So, she turned to TikTok.
This framing was intentionalshe aimed to normalize abortion in a tense political climate.
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Courtesy of sources; Getty; Glamour collage
SinceDobbs, 14 stateshave banned abortionin nearly all circumstances, with other states placing strict restrictions on the procedure.
Many people online were saying to me, This is such a huge decision.
How do you make this decision?
Well, choosing not to have a kid is the easiest decision Ive ever made.
She adds, But you know whats a big decision?
And shes not alone in sharing her abortion story on TikTok.
I was like, Whats going to happen?
the woman narrates in a voiceover while dancing in her kitchen.
The video also features real-time footage with a voiceover detailing her bodys reaction to the pill.
Like Sunnis video, commenters on Jessicas video have shared how her perspective shifted their views on abortion.
I knew about abortion pills, but I had no idea how they worked.
Thats what Dr.Staci Tanouyesays is so effective about videos like these.
Tanouye, an ob-gyn practicing in Florida.
Nothing is fear-mongering about their videos; both normalize the abortion experience, which seems to be the intent.
She adds, Beyond that, theyre incredibly educational.
Its only five pills.
Its a [medication] abortion, she says.
you’re able to have this up to 11 weeks of pregnancy, and Im only at five.
Some commenters expressed surprise that the symptoms describedcramping, bleeding, passing clotswerent as excruciating as they anticipated.
Platforms with algorithms, like TikTok, are designed to push sensationalized content.
I just want people not to be ashamed of their abortions.
I want it to be like any decision you make for yourself; you should feel empowered.
In fact,93% of abortions occur in the first trimester,as seen in Jessicas experience.
This method encourages reliable sources to share their stories.
I just want people not to be ashamed of their abortions, Jessica says.
I want it to be like any decision you make for yourself; you should feel empowered.
Morgan Sullivan is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer covering everything from health and sex to fashion and beauty.
Her work can also be seen inThe Cut, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue,and more.
