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Abortion as Ordinary Healthcare: Changing the Culture
Choice Chat’s Culture & Abortion mini-series examines how abortion is shaped by the culture around us.
In the first episode, Dr. Shannon Stettner discusses abortion culture in Canada, including stigma, silence, identity, religion, politics, and the need to understand abortion as ordinary healthcare. In the second episode, Rachel Cairns will explore abortion through the arts — books, television, movies, and theatre — and consider how stories shape public understanding of abortion.
In this episode of the Choice Chat podcast, host AJ Ware speaks with Dr. Shannon Stettner, editor of Without Apology: Writings on Abortion in Canada and co-editor of Abortion: History, Politics, and Reproductive Justice after Morgentaler.
Together, they explore abortion in Canada not only as a legal or medical issue, but as part of our lived cultural experience. Dr. Stettner challenges the silence and stigma that still surround abortion and asks what it would mean to treat abortion as ordinary healthcare rather than as something exceptional, shameful, or hidden.
The conversation makes space for the complexity of real abortion experiences. A person may feel relief, grief, certainty, conflict, or several emotions at once. None of that makes their decision less valid. A healthier abortion culture would allow people to speak truthfully, receive support without judgment, and understand abortion as part of sexual and reproductive health.
This episode is a thoughtful and urgent contribution to reproductive justice in Canada. Abortion is healthcare, but culture shapes whether people feel supported, judged, isolated, or free to speak on their own terms.
RESOURCES
Choice Chat Podcast — Humanist Canada
Choice Chat is a podcast from the Morgentaler Committee of Humanist Canada that explores abortion, human reproduction, sexual health, dignity, choice, and reproductive justice in Canada.
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights — Access Line
A confidential national support service for sexual and reproductive health information, including abortion referrals and support.
Phone: 1-888-642-2725
Text: 613-800-6757
Email: access@actioncanadashr.org
Available daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
ARCC is a national pro-choice organization that works to protect and advance abortion rights and access in Canada through advocacy, public education, policy analysis, and coalition work.
Without Apology: Writings on Abortion in Canada
Edited by Dr. Shannon Stettner. This collection brings together activists, scholars, abortion providers, clinic support staff, and personal narratives to broaden the conversation about abortion in Canada.
Abortion: History, Politics, and Reproductive Justice after Morgentaler
Co-edited by Shannon Stettner and Kristin Burnett. This book examines abortion in Canada through history, lived experience, politics, law, medicine, and reproductive justice.
R. v. Morgentaler, 1988
The Supreme Court of Canada decision that struck down Canada’s abortion law and removed abortion from the Criminal Code.
After Tiller
A documentary discussed in the episode in relation to later abortion care, medical decision-making, and the power dynamics involved in how people are asked to explain or justify their need for care.
Government of Canada — Abortion in Canada
A federal information page with general information on abortion in Canada, available supports, and related resources.
Thanks for listening to Choice Chat, a Humanist Canada podcast about choice, dignity, and reproductive justice. We’re glad you’re here. Do you have a story to share? Do you want to suggest a topic? Email us at choicechat@humanistcanada.ca or connect with us on social media. We look forward to hearing from you.
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