28 Sep Step into our Shoes: Safe abortion advocates ask for empathy in Sept. 28 campaign
The Sept. 28 Global Day of Action for Safe and Legal Abortion aims to end abortion stigma and gender stereotypes that perpetuate the suffering of women from all kinds of backgrounds. This diversity is highlighted by this year’s theme, “Step Into Our Shoes.”
“People like to stereotype the kind of woman who has an abortion,” says Padilla. “But abortion experiences are as diverse as the shoes you see in the campaign. We want people to start sympathizing by stepping into them and hearing the stories of their owners.” Stories from all over the world together with photos of storytellers have been sent to the campaign through social media with the hashtag #StepIntoOurShoes.
In the lobby of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, PINSAN installed an art display titled, “Pinagdaanan.” Footprints inscribed with poetry create a path to the main display where images of different shoes represent the diverse experiences of women in the Philippines, where abortion is not legal under any circumstances. This restriction has resulted in an estimated 3 deaths due to abortion complications every day.