>> ALL RIGHT.
PROFESSOR PILARZ, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE
VERSUS WADE LAST YEAR, THE
DEBATE AROUND ABORTION HAS
SCRAMBLED THE POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE.
STATES LIKE WISCONSIN HAVE SEEN
ABORTION LAWS PASSED 150 YEARS
AGO BACK ON THE BOOKS.
OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, "HERE
AND NOW" WILL BE EXAMINING THE
NEW DEBATE SURROUNDING ABORTION
PRESENTING YOU WITH THE
VIEWPOINTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE
UTILIZED ABORTION, THOSE WHO
WANT TO KEEP IT ILLEGAL, AND
THOSE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
ADVOCATING FOR THEIR PATIENTS.
TONIGHT, WE BEGIN WITH THE
VOICES OF WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD AN
ABORTION FOR, AS THEY WOULD
DESCRIBE IT, COMPLETELY ORDINARY
REASONS.
THEY ARE SPEAKING UP NOW IN AN
EFFORT TO NORMALIZE THE
CONVERSATION AROUND ABORTION AS
HEALTHCARE.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, PRODUCED
THIS STORY, LETTING THE WOMEN
TELL THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN
WORDS.
>> I WAS 26.
I HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF A
RELATIONSHIP, A LONG
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY FOR
FOUR YEARS AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY
THE FATHER.
>> I WAS A FULL-TIME STUDENT AT
UW-EAU CLAIRE GOING FOR
POLITICAL SCIENCE.
REALLY LOVING SCHOOL.
I WAS A SINGLE MOM.
I HAD A BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING
LITTLE SON, WORKING TWO JOBS.
>> SO I HAD SEX.
IT WAS PROTECTED SEX.
AND I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT
THE CONDOM HAD BROKEN.
AND FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS LATER, I
WAS PREGNANT.
>> I KNEW IMMEDIATELY.
I WOULD SAY THE DAY AFTER.
I JUST FELT IT IN MY BODY.
>> AT FIRST, I JUST THOUGHT I
WAS SICK, BUT I WAS WITH A
REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND
HE WAS LIKE, MMM, MAYBE YOU'RE
PREGNANT.
I WAS, LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT
CAN HAPPEN.
I'VE ONLY HAD SEX ONCE AND IT
WAS PROTECTED.
IT'S FINE.
WELL, IT WASN'T FINE.
I IMMEDIATELY KNEW.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT WAS A
HARD DECISION AND I ABSOLUTELY
RESPECT THAT AND IT IS FOR SOME,
BUT THIS WAS THE SINGLE EASIEST
DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE AS A
PARENT.
>> AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS NOT
IN A POSITION WHERE I WANTED
ANOTHER CHILD.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I FELT
FIT INTO MY LIFE AND SO I MADE
THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE
PREGNANCY.
>> MINNEAPOLIS IS WHERE I ENDED
UP GOING AND GETTING AN
ABORTION.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE AN ENTIRE DAY
TO GO GET THE ABORTION.
THEY TELL YOU TO TAKE THE WHOLE
DAY.
SO I GOT CHILDCARE FOR MY CHILD.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW I
SCRAPED UP THE MONEY, TO BE
HONEST, IT WAS SO LONG AGO.
IT WAS $600, THOUGH, I REMEMBER
THAT, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT WAS
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY
FOR ME TO COME UP WITH.
>> I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT
THAT MY INSURANCE COVERED IT AND
ALSO VERY VERY GRATEFUL.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST, I MEAN
SO AWESOME BECAUSE IT'S
HEALTHCARE.
YOU KNOW?
>> AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY,
IT WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
I THINK SOME OF IT WAS COVERED
BY INSURANCE, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
>> IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE
THERE AT THE ACTUAL CLINIC
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WAS 26.
YOU SAW ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN
THAT ROOM.
YOU SAW YOUNG CHILDREN, YOU SAW
OLDER WOMEN, YOU SAW COUPLES.
>> THERE WAS A WIDE RANGE OF
PEOPLE, DIFFERENT AGES,
DIFFERENT RACES.
>> I WENT THROUGH IT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL, SO GRATEFUL
FOR ABORTION PROVIDERS AND THE
NURSES, THE ENTIRE STAFF.
I REMEMBER THIS LADY, SHE WAS
LIKE JUST HOLD MY HAND WHEN IT
HURTS, JUST SQUEEZE MY HAND, AND
I REMEMBER, OH, BOY, I'M GOING
TO BREAK HER FINGER.
