Abortion Stories
Abortion is a normal, safe, and low-risk medical procedure that is an ancient and global part of our reproductive human experience. Abortion is still severely stigmatized with many people’s perceptions of it plagued by misinformation from political, religious, and/or state contexts.
Like other reproductive experiences (pregnancy, birth, infertility, loss, post-partum, etc.) we continue to process and heal long after the initial procedure or experience occurs. In the case of abortion, our healing/processing can be delayed due to stigma and a void of public forums/communities with which we can accessibly engage with.
So, let’s talk! Let’s shout our abortions. Let’s remind ourselves and others how varied the experiences around our abortions are. For some of us, it was an experience of joy, relief, autonomy, or gender-euphoria, for some, an experience of deep loss and grief, for others shame, confusion, or sometimes just another short and straightforward medical procedure, and most, a combination of the above.
This is a closed circle space for people with lived experience of abortion in Berlin. This particular circle is only for people who have physiologically experienced pregnancy and abortion. This is a queer-affirming space where gender-euphoric language will be honored.
Our primary languages will be English and German with time and space for translation. The circle will consist of a short introduction round and a guided somatic impulse, followed by story-sharing and listening. We will close with another somatic practice.
Light snacks will be provided. Small donations will be gratefully accepted. Collaboration is always welcome.
Accessibility: the space is only accessible by stairs, and is not wheelchair accessible, participation in the circle and somatic practices can be done in stillness and in motion; sitting down, moving around, taking breaks, etc. The room will be ventilated and unless otherwise asked for masking will be voluntary.
Re-occurring monthly at Schokofabrik Frauenzentrum e.V. , more dates here.
If you have specific accessibility needs or questions please reach out directly to abortiongroupberlin@outlook.com
About the Abortion Group Berlin : The group was started out of the need of two people who had abortion in 2016 and couldn’t find the help they wished to find in Berlin. After reaching out to Selbsthilfe Organisation in Berlin, the group started to be hosted at the Selbsthilfe Zentrum in Neukolln in 2017 then moved to HeileHaus in 2020, and more recently to Schokofabrik where they merged with the Storytelling Circles.
