Abortion Humour: It’s Not That Serious

Abstract

This article interrogates deep-seated cultural narratives surrounding abortion as a traumatic and taboo experience, highlighting the role of crisis pregnancy centres in the Okanagan as perpetuating these dominant and oppressive ideas. It traces the impacts of Post-Abortion Syndrome, and how the legacy of this mendacious pseudo-diagnosis reinforces traditional gender norms to further stigmatize abortion. The article explores instances of abortion humor as a radical measure to counteract this stigma, highlighting comedic signage from a local pro-abortion protest. This humour contradicts the assumed repression and shame associated with normative abortion discussions, of which reinforces stigma. The author argues against abortion taboo, finding that humor serves as a mechanism to normalize, destigmatize and reclaim abortion, challenging the dominant culture's attempts to control reproductive rights through these normative and oppressive assumptions of taboo and shame.