DeepSummary
Diana Green Foster is a demographer who studies the outcomes of women who get an abortion or are denied one. Her Turnaway Study followed nearly 1,000 women for five years, tracking their physical health, mental health, and socioeconomic wellbeing. The study found that women who received abortions experienced better mental health initially, but over time both groups improved their mental health. However, women denied abortions had worse physical health, including chronic pain, hypertension, and overall poorer physical health years later.
The study also revealed significant socioeconomic differences. Women denied abortions faced more hardships, increased public assistance use, loss of full-time employment, debt, lower credit scores, and a greater chance of eviction and bankruptcy. They were also less likely to achieve aspirational plans like leaving abusive partners, pursuing education, or having intended pregnancies later.
Foster argues that access to abortion is crucial for families' economic wellbeing and personal goals, including having children when ready. She shares stories of her grandmothers, one who received an abortion and thrived, and another who was denied one and never recovered. Foster emphasizes that people seek abortions for valid reasons and overwhelmingly feel it was the right decision.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Foster argues people seek abortions for valid reasons related to finances, existing children, relationships, and life plans.
- She emphasizes respecting women's decisions about their bodies and letting them control their destinies.
- The Turnaway Study followed nearly 1,000 women for 5 years, comparing outcomes of those who received abortions versus those denied abortions.
- Women who obtained abortions experienced better mental health initially, though both groups improved over time.
- Women denied abortions had worse physical health years later, including chronic pain, hypertension, and overall poorer health.
- Those denied abortions faced greater socioeconomic hardships like debt, job loss, evictions, and difficulty achieving life goals.
- Access to abortion is vital for families' economic wellbeing and personal autonomy, including having children when ready.
- Most women feel abortion was the right decision for them and very few place the child for adoption.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Access to abortion is about control over one's body, life, and destiny.“ by Diana Green Foster
- “May remember Amy Coney Barrett, in deliberating on ending 50 years of abortion rights in our country, suggested that women could drop their babies off at fire stations.“ by Diana Green Foster
- “When someone's in the circumstance where they are pregnant and they cannot support a child and take care of their existing children or make a decent life for themselves, they're trying to make a decision that is right for their life and their family.“ by Diana Green Foster
- “No reliable data. Those are words a demographer lives for.“ by Diana Green Foster
- “The results of my study consistently show that when there is a difference, those who were able to get their wanted abortion did better than those who weren't.“ by Diana Green Foster
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Episode Information
TED Talks Daily
TED
1/11/24