Abortion: Not Just a Cis-sue
Elle Little (they/them) Graduate student at University of Maine Communication Department and Mabel Wadsworth Center Intern
Many discussions surrounding transgender healthcare include conversations around surgeries and hormones. People may be most familiar with the concepts of “top” and “bottom” surgeries, which can help align someone’s body with either masculine or feminine representations. Some people may also be familiar with hormone replacement therapy to begin seeing new effects such as decreased facial hair or deepening of the voice. While it is true that many transgender people engage in surgery or hormone replacement therapies to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria, these are not the only stories that should take the focus of trans-inclusive healthcare.
It is also important to note that gender-affirming care is not exclusively accessed by cis people, or those who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a great example of a cisgender man who got gender-affirming surgery. He has openly discussed how he dealt with a condition called gynecomastia. This condition causes enlarged breast tissue in men. He chose to remove the excess breast tissue so he was more aligned with his identity. This is very similar to gender-affirming top surgeries for transmasculine folks and shows us that all healthcare has the power to be gender-affirming. All healthcare, from primary care to getting the annual flu shot, has the power to affirm the person receiving the care simply by using a patient’s chosen name and pronouns.
Abortions are an example of healthcare stereotyped as something that only cisgender women have. Abortions can be initiated with medications, or can be performed in-office as a procedure that removes the products of conception from the uterus. Because we live in a ciscentric society that ignores the experiences of trans folks, binary and nonbinary alike, abortions are often thought of as only being accessed by women. However, we know that abortion care is accessed by anyone who can get pregnant, regardless of gender.
These two issues, the narrow view of trans healthcare and the narrow view of abortion healthcare, create disparities between which kinds of people need this care. This can mean that trans people might not know they have access to abortion care, and that cis people might not know they can access gender-affirming care as well. Gender-affirming care for cis people can include taking hormones to increase facial hair and getting surgeries that make them feel more like the gender they identify with, just like with trans folks. Abortion care for trans people should mean that they aren’t misgendered while receiving abortion care and that they are given adequate information on pregnancy risk.
Why is it important to talk about abortion as not just a cis-sue? By openly talking about who is having abortions we create a more inclusive environment for people having abortions. This continues to normalize this common experience and can help reduce stigma when we look at abortions as something that PEOPLE have, and not just women. We also further education in the field of healthcare and reproduction. Some people may start taking testosterone and cease to menstruate, but end up pregnant anyways. The more we include trans people in abortion stories, the more people we can reach who need this care.
Some easy ways to practice being inclusive when you talk about abortions is to start replacing “woman” with “people.” “People” is gender neutral, and allows for non-women to be included. Sometimes this is taken in a negative light when people argue that by doing this, women are now being excluded. However, women are people too and are included when we talk about people! Many catchy slogans that people use to advocate for abortion rights are also highly gendered. While the protest chant, “Her body, her choice,” might be popular, an easy switch can be, “Not the church/not the state/only we decide our fate.” This is inclusive and helps everyone who has had an abortion feel included.
