In a new article in the journal Contraception, UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity researchers Emma Romell, Daniela Mansbach, and Alisa Von Hagel detail the barriers reproductive health experts face in conducting legislative advocacy on abortion.
The authors specifically sought to understand the unique barriers to testifying about abortion, given its politicized nature, and the challenges of testifying at state legislative committee hearings on abortion bills. It is crucial to understand these barriers since state policy dominates current abortion access in the United States.
The researchers interviewed 40 experts in reproductive health for the study. These included obstetrician-gynecologists, midwives, pediatricians, nurses, primary care providers, and professional advocates.
The authors identified four main roadblocks reproductive health experts face when testifying (or trying to testify) on abortion.
- Some expert physicians who did not regularly provide abortions said they felt unqualified to testify. At the same time, experts with direct experience in abortion care said the stigma of their work made connecting with some legislators difficult.
- Respondents described how gender and race privilege influence who legislators would listen to — and who showed up to testify.
- Interviewees said formal and informal constraints within their workplaces affected what they could say at public hearings.
- Fear of harassment and violence kept many interviewees from testifying.
A fear of harassment and violence was especially relevant for active abortion providers. Many of these providers had already labored to keep their names, home addresses, and other identifying information out of the public eye. For these providers, testifying publicly about abortion came with too much risk.
It is crucial to understand the unique barriers to testifying about abortion at state legislative committee hearings since state policy dominates current abortion access in the United States.
The findings point to avenues to improve expert involvement in abortion policymaking and the legislative process. These include:
- Encouraging testimony by trusted healthcare professionals who are not abortion providers. These physicians can sidestep some of the stigma abortion providers face while still offering important medical expertise.
- Connecting interested experts to organizations that can help navigate security concerns, teach strategies for effective testimony, and offer other resources.
In the wake of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the researchers note it is vital to grow the coalition of experts advocating for reproductive rights at the state level.