A counselor at a New Jersey women's clinic says she filmed her own abortion to show that the procedure is "safe" and to help support other women through the process.
Emily Letts, a 25-year-old former professional actress, had been working at the Cherry Hill Women's Center for about a year when she learned in November that she was pregnant. In a column for Cosmopolitan posted this week, Letts writes that it was her first pregnancy -- an unplanned one -- and she had no long-term partner.
"I knew I wasn't ready to take care of a child," Letts wrote.
Letts said she decided to have an abortion at her own clinic. It was early in the pregnancy, about two to three weeks, she said. Having searched online herself and been unable to find a video of what the procedure actually looks like, she decided to film it -- in part to educate other women who feared it.
"A first trimester abortion takes three to five minutes. It is safer than giving birth. There is no cutting, and risk of infertility is less than 1 percent," Letts wrote. "Yet women come into the clinic all the time terrified that they are going to be cut open, convinced that they won’t be able to have kids after the abortion. The misinformation is amazing."
The anti-abortion group New Jersey Right to Life said Tuesday "it's truly sad that an aspiring actress would use this venue" to achieve notoriety.
"Ending a pregnancy through the violence of abortion is not compassionate and is never safe for the defenseless baby who is torn to bits in his or her mother's womb," said executive director Marie Tasy.
Letts said she opted for a surgical abortion with local anesthesia and no IV sedation because she wanted to experience the type of procedure women considering abortions most feared and to be able to better relate to the women who visited the Cherry Hill clinic seeking her help and advice.
The video, which she posted on Facebook, is not graphic and shows Letts humming throughout the quick procedure. She says she received some hateful feedback, but also some that was positive.
She says she hoped to inspire other women to not feel guilty about making the decision to have an abortion.
"Our society breeds this guilt. We inhale it from all directions. Even women who come to the clinic completely solid in their decision to have an abortion say they feel guilty for not feeling guilty," Letts wrote. "I didn't feel bad ... and I am grateful that I can share my story and inspire other women to stop the guilt."
I have mixed feelings. On the one hand - good for her for being so open and frankly, for opening the curtain on a highly stigmatized yet very common medical procedure.
On the other hand, this totally plays in to the hands of anti-abortion activists who believe heartless whores delight in "killing their babies." Humming through the procedure was probably not the best way to go.
Women's clinic counselor laments the misinformation surrounding abortion after failing to prevent her own unplanned pregnancy. Ironic.
I know, I know. I'm sure she was using three reliable forms of birth control that all failed.
I dont give a flying fuck whether she got pregnant by birth control failure or on purpose just for funsies. Abortion is legal and should be. Especially because if she is such an irresponsible degenerate whore, do we want her raising a child that will surely suck at the government's teat its whole life? ^o)
Horrible and disgusting that she did it or filmed it?
Sorry, that she filmed it and really because she put it on Facebook. It trivializes the whole thing.
I don't agree with you. Not at all. I don't believe it trivialized anything. It made it real. It made it less scary. Abortion should be a real option for any woman who feels that she can not or does not want to carry a pregnancy to term. There are plenty of women who would benefit from an abortion but won't go through with it for a number of reasons, one of which is fear. I feel like she made abortion accessible psychologically, as in helping a woman say that she can do this if this what she feels is in her best interest.
I don't think it's horrible or disgusting in the least. I think it's honest and humane.
Horrible and disgusting that she did it or filmed it?
Sorry, that she filmed it and really because she put it on Facebook. It trivializes the whole thing.
Facebook is a major means of communication for all ages, but especially the younger generation who may not have full access to information elsewhere (or may be too scared to seek out actual, true information). I don't think she was trying to make a statement or do anything other than get the information out and let others know that it isn't a scary, "tie you down to the table and cut you open with a hacksaw" type situation. People who are contemplating abortion may be very scared and having a video of the procedure can assuage that fear.
I dont give a flying fuck whether she got pregnant by birth control failure or on purpose just for funsies. Abortion is legal and should be. Especially because if she is such an irresponsible degenerate whore, do we want her raising a child that will surely suck at the government's teat its whole life?
