Phoenix Cast
Ever watched, listened to, or read something and thought "Wow. There's a lot to unpack here"? We say that all the time and want to share with you our conversations unpacking the different parts of our culture and world which contribute to rape culture and continuous violence against others or the things which help us create a world where those things are less likely to thrive. Join the Phoenix Center at Auraria as we deconstruct pop culture and the world through an anti-racist, feminist, and anti-oppressionist lens. The Phoenix Center at Auraria is the interpersonal violence resource center serving the Auraria community. Check out our podcast feed on our website for any linked resources! https://www.thepca.org/phoenix-cast
Phoenix Cast
Abortion Access, Reproductive Coercion, and Survivor Autonomy Part 1
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In part 1 of this episode of The Phoenix Cast, Violence Prevention Educator Cassandra Carmona-Wayman (she/hers/ella) talks with reproductive health advocate Christina Ponce (she/hers) about how abortion care works, common myths about abortion, and the impact of post‑Dobbs restrictions. They also explore reproductive coercion as a form of abuse, its connections to interpersonal violence, and why protecting survivors’ bodily autonomy and access to abortion is essential.
Content warnings: discussion of intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, sexual and physical violence, abortion (including later‑term), pregnancy loss, legal and systemic barriers to care, and brief mention of hospitalization due to assault.
Additionally:
We discuss healthcare clinics and abortion providers near the Denver Metro area. Please be aware of clinics that misrepresent their services and can appear misleading to patients in need of care. Some “crisis pregnancy centers” near campus and in Denver are not medical clinics and may offer misleading or incomplete information about abortion and pregnancy options. When you can, seek licensed providers or clinics that clearly offer full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, and remember you can reach out to the Phoenix Center at Auraria for confidential support and accurate referrals.
Sources and Resources mentioned in the episode:
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 554: Reproductive and Sexual Coercion. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2013.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Reproductive and Sexual Coercion.” ACOG, Feb. 2013, https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/02/reproductive-and-sexual-coercion.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Violence and Pregnancy.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/violence-and-pregnancy.html.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pregnancy Resulting from Sexual Violence.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/pregnancy-resulting-from-sexualviolence.html.
- Cobalt Abortion Fund. Cobalt Abortion Fund, https://cobaltaf.org/.
- Colorado Doula Project. Colorado Doula Project, https://www.coloradodoulaproject.org/.
- Foster, Diana Greene. The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion. Scribner, 2020.
- Grace, Kelsey T., and Julie C. Anderson. “Reproductive Coercion: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, vol. 63, no. 4, 2018, pp. 371–84.
- Guttmacher Institute. U.S. Abortion Patient and Policy Reports. Guttmacher Institute, https://www.guttmacher.org.
- Miller, Elizabeth, et al. “Pregnancy Coercion, Intimate Partner Violence and Unintended Pregnancy.” Contraception, vol. 81, no. 4, 2010, pp. 316–22.
- National Abortion Federation. National Abortion Federation, https://prochoice.org/.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States. National Academies Press, 2018.
- “North Carolina Bill Would Authorize Deadly Force for Women Seeking Abortions.” WCNC Charlotte, https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-bill-would-authorize-deadly-force-for-women-seeking-abortions/275-353d54a3-9231-4341-ae44-a127546db76f.
- Raymond, Elizabeth G., and David A. Grimes. “The Comparative Safety of Legal Induced Abortion and Childbirth in the United States.” Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 119, no. 2, 2012, pp. 215–19.
- “Reproductive Coercion.” The National Domestic Violence Hotline, https://www.thehotline.org/resources/reproductive-coercion/.
- “Reproductive Coercion: What Is It?” Teen Vogue, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-is-reproductive-coercion.
- Sexual Assault Awareness Fund. “Bisexual Women Are More Likely to Have Abortions.” Sexual Assault Awareness Fund, https://saafund.org/bisexual-women-are-more-likely-to-have-abortions/.
- Society of Family Planning. #WeCount Reports on Abortion Access After Dobbs. Society of Family Planning, https://societyfp.org/.
- Tarzia, Laura, et al. “Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5819992/.
- Van Parys, An-Sofie, et al. “Prevalence and Evolution of Intimate Partner Violence before and during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 14, 2014, article 294, https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-294.
- Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Pregnancy and Domestic Violence Issue Brief. Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2013, https://wscadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pregnancy-dvfr-issue-brief-12-2013.pdf.
- World Health Organization. Abortion Care Guideline. World Health Organization, 2022.
You can learn more about your options with healthcare service providers like Just the Pill. They can provide vital information and assistance with abortion, contraception, and other sexual and reproductive health services. We provide efficient and equitable access to health care by telemedicine. https://justthepill.com/about-us/
You can also look into resources like Elevated Access. They are a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation through a network of volunteer pilots, helping people travel to essential healthcare services they might not otherwise be able to reach. Their services primarily support access to abortion care and gender-affirming care by coordinating safe, confidential flights in partnership with healthcare and advocacy organizations across the United States.
Be aware of Denver Metro Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs):
- The AVI Project https://www.theaviproject.com/
- Alternatives Pregnancy Center (Alternatives Colorado) https://youhavealternatives.org/
- Bella Health and Wellness. Bella Health and Wellness. https://bellahealthandwellness.com/.
- Alternatives Pregnancy Center. Alternatives Pregnancy Center. https://youhavealternatives.org/.
- Marisol Health. Marisol Health. https://marisolhealth.com/.
- Life Choices. Life Choices. https://lifechoices.org/.
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.
Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request
Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education
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