Targeting marginalized communities is an issue across various businesses, including finance, food and beverage, and retail. Anti-abortion centers (AACs) also fall in the predatory business category. AACs’ strategic targeting of marginalized communities exploits disparities and systemic inequalities in reproductive health care to their advantage. The very foundation of their operations is rooted in ideals of the “White Savior Industrial Complex”, a term coined by Nigerian-American writer Teju Cole, who tweeted over a decade ago that “the white savior supports brutal policies in the morning, founds charities in the afternoon, and receives awards in the evening.” This is quite applicable to the anti-abortion movement which, largely led by white Evangelicals, has proven its commitment to subvert efforts to protect choice and establish a full spectrum of options for pregnant people made by the reproductive health, rights, and justice movements.
This is blatantly evident in the “Earn While You Learn” (EWYL) curriculum, a program touted by AACs as the benevolent solution to supplying expectant people with material goods. Anti-abortion advocate Dinah Monahan noticed that while AACs were giving out parenting supplies (as they should because TANF funding is being utilized) their biased and stereotypical parenting classes weren’t doing so well, thus the birth and expansion of EWYL programs. Earn While You Learn programs lure people into biased and often religious-based parenting classes with the promise of receiving “Mommy Money” upon completion, which can then be used to purchase necessary supplies such as diapers and clothing. While EWYL programs are now utilized across the nation at many AACs, there is a lack of efficacy measurement to gauge the effectiveness of EWYL programming and the impact they have on expecting parents. These programs are an extension of welfare reform, implemented by the Clinton Administration which requires people below the poverty line to work for assistance. In reality, people below the poverty line are indeed already some of the hardest working people. Years of research support the fact that it is hard work to be poor in a capitalist society that monopolizes time — requiring people to have multiple jobs to make ends meet and endless hoops to jump through for assistance. It is the American myth that hard work universally results in an optimized livelihood. We only need to look at the emergent class of essential workers who were tasked during the pandemic to report to often underpaid and/or low-wage work to ensure grocery stores, and pharmacies remained open and the hospitals remained clean.
People of color are often demonized for receiving government assistance, while AACs receive millions of dollars, highlighting racial and socio-economic biases. People of color are often stereotyped as lazy and irresponsible for utilizing food stamps and other public assistance, while neglecting the systemic barriers to health care, quality education, and jobs that pay a living wage. In contrast, AACs, often backed by religious and conservative groups, annually receive millions of dollars in government funding, often from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This reallocation from public welfare programs is a slap in the face to low-income families, as that money is reallocated to prioritize anti-abortion agendas, when ideally it would go to an individual to help keep their household afloat. In contrast, recipients of AAC services are often from lower socio-economic backgrounds and lack access to comprehensive health care and accurate information about all their reproductive options. The combination of financial instability, lack of access to legitimate, comprehensive health care services, and often emotional turmoil exacerbates the dependency on the limited services provided by AACs.
AACs target the young by locating themselves near colleges and universities and advertising in school newspapers. They target low-income communities by offering “free” services and advertising at bus stops and WIC offices. They target BIPOC communities by featuring Black and Brown individuals in their ads – a brash attempt to feign cultural competence and benevolence that belies the racist roots of the anti-abortion movement.
Inequities in health care, a desire to control the decisions of others, and racism within the anti-abortion movement aren’t a new phenomenon. The fight for reproductive rights, health, and justice for Black women is about more than just abortion access. Black women have consistently had their reproductive rights and health abused throughout history, from forced childbirth and experimental surgeries during slavery, to more modern times when they are not listened to during childbirth (e.g., Serena Williams). This type of discrimination continues today as Black women and other women of color face inequitable access to comprehensive reproductive health care. In addition to Black women, Native American, Latina, and Puerto Rican women have also been victims of forced sterilization. These women were targeted because of their race and ethnicity, and this forced sterilization was heavily influenced by belief in eugenics during the early 20th century. Eugenicists advocated for the sterilization of people deemed “unfit” to reproduce, including those with mental illnesses, the poor, the disabled, and people of color. The eugenics movement overlaps with the anti-abortion movement in that it takes away the ability for people to decide when and how to have families.
Yes, the targeting of marginalized communities by AACs is an issue that impacts many vulnerable communities, but it's important to recognize the unique impact on specific groups, especially Black women. Black women experience higher rates of unintended pregnancies and maternal mortality, while simultaneously facing greater barriers to accessing abortion care and reproductive health services. This means in states led by governors supportive of AACs, Black women are at increased risk of experiencing barriers to care. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s proposal this year to redirect three million dollars from a maternal health program to AACs is just one example.
AACs also outnumber abortion clinics across the US by a 3:1 ratio. They often present themselves as comprehensive reproductive health care centers, using deceptive names and phrases to imply that their services are legitimate, like “Options for Women.” Rather than being upfront about their ideology and anti-abortion agenda, they typically advertise their services using images and languages that give the impression that individuals will receive unbiased and comprehensive services. By using these deceptive tactics to lure people into their centers, AACs leave individuals in underrepresented communities with limited access to accurate information, hindering their ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. AACs have also been known to spread misleading information about abortion and contraceptives. This misleading information can have ripple effects, leading to confusion and fear amongst marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, who may already have limited access to accurate health information and resources. AACs are often faith-based and offer biased counseling to dissuade individuals from seeking abortion care. These centers contribute to the stigmatization of abortion by promoting messages that shame individuals for considering abortion as an option.
So what can we do to combat these deceptive centers and work towards promoting equitable access to comprehensive reproductive health care? One immediate action is spreading awareness, whether it be through social media or other campaigns. Another strategy to combat the deceptive practices of AACs is supporting comprehensive sex education. Instead of shaming people into avoiding sex, which can have adverse consequences, we should advocate for comprehensive sex education in schools and communities. Accurate and comprehensive sex education can counteract misinformation spread by AACs, empowering individuals with the knowledge to make healthy decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
Additionally, supporting alternative, evidence-based resources is crucial in combating the harms inflicted by AACs. Promoting and supporting organizations that offer unbiased information and support for individuals facing unplanned pregnancies can make a huge difference. By ensuring that these alternative resources are accessible to all communities, especially underrepresented communities, we can work towards addressing the gaps in reproductive health care and combating the deceptive practices and harmful impacts of AACs.
Anti-abortion centers perpetuate disparities in reproductive health care by targeting marginalized communities and spreading misinformation. However, it's important to recognize that the inequalities in reproductive health care extend beyond individual AACs and are rooted in systemic inequalities such as poverty, racism, and inequitable access to comprehensive health care. In order to address systemic barriers in reproductive health care, we must support and amplify reproductive health and rights organizations whose efforts incorporate a reproductive justice framework. By addressing systemic issues and advocating for policies and organizations that promote reproductive justice and equity, we can work towards ensuring that everyone has access to comprehensive and culturally competent reproductive health care that respects their autonomy and dignity.