Welcome to week one of the Let’s Talk About Abortion Learning Series!
In this session, we’re covering how to stop misinformation in everyday conversation.
How we talk about abortion can lead to change for reproductive rights in South Dakota.
There’s a lot of incorrect information, misinformation, and even disinformation about abortion. Politicians, anti-abortion activists, and bad actors use these lies to twist the narrative about this very common, very safe medical procedure. Reproductive health care hasn’t always been political theater, but it’s the reality of where we are now.
That’s where you come in.
Informed conversations change the story on misinformation and disinformation.
Misinformation, disinformation, half-truths, and lies have been used far too often over the last couple of decades to polarize the conversation about reproductive health and abortion care. Why? It’s easier to gain power by dividing people than bringing them together. It’s easier to make sweeping generalizations and one-size-fits-all pronouncements than to listen to the complex and diverse lived experiences of real South Dakotans.
Talking about abortion starts with knowing how to counter these myths.
- State the facts in a clear, relevant, and memorable way.
- Call out the misinformation and/or disinformation.
- Show the fallacy at work! Information that is being misinterpreted or intentionally made unclear should be highlighted.
- Restate the facts to replace the misinformation and/or disinformation.
The bottom line: The majority of South Dakotans agree that everyone should have the freedom to make medical decisions without political interference.
Let's keep working toward a better South Dakota!
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