Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative
Testimonies of abortion experiences are largely silenced in many contexts around the world, including Poland, and stigma affects how abortion is represented. Pro-choice initiatives, which support abortion rights, aim to challenge stigma through the sharing of personal abortion experiences (i.e. abor...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2025.2535835 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849769798890684416 |
|---|---|
| author | Alina Paczesna |
| author_facet | Alina Paczesna |
| author_sort | Alina Paczesna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Testimonies of abortion experiences are largely silenced in many contexts around the world, including Poland, and stigma affects how abortion is represented. Pro-choice initiatives, which support abortion rights, aim to challenge stigma through the sharing of personal abortion experiences (i.e. abortion storytelling). However, these initiatives may simultaneously construct normative hierarchies of abortion and stigmatise abortion stories which do not fit context-specific, politicised norms. This study draws on data purposefully sampled from a pro-choice abortion storytelling initiative in Poland, conducted between 2020 and 2021, and organised by the Abortion Dream Team (ADT; Aborcyjny Dream Team), an influential Polish organisation campaigning for abortion access and rights. By conducting a qualitative document analysis of 73 first-person abortion stories shared in this initiative, I explored how abortion was represented, and whether, and how, these representations challenged abortion stigma and its manifestation in normative hierarchies of abortion. Using reflexive thematic analysis, I identified four main themes. My findings show that abortion is represented as a valid decision, both a positive and challenging experience, and an embodied process. The stories shared in the ADT storytelling initiative challenge stigma and deconstruct normative hierarchies of abortion by representing abortion as a complex experience imbued with multiple, and often contradictory, meanings. This study highlights the existence of positive and non-stigmatising representations of abortion in Poland and shows that abortion storytelling can challenge dominant narratives around abortion. These findings therefore have broader significance, as they suggest that abortion storytelling may serve as an effective tool to destigmatise abortion and advance abortion rights. DOI:10.1080/26410397.2025.2535835 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-861a1cf3dba44da0b28127a529d6f90e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2641-0397 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| spelling | doaj-art-861a1cf3dba44da0b28127a529d6f90e2025-08-20T03:03:17ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSexual and Reproductive Health Matters2641-03972025-12-0133110.1080/26410397.2025.2535835Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiativeAlina Paczesna0MSC Student, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK. Correspondence:Testimonies of abortion experiences are largely silenced in many contexts around the world, including Poland, and stigma affects how abortion is represented. Pro-choice initiatives, which support abortion rights, aim to challenge stigma through the sharing of personal abortion experiences (i.e. abortion storytelling). However, these initiatives may simultaneously construct normative hierarchies of abortion and stigmatise abortion stories which do not fit context-specific, politicised norms. This study draws on data purposefully sampled from a pro-choice abortion storytelling initiative in Poland, conducted between 2020 and 2021, and organised by the Abortion Dream Team (ADT; Aborcyjny Dream Team), an influential Polish organisation campaigning for abortion access and rights. By conducting a qualitative document analysis of 73 first-person abortion stories shared in this initiative, I explored how abortion was represented, and whether, and how, these representations challenged abortion stigma and its manifestation in normative hierarchies of abortion. Using reflexive thematic analysis, I identified four main themes. My findings show that abortion is represented as a valid decision, both a positive and challenging experience, and an embodied process. The stories shared in the ADT storytelling initiative challenge stigma and deconstruct normative hierarchies of abortion by representing abortion as a complex experience imbued with multiple, and often contradictory, meanings. This study highlights the existence of positive and non-stigmatising representations of abortion in Poland and shows that abortion storytelling can challenge dominant narratives around abortion. These findings therefore have broader significance, as they suggest that abortion storytelling may serve as an effective tool to destigmatise abortion and advance abortion rights. DOI:10.1080/26410397.2025.2535835https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2025.2535835abortionabortion stigmaabortion storytellingpro-choicePoland |
| spellingShingle | Alina Paczesna Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters abortion abortion stigma abortion storytelling pro-choice Poland |
| title | Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative |
| title_full | Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative |
| title_fullStr | Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative |
| title_short | Embracing complexity to challenge stigma: a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a Polish storytelling initiative |
| title_sort | embracing complexity to challenge stigma a qualitative analysis of representations of abortion in a polish storytelling initiative |
| topic | abortion abortion stigma abortion storytelling pro-choice Poland |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2025.2535835 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alinapaczesna embracingcomplexitytochallengestigmaaqualitativeanalysisofrepresentationsofabortioninapolishstorytellinginitiative |