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Karen Rafferty Keighley

As an adoptee how do you feel about the issue of abortion?

I am prochoice and feel that each woman and circumstance is different. Knowing what we know about epigenetics, when there is an unplanned pregnancy the baby will inherit that stressor from the increased cortisol the mother is experiencing. If the mother is forced to give birth, the baby will be affected by her experience negatively. If the mother keeps the baby, they will most likely live in poverty (statistically speaking). In worse cases the baby could be abused or killed. I do not feel a woman should be forced to do anything she doesn’t want to do.


How do you feel being adopted has affected your opinion on abortion?

I used to be the post child for “pro- life” bc that’s what my adopted parents said. Now I would completely disagree.


Many adoptees have been asked "Aren't you glad you weren't aborted?", what is your response to that?

I believe my birth mother and her family would have been better off had I been aborted. She had been torched for life bc of my existence. I’m glad I’m here but I don’t think it was the best for her or my adopted family. I think there was a reason they couldn’t have children and they should have lived with and accepted that decision.


Have you ever felt like your experience of being an adoptee has been misrepresented or used to advance a certain rhetoric? How does this make you feel?

I have not had this experience.


Can you talk about a time when you felt pressured to have an opinion on abortion?

Yes- most people used to assume I was pro- life before Roe was overturned. I explained to them what it’s like to be adopted and how difficult it’s been and they shut up. 🤐

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The experience of being an adoptee has always been misrepresented and will continue to be misrepresented until adoptees are seen as the

Anonymous #9

I feel no one should be forced to carry a pregnancy if they chose not do so for ANY reason. No exceptions for rape, incest, life or health

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