While there is a chance that she is just a irresponsible degenerate counseling other women on having an abortion, I'd venture a guess that she did it on purpose so she could film it. Neither option makes me think very highly of her.
I dont give a flying fuck whether she got pregnant by birth control failure or on purpose just for funsies. Abortion is legal and should be. Especially because if she is such an irresponsible degenerate whore, do we want her raising a child that will surely suck at the government's teat its whole life?
While there is a chance that she is just a irresponsible degenerate counseling other women on having an abortion, I'd venture a guess that she did it on purpose so she could film it. Neither option makes me think very highly of her.
Part of the pro-choice message is that abortion is a matter of privacy between a woman and her doctor. I think this can be construed as undermining that point.
Another important part of the pro-choice goal is to legitimize abortion as a medical procedure like any other. I think filming your own might be taking it into the spectacle territory as opposed to a "this is a medical procedure" message, as we're not in the habit of filming our own medical procedures.
However, she is trying to provide humane reassurance to fellow women that it's not a horrific ordeal, so that goal seems accomplished.
Post by wrathofkuus on May 6, 2014 17:54:44 GMT -5
Yeah, she got pregnant on purpose in order to abort and film it. The guy who impregnated her was on welfare, yet drove a Lexus and had seven iphone 5s.
I dont give a flying fuck whether she got pregnant by birth control failure or on purpose just for funsies. Abortion is legal and should be. Especially because if she is such an irresponsible degenerate whore, do we want her raising a child that will surely suck at the government's teat its whole life?
While there is a chance that she is just a irresponsible degenerate counseling other women on having an abortion, I'd venture a guess that she did it on purpose so she could film it.
There is no nice way to say this, so I will not try to be nice at all.
This comment is gross. Fully, ignorantly gross. Shame on you.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
Part of the pro-choice message is that abortion is a matter of privacy between a woman and her doctor. I think this can be construed as undermining that point.
Another important part of the pro-choice goal is to legitimize abortion as a medical procedure like any other. I think filming your own might be taking it into the spectacle territory as opposed to a "this is a medical procedure" message, as we're not in the habit of filming our own medical procedures.
However, she is trying to provide humane reassurance to fellow women that it's not a horrific ordeal, so that goal seems accomplished.
Google "endoscopy videos" or "tonsillectomy" and you will come up with video upon video of medical procedures. This shouldn't be any different. Seeing the actual procedure before you go through it is a major anxiety reducer in some people.
Though the actual procedure details are between you and your medical professional, I don't think that this video is undermining anything. This isn't an invasion of privacy because both parties consented to the filming.
Yeah, she got pregnant on purpose in order to abort and film it. The guy who impregnated her was on welfare, yet drove a Lexus and had seven iphone 5s.
Don't forget the nails. Her nails must be done.
She probably got pregnant after a dinner of steak and lobster purchased with her bridge card.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
Horrible and disgusting that she did it or filmed it?
Sorry, that she filmed it and really because she put it on Facebook. It trivializes the whole thing.
How does it trivialize it? The point is that by keeping abortion this mysterious and scary thing, women are effectively kept for pursuing a legal, safe medical procedure.
Part of the pro-choice message is that abortion is a matter of privacy between a woman and her doctor. I think this can be construed as undermining that point.
Another important part of the pro-choice goal is to legitimize abortion as a medical procedure like any other. I think filming your own might be taking it into the spectacle territory as opposed to a "this is a medical procedure" message, as we're not in the habit of filming our own medical procedures.
However, she is trying to provide humane reassurance to fellow women that it's not a horrific ordeal, so that goal seems accomplished.
Google "endoscopy videos" or "tonsillectomy" and you will come up with video upon video of medical procedures. This shouldn't be any different. Seeing the actual procedure before you go through it is a major anxiety reducer in some people.
Though the actual procedure details are between you and your medical professional, I don't think that this video is undermining anything. This isn't an invasion of privacy because both parties consented to the filming.
hm. I guess I was thinking more like most medical procedures AREN'T filmed, not that they ARE. I agree it should be no different, meaning stop filming your innards and shit, lol. I don't want to see the fluid that was in your knee, and I don't want to see your tonsils and glottis and such.
