ABSTRACT
Context
Previous studies of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in the United States focused on clients who sought out CPCs for parenting resources. In contrast, this study focuses on the experiences of those who had already decided on abortion and describes how they avoided or selectively engaged with CPCs prior to obtaining abortion care.
Methods
I draw upon interviews with 16 abortion patients in Mississippi from June 2021 to March 2022. I recruited participants from social media and through Mississippi’s lone abortion clinic. The semi-structured interviews focused on participants who were aware of CPCs’ antiabortion mission at the time of the interview and why they avoided or engaged with these centers prior to their abortions. I analyzed transcripts for themes related to participants’ experiences with CPCs.
Results
Participants described different strategies for interacting with CPCs, including deliberate avoidance based on prior knowledge of CPCs’ antiabortion stance and strategic engagement to access ultrasounds or emotional support. Some participants interpreted stigmatizing practices as care, while others reported misinformation, deception, and attempted stigmatization that they explicitly resisted.
Conclusion
While CPCs remain a challenge to reproductive autonomy, many clients, including abortion patients, successfully bypassed or managed their CPC experiences in ways they found beneficial while circumventing CPCs’ goals.