The hit TV show Girls is no stranger to broaching the subject of abortion. And neither is Jemima Kirke, whose character faced a close call with abortion after getting a late period. Now Jemima is sharing her real-life experience with abortion.
In this video, which is part of the Center for Reproductive Rights Draw The Line campaign, Jemima (now a mother of two young girls) recalls the obstacles she faced as a college student when she couldn’t tell her mother she needed to get an abortion and had to pay out of pocket as a result.
“We think we do have free choice, and we are able to do whatever we want. But then there are these hoops we have to go through to get there,” says Jemima.
For her, jumping through hoops meant feeling isolated and scrounging together only enough cash to get the procedure done without anesthetic. For others those hoops mean having to travel to other states for the procedure or not being able to afford an abortion altogether.
“Reproductive issues should be something that women should be able to talk about freely [because] I still see stigma and shame around terminating pregnancies,” says Jemima.
And we couldn’t agree more. The more women like Jemima share their story, the closer we are to normalizing abortion — gaining support for the medical procedure not only among friends and family but in the political arena as well.
After all, one in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime. Stories like this reinforce that women who have an abortion are not few nor far between. They help cultivate a culture of acceptance, advocacy and ultimately, change for the betterment of women and society.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or an endorsement by Planned Parenthood. Check with your health care provider to discuss what is best for you.
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