While there is a chance that she is just a irresponsible degenerate counseling other women on having an abortion, I'd venture a guess that she did it on purpose so she could film it. Neither option makes me think very highly of her.
Sorry, that she filmed it and really because she put it on Facebook. It trivializes the whole thing.
How does it trivialize it? The point is that by keeping abortion this mysterious and scary thing, women are effectively kept for pursuing a legal, safe medical procedure.
While I don't think it trivializes it, I did say something about it doesn't sit right with me. A FB friend of mine is having surgery on Thursday and it's the same (or really pretty similar) to the two surgeries I've had. She was asking for PMs from anyone that may have had the surgery she was having. We chatted for quite awhile about it last night and when we were done, she told me how much better she felt about going into surgery. All that is to say, I think you can accomplish much of the same thing by sharing experiences. Filming it....I just can't get myself to feel other than squicky about it.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
It doesn't surprise me that people would jump to that conclusion either. However, it bothers me greatly that we don't think "this woman is being altruistic and helping people with this video" and immediately jump to "Attention whore!!!"
Google "endoscopy videos" or "tonsillectomy" and you will come up with video upon video of medical procedures. This shouldn't be any different. Seeing the actual procedure before you go through it is a major anxiety reducer in some people.
Though the actual procedure details are between you and your medical professional, I don't think that this video is undermining anything. This isn't an invasion of privacy because both parties consented to the filming.
hm. I guess I was thinking more like most medical procedures AREN'T filmed, not that they ARE. I agree it should be no different, meaning stop filming your innards and shit, lol. I don't want to see the fluid that was in your knee, and I don't want to see your tonsils and glottis and such.
This is kind of where I am, too, I guess. I don't want to see the gross. I'm pretty squeamish. And I know -- "just don't watch it", and I won't. Just kind of sums up how I feel about it.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
I dont give a flying fuck whether she got pregnant by birth control failure or on purpose just for funsies. Abortion is legal and should be. Especially because if she is such an irresponsible degenerate whore, do we want her raising a child that will surely suck at the government's teat its whole life?
While there is a chance that she is just a irresponsible degenerate counseling other women on having an abortion, I'd venture a guess that she did it on purpose so she could film it. Neither option makes me think very highly of her.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
How does it trivialize it? The point is that by keeping abortion this mysterious and scary thing, women are effectively kept for pursuing a legal, safe medical procedure.
I think of it like updating a Facebook status with, "Hey, see what I did today!"
You are assuming that just because it is on facebook it is trivial, which is a false presumption. People now use facebook as a major means of communication - from companies to non profits to churches. Posts are not always HEY FUN!!!
How else would you suggest she accomplish her goal? In all honesty - your assignment is to let (usually) young, (always) scared, intimidated women know that a legal, safe medical procedure is safe and accessible. How would you do that, and how would you disseminate the information?
This is a real question; I'd be curious to hear anyone answer - maybe there was a better approach.
While I don't think it trivializes it, I did say something about it doesn't sit right with me. A FB friend of mine is having surgery on Thursday and it's the same (or really pretty similar) to the two surgeries I've had. She was asking for PMs from anyone that may have had the surgery she was having. We chatted for quite awhile about it last night and when we were done, she told me how much better she felt about going into surgery. All that is to say, I think you can accomplish much of the same thing by sharing experiences. Filming it....I just can't get myself to feel other than squicky about it.
But how do you do that when no one talks openly about the abortion(s) they've had? I have my doubts that if I made a call out for personal abortion experiences that I would have a full PM inbox. Abortion is so fucking taboo and it shouldn't be. It is a big decision to make and no one disputes that. However, it should be morally and emotionally and psychologically fully within the rights of a woman to make the decision to have one, but that decision is still scary. Emily Letts understands this first hand, both as a counselor and a patient. I think she did a public service with this.
The reason it squicks people out is because it IS an abortion. It was not a gory film. The procedure itself wasn't shown so there is not vagina or blood or tissue to get icky over. The ick factor is purely that it was a pregnancy termination. And while the pro-choice movement as a whole wants such a procedure legal, available, and affordable, we still don't like to talk about what actually happens and how it affects the women who choose it.