[[A wealthy white woman from New York City]]
[[A lower-income woman of color from Winona, Missisippi]]
---
Made with 💖 by Alex, Elaine, Emily, Isabelle, and Tina
The year is 2007.
You're learning about all the different types of birth control in health class.
[[10 years later in New York...]]
The year is 2007.
Your high school in Mississippi teaches abstinence-only sex ed. You have limited knowledge of birth control methods.
[[10 years later in Winona...]]Choose a form of birth control:
[[Abstinence - 100% Effective]]
[[IUD - 99% Effective]]
[[The Pill - 91% Effective]]
[[The Injection - 94% Effective]]
[[Condom - 85% Effective (when used correctly)]]
[[Withdrawal/Pullout Method - 78% Effective]]Choose a form of birth control:
[[Abstinence - 100% Effective ]]
[[Condom - 85% Effective (when used correctly) ]]
[[Withdrawal/Pullout Method - 78% Effective ]]
<html><s>[[The Pill - 91% Effective ]]
[[The Injection - 94% Effective ]]
[[IUD - 99% Effective ]]</s></html>Emotional stress: Medium
Resources: High
Somehow, your birth control method did not work. You find out you're pregnant. You don't think you're ready for a child - who do you consult for help?
[[Ask your friends ]]
[[Ask your family ]]
[[Research and decide yourself]]
Your birth control method was ineffective. You are a single woman with little resources. You cannot afford to have a child: who do you ask for advice?
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: Low
[[Ask your family]]
[[Ask your friends]]
[[Ask your Pastor]]
[[Make your decision in by yourself]]
Emotional stress: Medium
Resources: Low
Your parents cry. They love you no matter what, but urges you to keep the baby. "It's the right thing to do."
[[Decide against it]]
[[Continue]]
Your friends urge you to have the baby. "What will people say if you aborted the poor child?" they ask.
Emotional stress: Medium
Resources: Low
[[Decide against it]]
[[Continue]]
Your pastor says, "Life does not belong to us. It belongs to God" and strongly urges you to have the baby. "Abortion is murder", he says.
Emotional stress: Medium
Resources: Low
[[Decide against it]]
[[Continue]]
Emotional stress: 3
Resources: Low
You decide to continue with the abortion anyway. You do some online research and find awful reviews on abortion clinics and pictures of dead fetuses. You feel sick.
[[Decide against it]]
[[Continue]] Your friends are supportive of whatever decision you choose. A few of them have gotten abortions themselves, for health and personal reasons, or known people who have. You feel more at ease.
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: High
[[Continue ]]
[[Decide against it ]] Your parents are generally understanding and support any decision you choose to make for yourself.
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: High
[[Continue ]]
[[Decide against it ]]
You, aided with knowledge of good resources from sex ed, conduct your own research and find information that ease your worries. Abortion rarely comes with serious complications especially early on in the pregnancy - only 2% of women report major problems.
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: High
[[Continue ]]
[[Decide against it ]]You decide against having an abortion, due to all the hurdles involved.
Emotional stress: Up the wall
Resources: Very low
[[More resources]]
Emotional stress: High
Resources: Low
You decide to continue anyway. There are many hurdles in your way: your insurance does not cover abortion, so you will have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, there is only one clinic in Mississippi. What do you do?
[[Convince a friend to drive you]]
[[Decide against it]]
[[Take a bus]]
[[Buy plane tickets]]
You didn't get pregnant!
Abstinence is choosing not to have sex. What that means is different for different people - for some, it may mean no sexual contact at all, and for others, it may mean engaging in sexual activities outside of vaginal sex.
[[More resources]]You didn't get pregnant!
The IUD (or intrauterine device) is a tiny T-shaped device inserted into the uterus. There are two common types: the ParaGuard/copper IUD, which repels sperm and can be used as emergency contraception, and the hormonal IUD, which contains progestin to prevent pregnancy. The ParaGuard lasts up to 12 years and the hormonal lasts up 3-5 years. They do not protect against STDs.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eXdNHlWkleA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[More resources]]You didn't get pregnant!
The birth control pill is a safe and affordable daily medicine that prevents pregnancy. The hormones in the Pill stops ovulation and thickens the cervix mucus. It does not protect against STDs and it is essential you take the pill every day.
<html><iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jIolmLbBiw0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[More resources]]You didn't get pregnant!
The injection (depo shot) is a shot containing progestin which prevents ovulation. You get the shot every 3 months. It does not protect against STDs.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jIolmLbBiw0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[More resources]]Condoms are thin pouches that can be made of latex, plastic, or lambskin, that cover a penis and hold the semen after ejaculation. Plastic and latex condoms protect against STDs, but lambskin does not.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eh5HK3F42IU" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[Continue ]]Get more info and take action through these helpful links!