I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BREAK HER
FINGERS, BUT EVERYONE WAS JUST
SO GREAT AND KIND.
>> AND WHEN I WOKE UP, I WAS IN
A CHAIR, THEY GAVE ME SOME JUICE
AND SOME CRACKERS, AND WHAT I
NOTICED WAS THAT I FELT GREAT.
I FELT GREAT.
SO I WENT TO THE HOTEL, ORDERED
SOME FOOD, AND FELT AN ENORMOUS
SENSE OF RELIEF AND FELT -- I
THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO FEEL
ALL THESE SAD FEELINGS AND THAT
IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL OF THIS
STUFF THAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT
INSTEAD, I HAD MY CHICKEN FROM
THE WEARY TRAVELER, I REMEMBER,
BECAUSE IT WAS MY FAVORITE DISH
AT THE TIME, AND WATCHED T.V.
AND REALLY JUST FELT GOOD FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT TWO
MONTHS.
AND FELT VERY MUCH AT EASE AND
AT PEACE WITH MY DECISION AT
THAT POINT.
>> I CALLED MY SISTER
IMMEDIATELY WHEN I GOT OUT OF
THE CLINIC.
GHETTO INTO THE CAR.
I CALLED HER.
I GOT INTO THE CAR.
I CALLED HER.
AND SHE JUST STARTED BAWLING AND
SHE'S LIKE, I'M NOT CRYING
BECAUSE YOU GOT AN ABORTION; I'M
CRYING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T THINK
YOU COULD TELL ME BEFOREHAND AND
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THAT
ON HER BECAUSE...
>> THERE ARE MANY FEELINGS THAT
WOMEN ARE GOING TO HAVE AROUND
THIS AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT
ENOUGH.
>> THERE WERE A LOT OF MYTHOS
THAT WERE SPREAD, ESPECIALLY
AMONGST PERSONS TALKING ABOUT
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, SO THINGS
LIKE BLACK WOMEN AND POVERTY
USED ABORTION FOR BIRTH CONTROL.
PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
PEOPLE DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
I WAS TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT
AFTER I TOLD MY MOM.
I WAS TOLD NEVER TO TELL MY
FATHER.
I WAS LIKE, WHY?
I'M NOT ASHAMED.
I DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT THIS.
IT WAS A CHASE THAT I -- CHOICE
THAT I MADE AND I WOULD MAKE IT
AGAIN A HUNDRED TIMES.
I WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
>> MY STORY IS THE MAJORITY OF
THE STORY.
75% OF THE WOMEN THAT DO THIS
ARE FROM LOW INCOME.
I WAS LOW INCOME WHEN I DID IT.
60% ARE IN THEIR 20s.
I WAS IN MY 20s.
ALMOST 60%, 59 TO 60% ARE
ALREADY PARENTS.
THIS IS A PARENTAL DECISION THAT
THEY'RE MAKING.
I WAS ALREADY A PARENT.
AND THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE
STORIES.
I DON'T THINK THAT I TOLD ANYONE
PUBLICLY UNTIL PROBABLY FIVE OR
SIX YEARS AGO.
AT THAT POINT, I HADN'T TOLD
VERY MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE I DON'T
WALK AROUND TELLING PEOPLE WHAT
I DO AT MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
SO WHEN I DID DECIDE TO
DISCLOSE, IT WAS A POLITICAL
CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO SAY
PUBLICLY, THIS IS A CHOICE THAT
I MADE AND IT'S AN OKAY CHOICE.
>> YOU THINK WHEN WE'RE TRYING
TO TELL OUR STORIES, THE
SCARIEST THING IS OTHER PEOPLE'S
REACTION, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO
REACT TO THIS, WHAT ARE THEY
GOING TO THINK ABOUT ME.
>> THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS JUST
MAKING SO MANY GREAT CONNECTIONS
AND THIS ONE WOMAN ASKED ME IF I
WAS A MOM AND I RESPONDED CAN,
NO, I HAD AN ABORTION, AND SHE
SAID, I LOVE THAT THAT'S HOW YOU
PHRASED IT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE,
JUST BECAUSE IT'S AN ACTIVE
CHOICE TO NOT BE A MOM.
