A 16-year-old girl has spoken up against an article recently published on Teen Vogue. Autumn, a pro-lifer and member of the Students for Life of America, slammed the publication for downplaying abortion by suggesting gifts teens could give to their friends who have had their pregnancy terminated.
Teen Vogue's "What to Get a Friend Post-Abortion" was supposed to help young girls help a friend "lift her spirits" after a traumatic experience. Autumn, however, saw the article as an attempt to turn a serious situation "light hearted and nonchalant as possible."
Among the things the article suggested include watching a fun movie and giving the friend a pair of pretty underwear. It also suggested novelty items such as an angry uterus heating pad and an FU-terus pin. Some of the proceeds of the items apparently go to Planned Parenthood, according to Life Site News.
"We need to clarify one thing - abortion is a big deal," Autumn said in her response to Teen Vogue, according to The Blaze. She refused to equate the gesture of gifting a female friend who went through an abortion with "girl power."
"If you know someone who has had an abortion, don't buy them a gag gift and disguise it as a celebration," the 16-year-old said. "Treat it for what it is - a terrible loss."
Autumn said the best thing a teen can do is to be physically present for a friend who just had an abortion. She also advised seeking counseling from a local pregnancy health center, a non-profit organization, or through the national abortion recovery hotline 866-482-LIFE.
According to Child Trends, three out of four teenage pregnancies are unplanned and from these, two out of five pregnancies end up in abortion. The situation, however, has improved since 2011 as fewer young girls are reportedly getting an abortion. This doesn't mean it's no longer a concern as it remains both a moral and medical issue.
