The caption accompanying the photograph of abortionist Jennifer Lincoln’s essay emphasizes the reasons why Newsweek would be eager to publish it, using bold colors to highlight key points.
Dr. Jennifer Lincoln at an abortion rights rally in Portland, Oregon in May 2022. Lincoln grew up with anti-abortion view, but now supports abortion rights.
The title of Lincoln’s essay is “I Was Anti-Abortion, Then I Began Performing Them.” The opening paragraph is as follows:
After spending most of my life believing abortion was a sin, I performed my first one in September 2007 as an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) intern. I remember the exact date because it also happened to be my birthday, and the significance of those two events coinciding was not lost on me.
Lincoln does not explicitly examine the significance of the coincidence of performing her first abortion on her birthday. This is a regrettable omission. She does, however, provide insight into her experiences as a teenager, describing how her parents sent her to Catholic schools with the intention of preventing her from following in their reproductive footsteps. Lincoln, however, does not hesitate to make light of the teachings of the Catholic Church on human sexuality.
One might inquire as to the motivation and circumstances that led to her becoming so indifferent and proud of the hundreds of abortions she had performed since September 2007. It is curious to note that she no longer experiences the internal conflict she did in the first case. It is also intriguing to consider how she came to view reproductive health advocacy as a core part of her identity.
Lincoln asserted that reproductive freedom was essential, and she sought out the Oregon Health and Science University residency training program because of its excellent access to elective abortion training. However, when the day came to perform her first procedure, she was surprised to find herself conflicted.
Following the procedure, she retreated to an empty room and questioned her own stance on abortion. Was she merely a hypocrite for espousing pro-choice values while experiencing such emotional distress? This pivotal moment marked the point at which her most deeply held beliefs were superseded by her immediate feelings.
After a few deep breaths, I realized that I was normal and that none of this was about me. The freedom I had given that patient was what mattered and overtook any momentary internal conflict I entertained. Years later, I’ve also come to realize overcoming purity culture is hard. When your formative years boiled down your entire worth to whether or not you’ve had sex, it’s not a quick unraveling.
Lincoln came to believe that religious beliefs should not be extrapolated into legislation that controls another human’s body. Years later, she became an outspoken advocate for reproductive rights, most notably on her social media platforms, where she discussed topics like abortion, birth control, and more with more than 3 million followers daily. My mantra is that education is empowering and that discussing these topics helps to break down the shame and stigma that many of us, including me, grew up with.
She ends her essay with a rhetorical question:
Would the sixteen-year-old version of me be shocked if she saw who I’ve become? Definitely. But I’d tell her that it’s OK to change our minds about positions we hold when we realize we were only ever given one side of the story.
The opposing viewpoint is that it is acceptable to end the life of an individual who lacks the capacity to advocate for themselves. It is also permissible to evict a pregnant woman from her residence. Furthermore, the mother’s life may be prioritized over that of the child.
I do not subscribe to this perspective. If Lincoln had afforded her 16-year-old self a fair hearing, she may have reached a different conclusion.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
