enough

to change the

conversation thank

[Applause]

you