>> IT BECAME EASIER AND ACTUALLY
REALLY EMPOWERING, TOO, TO TALK
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY
TIME WHEN I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT
AND SAY, HEY, I HAD AN ABORTION,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE IN A
CONVERSATION, YOU COULD WALK
AWAY AND SOMEBODY WOULD COME UP
TO YOU AFTERWARDS AND SAY,
"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING
ABOUT THAT.
I ALSO HAD AN ABORTION.
I COULD NEVER DO WHAT YOU JUST
DID."
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE BARRIERS
IS THAT I'M GOING TO HATE MYSELF
FOREVER.
I DON'T HATE MYSELF FOREVER.
I'M ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF
MYSELF FOR MAKING A GOOD CHOICE
FOR MYSELF AND MY BODY.
>> THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO
GET AN ABORTION EXCEPT FOR THE
FACTS THAT I WANTED ONE.
I DIDN'T WANT A KID.
>> SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT'S NOT A
GOOD ENOUGH REASON, BUT IT IS.
I MEAN, THAT IS.
THAT IS A GREAT REASON.
>> I MADE THE DECISION FOR ME
AND MY UNBORN CHILD THAT THAT'S
NOT THE LIFE THAT I WANTED.
>> MY ABORTION ALLOWED ME TO
FIND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, TO GET
MARRIED, TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN
WHEN WE WERE READY.
WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN NOW.
THERE WAS NEVER A POINT WHERE I
HAD TO SIT MY CHILDREN DOWN AND
SAY, JUST SO YOU NORTH KOREANS S
HAD AN ABORTION.
THEY'VE GROWN UP AND KNOWN IT.
IT'S NORMAL IN OUR HOUSE.
>> I WAS BORN TWO YEARS AFTER
ROE VERSUS WADE CAME INTO PASS,
SO I ALWAYS LIVED IN A WORLD
WHERE ABORTION WAS LEGAL AND TO
THINK THAT WE HAD ERASED 50
YEARS O OF PROGRESS WAS ASTOUNDG
AND IT WAS SAD AND IT WAS
ANGERING.
BECAUSE THE WOMEN BEFORE US
FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET US THERE.
AND WE LOST IT.
SO... WHOO.
I'M NOT CRYING BECAUSE OF THE
ACTUAL -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK ABOUT MY ABORTION OFTEN,
TO BE HONEST, BUT I DO THINK
ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO GET TO CHOOSE THE DIRECTION
OF THEIR LIFE.
>> THERE'S SO MANY BARRIERS THAT
WERE PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE PEOPLE
WANT TO IMPOSE THEIR MORALITY ON
OTHER PEOPLE.
I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THAT
IS FOR MORE OF US TO TALK ABOUT
IT, TO SAY IT, TO SAY IT'S
NORMAL, TO SAY "I HAD AN
ABORTION."
YOU LOVE SOMEBODY WHO HAD AN
ABORTION.
YOU PROBABLY LOVE A LOT OF MEME
WHO HAD AN ABORTION.
>> IT EMPOWERS THEM TO KNOW THAT
THERE'S A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE
OUT THERE, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE
OUT THERE THAT ARE REALLY OKAY
WITH THE CHOICE.
EVEN THOSE WHO GREW UP BEING
TOLD THAT IT WASN'T OKAY.
IT IS AN OKAY CHOICE.
>> I WANTED TO BECOME PART OF
EVERYDAY LANGUAGE, GET, FOR ME.
NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
LIKE IF I CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT IT OR FEEL OKAY ABOUT
A DECISION THAT THEY MADE, THAT
I WANT TO DO THAT.
>> I'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE MINE,
BUT THE MORE OF US, THE BETTER.
WE HAVE AN ARMY.
LET'S START USING OUR VOICES
TOGETHER AND THEY CAN'T SHUT US
UP ANYMORE.
>> NEXT WEEK ON "HERE AND NOW,"
A REPORT ON A WOMAN WHO DECIDED
AGAINST HAVING AN ABORTION WITH
THE HELP OF ONE OF THE DOZENS OF
CENTERS ACROSS WISCONSIN WHOSE
MISSION IT IS TO PREVENT WOMEN
FROM TERMINATING THEIR
PREGNANCIES.
YOU CAN ALSO TUNE INTO A SPECIAL
SERIES OF REPORTS ON WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO, LOOKING AT
ABORTION REGULATIONS SINCE THE
STATE PASSED ITS ORIGINAL
ABORTION BAN ENTITLED HOW WE GOT
HERE, ABORTION IN WISCONSIN
SINCE 1849.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN