Framing a Feminist Abortion: Imaging the Future of Abortion with the SISSDAA Principles

With reproductive health and rights actively under attack, it is critical to support researcher and activist communities to push beyond basic access. In this article we propose a framework for a ‘feminist abortion’ which, rather than positioning medico-legal framings as the sole or foremost consideration, sets out aspirations for a model of abortion care which centres the pregnant person and their needs, and attends to the power structures through which they are located.

We propose seven key principles for a feminist abortion: supported, informed, safe, stigma-free, decriminalized, autonomous, and accessible (SISSDAA). We adopted a holistic approach in devising the SISSDAA principles, proposing that a fully feminist abortion cannot be viewed within regulatory and legal frameworks alone, and would require enactment of all seven of the proposed principles in combination. The framework has potential application in diverse settings, whether abortion is (de)criminalized, (non)medicalized, normalized, or highly restricted. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework we apply them to three case studies: Australia, Northern Ireland and Scotland. There are contextual similarities between our case studies (for example, all are in the Global North); using the SISSDAA principles enables us to distinguish significant differences in abortion norms, policies, legalities, and care models. The SISSDAA principles can be used to facilitate comparative research, highlight areas of good practice, and inform abortion policy and campaigning. As such, they are of relevance to those working in or supporting abortion care, researchers, activists, and abortion seekers alike.