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On Wednesday, Alabama’s governor signed the nation’s most restrictive abortion ban into law. Women are now pushing back — and highlighting how common abortion is in America — by sharing their own abortion stories using the hashtag, #YouKnowMe.
The movement was started off by actress Busy Philipps, who is known for her roles in Dawson’s Creek, Freaks and Geeks, and ER. Last Tuesday, the actress frankly talked about her own abortion as a teen on her talk show Busy Tonight in response to Georgia’s “heartbeat bill.”
“The statistic is one in four women will have an abortion before age 45,” she said. “That statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion.’ Well, you know me.”
The numbers come from a study published by the American Public Health Association in 2017, which also found that the rate of abortions has declined 25 percent from between 2008 and 2014 and low-income people are more likely to undergo the procedure.
The actress posted a similar message on Twitter early Wednesday morning after the Alabama Senate voted to pass an abortion bill that would not exempt cases of rape and incest. In her tweet, she encouraged other people to share their abortion stories using the hashtag #youknowme. As of Friday morning, the tweet has more than 10,000 retweets and 50,000 likes.
1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth.
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) May 15, 2019
In an interview with the New York Times, Phillips said she thought it was important for women to speak up and shift the narrative, especially because abortion is such a taboo subject, she said.
The thousands of tweets that have been shared with #YouKnowMe cover a range of reasons why people decided to get an abortion. Some were raped. Some used protection but their contraceptives malfunctioned. Some were in abusive relationships. Some were pregnant with children that had fatal development issues. Some were not prepared to introduce a child to the world. Some said they did not feel the need to explain themselves to justify their choices.
#YouKnowMe. I had an abortion.
— Jackie Speier (@JackieSpeier) May 17, 2019
It was the best choice for my health & my family. While it was an immensely hard decision, I don't regret it.
Thank you, @BusyPhilipps for starting this hashtag & for all women who are sharing. I'm one of you & I'm w/ you.https://t.co/Gor4M9NF5Q
I want to further note: I married that boyfriend a couple of years later, & we have two wonderful kids. We're sickeningly cute, the four of us. We're the family Norman Rockwell was painting all those years (but Jewish.) And that abortion was the right decision for us. #YouKnowMe
— Emily L. Hauser (@emilylhauser) May 17, 2019
In 2012, I had an abortion. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I still think about it to this day. But these truths do not make me regret my decision. It was the right choice for me, at that time in my life. I have not a single doubt about this. #YouKnowMe
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) May 16, 2019
Several celebrities and public figures have joined in, including actress and former New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon. She shared the stories of both her mother, who received a “harrowing” illegal abortion, and her wife, who found out the pregnancy was not viable.
Almost 60 years ago, my mother had an illegal abortion. It was too harrowing for her to discuss, but she made sure I knew it had happened. In 2010, my wife had a legal abortion after we found out her pregnancy was not viable. We cannot and will not go back. #YouKnowMe #YouKnowUs
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) May 16, 2019
Former head of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards also shared her abortion story using the viral hashtag. She ended her tweet with a note that women shouldn’t have to share their personal stories to “try to generate a measure of empathy from politicians.”
For me, sharing my story has been powerful. I meet people all the time who tell me it inspired them to talk about their abortions. But the fact is, we shouldn't have to share our most personal experiences simply to try to generate a measure of empathy from politicians. #YouKnowMe
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) May 16, 2019
In her interview with the New York Times, Phillips said the #MeToo movement got people motivated, including men, because women shared their personal stories. The #YouKnowMe has a similar effect: bringing taboo subjects closer to home.
To learn more about the Alabama and Georgia bans, read explainers from Vox’s Anna North.
