#YouKnowMe: The Movement Breaking Taboos Around Abortion

Abortion rights are in danger in the United States. 28 out of the 50 states in the country have put rules into place that restrict the access women have to it. Four have forbidden it from the moment the heartbeat is detectable (about 6 weeks in), and Alabama has just passed a bill banning abortion even in cases of rape and incest.

In light of the danger that this right could disappear, celebrities have started to mobilise. Although the sex strike, proposed by actress Alyssa Milano, wasn’t particularly successful, presenter Busy Philipps has just launched the movement #YouKnowMe (check out the video above).

Not being ashamed to talk about it

‘One in four women have had an abortion. Many people think they don’t know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let’s do this: if you’re also the 1 in 4, let’s share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share the truth,’ wrote the American actress on her Twitter account on 15th May.

The actress Milla Jovovich quickly responded to her appeal. She revealed that she had had an abortion around two years ago.

‘Our rights as women to obtain safe abortions by experienced doctors are again at stake,’ began the actress and model.

‘Abortion is hard enough for women on an emotional level without having to go through it in potentially unsafe and unsanitary conditions,’ she continued, before sharing her own experience.

‘My stomach turns’

Milla Jovovich underwent an emergency abortion two years ago. When she was four and a half months pregnant and filming a movie in Eastern Europe, she went into preterm labour.

‘I had to be awake for the whole procedure […] I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless,’ she shared. ‘When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns.’

The actress finished by saying that the abortion was a ‘nightmare'.

‘No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to,’ concluded the actress. Just like she did, lots of women have responded to Busy Philipps’ appeal and described their experience.