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Abortion? Abortion! Abortion.: Destigmatizing Abortion through Storytelling

Master’s Project by Sarah Vilendrer (2016)

One in three women will have an abortion in her lifetime. While a common procedure, a deep stigma surrounds abortion that shames women, transgender men and non-binary individuals who may become pregnant. Abortion stigma keeps us silent while self-righteous politicians chip away at reproductive rights with legislation that disproportionally affects women of color. Abortion stigma emboldens anti-abortion extremists to terrorize providers at their clinics, their homes and their children’s schools. Abortion? Abortion! Abortion. contributes to the growing movement to end abortion stigma through personal storytelling and provides guidelines for museum professionals to act as agents of social change. The exhibition opened on April 14, 2016 for Capitol Hill Art Walk, and has been extended until May 31, 2016. Numerous invitations and programs have resulted from the exhibition, including artist talks and plans for reinstallation in additional venues.

 

Keywords: project, exhibitions, storytelling, social change, abortion

Citation:

Vilenderer, S. (2016). Abortion? Abortion! Abortion.: Destigmatizing Abortion through Storytelling. Unpublished master’s project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.