Rep. Jackie Speier reveals her abortion story-- But she doesn't want you to call it that

Ever since the passionate House debate that resulted in the vote to defund Planned Parenthood, Rep.Jackie Speier (D-CA) has become a kind of pro-choice hero.

 

During the debate, Speier was moved to share her own abortion experience after Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) used his time on the House floor to describe graphic images of abortion procedures. 

But in a recent blog entry for The Huffington Post, Speier criticizes the "journalistic sensationalism" that ensued in reaction to her story and needlessly defends her decision to terminate an unsuccessful pregnancy.

She argues that women's health issues are often trivialized when they are oversimplified and that the word "abortion" can be used to cast shame on the women who choose it.

I agree with Speier that the word "abortion" has taken on a very negative meaning which has been used to demonize women and doctors.

However, I feel like her attempt to soften "the a-word" by providing the context of her experience is a bit misguided.

Speier says that the painful decision to terminate her pregnancy came when the fetus slipped from her uterus to her vagina and threatened fatal infection or complications with future pregnancies.

At the time of the procedure, she was married and over 40.

Speier intended to humanize the experience of abortion for those who have only heard Conservative talking points.

But I fear that by contrasting her experience with the "sensational" stories of 17-year-olds facing unwanted pregnancies, Speier allows us to infer that some abortions are more excusable than others.

The bottom line is that Speier was tremendously brave for sharing her story and putting a human face on an experience that millions of women endure but few discuss.

But I think that over explaining the reasons behind our decisions or trying to soften the language we use to discuss abortion caters too much to the people who poisoned the discussion in the first place.