Opinion piece as submitted by J. Murphy
One day I noticed a bright, cheery yellow building with big windows encasing the front with what appeared to be a lotus flower under the words “Her Choice” on them. Wondering what this organization does I decided to speak to a staff member. I found out that Her Choice is a Christian, Pro-Life clinic which offers limited services. While this is itself is not an issue, I do take issue with the fact that the center provides false statistics, inaccurate medical information, and hides behind a façade of a neutral, safe place that educates women on all their choices. While they claim to provide guidance and support for women in need, according to the staff member I spoke with, they also talk to women about certain medical aspects of pregnancy, emergency contraception, and all their options with the exception of abortion. Upon further research I discovered the information they provide in these capacities is medically inaccurate, irrelevant, and/or falsified.
The location of Her Choice across from campus and the name “Her Choice” is as strategic as its veiled attempts at “offering choice” and “empowering women.” They may not explicitly say “You cannot have an abortion” however, the messages they imply and sometimes explicitly express are biased, inaccurate, false, and are positioned to encourage women to carry the pregnancy to term under false pretenses. From the moment these women step in the door they feel supported, and guided, but they are being guided under a ruse of an “unbiased organization.” This is not to say this organization does not help some women in their time of need. Her Choice offers two “medical” services: they offer free pregnancy tests, and a free ultrasound at the center. They do not refer for abortions. According to the individual I interviewed they will recommend an ultrasound for three reasons. The first is to “…check for an ectopic pregnancy.” Considering only 1-2% of pregnancies are ectopic, I feel this is a tactic used to scare women into getting the ultrasound by telling them there is a risk of ectopic pregnancy without revealing that there is only a 1-2% chance the pregnancy will be ectopic (Kirk, Bottomley, Bourne). The second reason to perform an ultrasound is to measure the baby and determine how far along the woman is. The third to check for a heartbeat and to “determine if a natural miscarriage might occur.” At Her Choice I was told they tell women that 1 out of every 4 pregnancies end in a miscarriage. This false statistic is used to convince women that they have a 25% chance of having a “natural miscarriage” when the reality 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage (“Diseases and Conditions: Miscarriages”). This falsified statistic is a tactic to convince a young woman to “wait it out” and “see what happens” & if she does not have a miscarriage at 19 weeks she is no longer eligible for a legal, safe, abortion in the state of Ohio.
Her Choice provided me with their Before You Decide “publication” they give to women. This “publication” is created by Care Net. Inside the cover in fine print in the corner it states, “The purpose of this publication is to assist women and men in making an informed decision about pregnancy options. Care Net is a life-affirming organization and do not refer for or promote abortion.” On Care Net’s website their mission and vision states “Care Net envisions a culture where women and men faced with pregnancy decisions are transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and empowered to choose life for their unborn children and abundant life for their families. Acknowledging that every human life begins at conception and is worthy of protection, Care Net offers compassion, hope, and help to anyone considering abortion by presenting them with realistic alternatives and Christ-centered support through our life-affirming network of, pregnancy center, organizations, and individuals” (“Mission and Vision”). None of this information is upfront, explicit, or present anywhere in the center. They claim to offer guidance and support for women and to empower them to be informed about all of their options concerning a pregnancy when this is clearly not the case.
Inside the “publication” I found misinformation including statistics, reports, and falsified information concerning pregnancy, fetal development, emergency contraception and abortion. In the back they have inserted “Selected References” omitting numerous “citations, specifically for “Fetal Development Timeline” and their article on abortion. I was told Her Choice goes through the pages on fetal development when an individual is considering her options. An example of misinformation that may sway an individual to carry a pregnancy to term is when the magazine states at two weeks “A unique individual comes into existence…to some extent, personality and intelligence are established.” The cited material for this information in their “Selected References” is missing. Her Choice’s “publication” that is given to women in a vulnerable state is biased, and at times provides false medical information, and in no way considers the unending circumstances that women may face when becoming pregnant and then their options for or against becoming a parent.
They do not staff a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE nurse). Should they encounter a rape/sexual assault victim I was told they would inform the proper authorities. Her Choice takes it upon itself to report rape/sexual assault without any concern for the individual and their safety and wellbeing. There is absolutely no advocacy training for the staff concerning victims of sexual assault and/or rape. In addition, their information is heteronormative always assuming it is a straight couple and there is absolutely no advocacy training for the staff concerning LGBTQI people.
Meanwhile, while these CPCs thrive in our state Planned Parenthood, a place that offers comprehensive options and care for women has been recently defunded by the Ohio government even though they provide a host of services. While the state of Ohio is funding some CPCs (although Her Choice claims to be completely funded by donations), Planned Parenthood and other comprehensive women’s health clinics which offer HIV and STD testing, medical exams and preventative health care, birth control, and accurate information about women’s options concerning her pregnancy including abortions and abortion referrals, are becoming increasingly scarce. In addition, Planned Parenthood staffs a SANE nurse.
Her Choice is not about choice at all but rather it is about falsely “empowering women” (a term they throw around a lot) and ultimately providing them with a false sense of security based on bunk information, statistics, and “studies” that in no way are comprehensive or even factual. While some women may know they want to have a baby and this space can provide them with guidance, and it can be a positive space for some, the issue still remains that individuals who choose to have a baby may be choosing it based on misguided, false information. The women entering this space are potentially scared, vulnerable, and impressionable. They are not receiving all the information they need in a critical situation. Her Choice is not her choice at all, it’s the choice they have already made for her.
What I am imploring Her Choice to do is to have the vision and mission of Care Net clearly and prominently visible to all who enter. I also want Her Choice to explicitly tell every single person who walks through that door what their values and missions are, as well as their affiliations. I want Her Choice to provide accurate, factual, medical information to those who choose to stay after being informed they are a “life-affirming” organization, and that includes not using scare tactics concerning abortion, emergency contraception, and pregnancy. I want Her Choice to work with various organizations around Bowling Green to train their volunteers to be able to properly assist victims of sexual assault and/or rape, as well as intimate partner violence, who enter that space, as well as LGBTQI individuals. Ideally, Her Choice would also staff a SANE nurse who is available to all during their operating hours especially considering their proximity to BGSU’s campus.
“Reproductive Justice is the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, social, and economic well-being of women and girls, based on the full achievement and protection of women’s human rights” (Reproductive Justice Briefing Book). Reproductive justice is about the right to become a parent, as much as it is about the right to not become a parent. Reproductive justice is about teaching comprehensive sex education in order to educate people and simultaneously reduce the need for abortions. Reproductive justice is about providing accurate, comprehensive education concerning birth control, consent, and active and healthy sex lives for everyone. Reproductive justice is the need and desire to empower all people concerning their reproductive rights. Her Choice is not interested in Reproductive Justice.
Works Cited
“Diseases and Conditions: Miscarriage.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 9 July 2013. Web. 08 June 2016
Kirk, Bottomley, and Bourne. “Human Reproduction Update.” Diagnosing Ectopic Pregnancy and Current Concepts in the Management of Pregnancy of Unknown Location. Oxford Journals, 6 Oct. 2013. Web. 08 June 2016.
“Mission and Vision.” Care Net, 2016. Web. 10 June 2016.
Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change. Berkeley Law. University of California, Berkeley, n.d. Web. 2016.