<html>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth- control">Learn about birth control methods</a>
<li><a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion">Learn about abortion</a> and <a href="https://endabortionstigma.org/en/Resources-and-Tools/Theory.aspx">abortion stigma</a>
<li> <a href="https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/abortion/hyde-amendment">Challenge your legislators to repeal the Hyde Agreement</a>
<li> <a href="http://www.womanlymag.com/">Check out Womanly Magazine, an online publication that circulates updated health information to women around the world</a>
</ul></html>
[[Play again and experience a different perspective!|Start]]You didn't get pregnant!
Abstinence is choosing not to have sex. What that means is different for different people - for some, it may mean no sexual contact at all, and for others, it may mean engaging in sexual activities outside of vaginal sex.
[[More resources]]Condoms are thin pouches that can be made of latex, plastic, or lambskin, that cover a penis and hold the semen after ejaculation. Plastic and latex condoms protect against STDs, but lambskin does not.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eh5HK3F42IU" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[Continue ]]This method involves pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation. You have to make sure to pull out before any semen comes out, or it will not be effective, so this method is very risky. It also does not protect against STDs. Pulling out is most effective when used with another form of birth control.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XTnus81FVwg" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[Continue ]]This method involves pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation. You have to make sure to pull out before any semen comes out, or it will not be effective, so this method is very risky. It also does not protect against STDs. Pulling out is most effective when used with another form of birth control.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XTnus81FVwg" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[Continue ]]
Emotional stress: Very high
Resources: Very Low
You arrive at the clinic. You had to pay for gas. There are a dozen protesters outside, and someone hands you a brochure that screams "Abortion is murder" on the front. Someone yells "wicked woman" at you.
[[Enter the clinic]]
[[Decide against it]] Emotional stress: Very High
Resources: Very low
You arrive at the clinic. You had to pay for bus tickets. There are a dozen protesters outside, and someone hands you a brochure that screams "Abortion is murder" on the front. Someone yells "wicked woman" at you.
[[Enter the clinic]]
[[Decide against it]] Emotional stress: Very high
Resources: Very very low
You arrive at the clinic. You had to pay for plane tickets - you barely have enough to cover the abortion. There are a dozen protesters outside, and someone hands you a brochure that screams "Abortion is murder" on the front. Someone yells "wicked woman" at you.
[[Enter the clinic]]
[[Decide against it]] Emotional stress: Very High
Resources: Very low
You find out there is a legally mandated waiting period of 24 hours in Mississippi before you can get the abortion. Your friend has to go to work tomorrow. What do you do?
[[Book a hotel]]
[[Decide against it]]Emotional stress: Up the wall
Resources: very very low
You arrive back at the clinic after a night in a hotel. You have barely any savings left. You face protesters again and this time their words start to sink in. Do you continue anyway?
[[Get the procedure]]
[[Decide against it]]Emotional Stress: Up the wall
Resources: Close to none
You've successfully completed the procedure. You are safe and you're going to be fine, but it has been a long and difficult journey.
[[More resources]] You make an appointment at your local abortion clinic. Your insurance covers the procedure and it is relatively easy to commute to the clinic.
[[Take the subway]]
[[Take a Lyft/Taxi]]
You decided against an abortion, but your friends and family support your decision and you are financially stable enough to support yourself through childbirth.
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: High
[[More resources]]The clinic is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood. There is no line or waiting period, and you are introduced immediately to the doctor, who gives you more accurate information on abortions.
[[Get the procedure ]]
[[Decide against it ]] The MTA is late as always, and you are a little late to your appointment.
Emotional stress: Medium
Resources: High
[[Enter the clinic ]]
[[Decide against it ]] You take a Lyft to the clinic. You don't want to deal with the subway today.
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: High
[[Enter the clinic ]]
[[Decide against it ]] The procedure is complete! You are safe and supported and everything is fine.
Emotional stress: Low
Resources: High
[[More resources]]
[[Oh, you're pregnant!]]
[[Oh, you're pregnant!!]]
The birth control pill is a safe and affordable daily medicine that prevents pregnancy. The hormones in the Pill stops ovulation and thickens the cervix mucus. It does not protect against STDs and it is essential you take the pill every day.
<html><iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jIolmLbBiw0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
Unfortunately, this method of birth control is not available to you.
[[Go back |10 years later in Winona...]]
The injection (depo shot) is a shot containing progestin which prevents ovulation. You get the shot every 3 months. It does not protect against STDs.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jIolmLbBiw0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
[[Go back|10 years later in Winona...]]
The IUD (or intrauterine device) is a tiny T-shaped device inserted into the uterus. There are two common types: the ParaGuard/copper IUD, which repels sperm and can be used as emergency contraception, and the hormonal IUD, which contains progestin to prevent pregnancy. The ParaGuard lasts up to 12 years and the hormonal lasts up 3-5 years. They do not protect against STDs.
<html> <iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eXdNHlWkleA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></html>
Unfortunately, this method of birth control is not available to you.
[[Go back |10 years later in Winona...]]