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Jeannette

Jeannette is from Costa Rica. She tells about her two abortions from the 1970s. The first happened in Mexico, the second in the USA. In Costa Rica abortion was criminalized in 1970.

  • Drawing illustrating a woman.
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    OTALT/Helene Karlsson

Jeannette's story is collected especially for the SHHH project. All informants and stories in this project have been anonymised. All names are changed.

Jeannette's story

I have had two abortions in my lifetime. I already had the two children I wanted with my husband and I decided that it was enough. I made the decision by myself, and my husband consented.

The second time I had an abortion, I was 32 years old and in the USA. The treatment was respectful and without making me feel guilty.

Jeannette

The first time I was 26 and lived in Mexico. I did not know where to go to have the procedure done, but I asked some acquaintances, and a friend accompanied me to the office. I had the procedure done in a doctor’s office, it was without any anaesthesia, and it was very painful. I felt like I was socially shamed. 

The second time I had an abortion, I was 32 years old and in the USA. This time I went to a clinic that specialized in abortions. I had learned about the clinic via various advertisements, and my husband came with me. The treatment was respectful and without making me feel guilty. I did not have any complications following the procedure.

I am convinced that having an abortion should be legalized. Many women die in clandestine abortions.

Jeannette

I did not feel guilty then or now. I am convinced that having an abortion should be legalized, because it went well for me, but many women die in clandestine abortions. Once, I had to take a poor woman with 5 children to a hospital. She had been given a knitting needle by a midwife to induce abortion, and she was bleeding to death.

Museum24:Portal - 2024.03.19
Grunnstilsett-versjon: 1