SupportThe term “pro-choice” is often presented as a banner of empowerment and autonomy. However, beneath this appealing label lies a troubling reality: many women who undergo abortions do so under pressure, not out of genuine choice.
Dear Jane explores this topic with our episode, “Reframing the Conversation on Choice with Charlie Camosy, Ph.D.”
Keep reading to learn how coercion is practiced inside and outside of the abortion clinic—and why this deception must be exposed.
The Illusion of Choice
A peer-reviewed study published in the medical journal Cureus reveals that nearly 70% of women who had abortions described them as inconsistent with their own values and preferences. One in four reported their abortions as unwanted or coerced.
The study makes it alarmingly clear: a significant number of women undergo abortion not because it’s what they truly want, but because they feel they have no other option. This reveals a devastating disconnect between the narrative of “choice” and the painful lived experiences of countless women. The abortion industry thrives on this disconnect, masking coercion behind a façade of empowerment.
Far from being freely made decisions, many abortions occur under immense external pressure, whether from partners, family members, friends, employers, or countless others, leaving women feeling cornered and unsupported.
The abortion industry doesn’t just ignore this pressure—it leverages it. It zeroes in on women in crisis, reinforcing the lie that abortion is their only hope, their only “solution.” This isn’t empowerment—it’s deception.
The Reality of Coercion
Coercion can take many forms—emotional manipulation, threats, or direct pressure. According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, over 60% of women who had abortions reported high levels of pressure to abort from one or more sources.
The abortion industry capitalizes on issues like abuse, financial concerns, and mental health challenges. By promoting abortion as a quick fix to complex situations, it overlooks the nuanced realities women face.
For instance, as Dr. Charlie Camosy noted in our episode, “…The leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide, and intimate partner violence correlates with abortion very strongly.” This statistic doesn’t just highlight the severity of the risks many pregnant women face—it underscores how abortion is often positioned not as a choice, but as an escape route from abuse or coercion.
The abortion industry’s claim to protect women and girls is shattered by its own actions—actions that not only exploit but also conceal abuse. A harrowing case from Ohio proves just how deep this betrayal runs. Planned Parenthood aborted the child of a 16-year-old girl who had been raped and impregnated by her father—yet they failed to report the abuse. Instead of fulfilling their legal obligation to protect a minor, the clinic staff sent her back home, where the sexual assault continued for over a year.
This case is not an outlier—it exposes a pattern of silence and complicity within the abortion industry. By ignoring red flags and refusing to report obvious signs of trafficking, incest, and coercion, abortion providers shield predators.
Instead of intervening with life-affirming support, safety resources, or long-term assistance, this industry compounds women’s trauma. It fails to rescue them from danger—instead, it reinforces their pain by convincing them that abortion is their only path forward.
This isn’t compassion. It’s abandonment disguised as empowerment, all too often serving the interests of profit rather than the protection and dignity of women.
A Call to Action
It’s time to shatter the abortion industry’s illusion of “choice” and expose a system that often fails to provide real support, alternatives, or care. Women deserve better than rushed decisions and empty promises—they deserve compassion, resources, and freedom.
We must confront the hard truth: when abortion becomes the only perceived option, it ceases to be a choice at all. We must also challenge the prevailing narratives and advocate for a culture that values life. By doing so, we can ensure that women are genuinely supported and that the rights of the unborn are protected.
It’s time to move beyond slogans and confront the realities behind the “pro-choice” movement. Subscribe to Dear Jane today, where we inform, equip, and inspire you to act.
Let’s stand for true choice—one that upholds the dignity of women and all human life.
