Feminists For Choice

A few weeks ago, a new television advertisement in the UK started to stir up controversy. The ad simply features the question “Are you late?” As well as, the phone number and website for the sexual and reproductive health care provider, Marie Stopes International. This is the first television ad for an abortion provider in the UK.

Abortion is legal in the UK (except Northern Ireland where the ad will not be seen) if two doctors give consent. They must state that ending the pregnancy is in the best interest of the woman and would cause either physical or mental health issues. This law was enacted in 1967 and many reproductive rights advocates believe it should be updated to make the process of obtaining reproductive services easier for women. Still, approximately 200,000 abortions are carried out in Britain each year

Marie Stopes International is similar to Planned Parenthood and was founded in 1976. It grew out of an organization originally set up by Ms. Stopes in 1921. At that time, it served as a resource center for married women and advocated for reproductive rights. Their current mission is simply” children by choice not chance.”  Health screenings, education, birth control access, abortion services, an adoption helpline and advocacy campaigns are some of the many activities this organization does worldwide.

This is a huge milestone that a mainstream media resource is being used to advertise an abortion provider. However, this commercial exemplifies how much further society needs to go to making language surrounding abortion less taboo.

Emotions tend to run high around discussion of reproductive health, especially abortion. This is true of both sides. Open dialogue needs to happen in order to make sure everyone is aware of facts and services. Maybe a commercial like the one in the UK will begin to slowly open up the discussion, but I wish it wasn’t quite so cryptic.

The language in the ad leaves the subject very understated. Not once in the ad is there mention of abortion, any other option or choice. In some ways, it reminded me of posters I’ve seen for pregnancy crisis centers in the U.S. These places claim to provide comprehensive resources for pregnant women, but instead provide coercion and often false information.

Of course, anti-choice groups have reacted poorly to the ad. LIFE (a UK anti-choice group) has issued a letter to the UK’s FCC equivalent (media regulation) protesting the commercial. They claim the ad should feature a warning about the physical and mental risks of abortion despite no significant scientific evidence asserting these risks.

So what are you opinions about the ad? Does it go far enough? Too far? Would you like to see similar ads by Planned Parenthood here in the U.S.?

I feel like it is a good start and maybe more dialogue about reproductive rights is on the horizon.