"It was everyone's judgement": Experiences seeking abortion in Southern Alberta (2007-2017)

Abstract

Due to Southern Alberta’s tendency towards social and political conservatism, lack of local abortion providers, and prominent anti-abortion discourse, individuals in this region who need access to abortion care are likely to come up against multiple barriers. In this research, I use multiple methods of analysis to unpack the experiences of individuals seeking abortion care in this uniquely challenging setting. Utilizing discourse analysis, I examine the implicit and explicit messages being communicated by two main local anti-abortion organizations. Following this, I analyze the narratives of three women interviewed about their experiences being pregnant and seeking abortion while living in Southern Alberta. Overall, I work to illuminate how individuals seeking abortion in Southern Alberta experience barriers to information and services in this setting, and how these obstacles and encounters with local anti-abortion discourse can shape the way that some women understand their abortions, and also themselves.