A small team of volunteers runs r/abortion, ensuring that every person who writes on the forum with a question about their abortion gets a thorough and personalized response.
Getting an abortion right now isn’t easy, and I’m not just referring to new bans and restrictions that have appeared in the United States since the end of Roe v. Wade in 2022. If someone needs an abortion and is unsure how to get one, they’ll probably do what seems obvious to many of us: Use Google or another search engine and type “abortion options near me.” It’s likely they’ll find a mishmash of antiabortion crisis pregnancy centers, clinics that aren’t actually near them, and irrelevant information.
The internet is a powerful tool for learning, but what one finds is not always accurate or relevant to one’s situation. That’s where the Online Abortion Resources Squad (OARS) comes in. We run the r/abortion subreddit on the social media platform Reddit. For the uninitiated, Reddit is a popular network of user-created forums, called “subreddits,” about various interests, from politics to crafts to TV shows. With over a billion monthly users, Reddit has a reputation for being one of the last places on the internet to have discussions with and get advice from other real people.
People have asked for advice and support regarding their abortions on Reddit since its founding. Ariella Messing, a reproductive health scholar and activist, founded OARS in 2019, after noticing how information about abortion on Reddit was often unhelpful, incorrect or stigmatizing, even when well-intended. A small team of volunteers runs r/abortion, ensuring that every person who writes on the forum with a question about their abortion gets a thorough and personalized response, which rarely stops at just one answer to a question.
When I support abortion seekers on r/abortion, I think of myself as a kind of ‘abortion librarian,’ compiling resources and information on behalf of someone in need.
Members of OARS often serve as “case managers” for abortion-seekers, helping them navigate multiple steps in determining what they need for their abortion and circling back as necessary. Volunteers also moderate r/abortion, which is a term from Reddit meaning to ensure that everyone is on their best behavior. For OARS, this monitoring ensures all people who post on the subreddit are in compliance with Reddit’s rules, but also that they share only accurate, shame-free and pro-abortion information.
Since its founding, OARS has proved to be an invaluable resource for abortion seekers. OARS volunteers answered nearly 2000 posts during the month of October. These expert volunteers answer posts written by users from around the world. Users seek advice on the logistical, legal, medical and emotional aspects of abortion, and no matter who they are or what they need, an OARS volunteer gives a compassionate answer.
I volunteer with OARS, spending six or more hours each week answering submissions on r/abortion and following up with people as needed. As an OARS volunteer, I’ve …
- explained to people the correct protocol for taking abortion pills at home.
- connected people in countries with very restrictive abortion laws, like the Philippines and Qatar, to services like Women on Web that can help.
- provided emotional support to people struggling with conflicted feelings about their abortion, often referring them to counseling lines like Exhale Pro Voice or All-Options.
- reassured teenagers that they can get safe abortion care without their parents having to be involved with help of a group like Repro Legal Helpline or Jane’s Due Process.
- helped parse whether someone’s insurance can cover their abortion, or if they’re able to enroll in state Medicaid to pay for their abortion, often with support from groups like Access RJ.
… among many other tasks related to practical, legal, medical and emotional support for abortion-seekers.
As you see, one of my main goals is connecting people to other, existing resources that can help. At OARS, we never want to replicate what already exists. After all, so many wonderful abortion advocates already connect people to the healthcare they need. When you’re in a difficult situation, it can be overwhelming to sort out which exact resources will be useful for you.
We help fill a gap by providing navigation through the immense information and many resources that can go into having an abortion today.
That’s where OARS volunteers like myself come in. When I support abortion seekers on r/abortion, I think of myself as a kind of “abortion librarian,” compiling resources and information on behalf of someone in need. With new laws and restrictions popping up every day, having an abortion right now can be an overwhelming and confusing experience. So, having someone to support you in sharing abortion resources and doing other research that you need—all while being kind, compassionate and never judging you—is indispensable.
OARS stands out in the landscape of abortion support due to our focus on accuracy and clarity. Funding abortions, fighting antiabortion laws and destigmatizing abortion through storytelling are all important pieces of the pro-abortion puzzle. But we help fill a gap by providing navigation through the immense information and many resources that can go into having an abortion today.
Combatting Antiabortion Information
Antiabortion groups spread misinformation and stigma, certainly, but so do well-meaning people and groups in favor of abortion rights. At OARS, we’ve encountered maps of abortion-restrictive states that are already out of date, clinicians who give abortion instructions that are no longer recommended, and people who advise others to be fearful of out-of-state travel for abortion, even though that’s still perfectly legal.
Similarly, it’s easy to sensationalize topics regarding reproductive justice, particularly on social media, with many people assuming that abortion is already unavailable to them or that at-home abortions can never be safe. Attempts to support people in navigating laws are often missing important details and not necessarily relevant to the individual.
There’s no harm in the sentiment behind these pursuits: wanting to support abortion and preparing for worst case scenarios. Nonetheless, we have a moral obligation to get people the most accurate, current abortion information.
Why? If abortion-seekers have a wrong idea about what options are available to them, they might not have the abortion they need. Or, worse, they may turn to an unvetted or unsafe abortion option. Providing information that is correct and stigma-free is, in turn, a deeply pro-abortion, empowering and feminist project.
For this reason, I take pride in being an OARS volunteer. I’m happy to affirm that OARS will continue to be here for all abortion seekers, no matter what changes happen to abortion availability, especially in the post-election United States.
No matter who you are, where you live, or what you need regarding your abortion, you can write a post on the r/abortion subreddit any day at any time, and you’ll receive a quick, thorough, accurate and compassionate personal response.
If you are interested in donating to OARS, you can visit fundoars.com; to host a fundraiser, visit teamoars.com.
