| Abortion stigma: a reconceptualization of constituents, causes, and consequences. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21530840 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Stigmatization is a deeply contextual, dynamic social process; stigma from abortion is the discrediting of individuals as a result of their association with abortion. Abortion stigma is under-researched and under-theorized, and the few existing studies focus only on women who have had abortions. We build on this work, drawing from the social science literature to describe three groups whom we posit are affected by abortion stigma: Women who have had abortions, individuals who work in facilities that provide abortion, and supporters of women who have had abortions, including partners, family, and friends, as well as abortion researchers and advocates. Although these groups are not homogeneous, some common experiences within the groups-and differences between the groups-help to illuminate how people manage abortion stigma and begin to reveal the roots of this stigma itself. We discuss five reasons why abortion is stigmatized, beginning with the rationale identified by Kumar, Hessini, and Mitchell: The violation of female ideals of sexuality and motherhood. We then suggest additional causes of abortion stigma, including attributing personhood to the fetus, legal restrictions, the idea that abortion is dirty or unhealthy, and the use of stigma as a tool for anti-abortion efforts. Although not exhaustive, these causes of abortion stigma illustrate how it is made manifest for affected groups. Understanding abortion stigma will inform strategies to reduce it, which has direct implications for improving access to care and better health for those whom stigma affects. |
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Authors:
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Alison Norris; Danielle Bessett; Julia R Steinberg; Megan L Kavanaugh; Silvia De Zordo; Davida Becker |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health Volume: 21 ISSN: 1878-4321 ISO Abbreviation: Womens Health Issues Publication Date: 2011 May-Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-05-02 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9101000 Medline TA: Womens Health Issues Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: S49-54 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2011 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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