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On Tuesday, after the Alabama Senate voted to pass a bill banning almost all abortions in the state, the actress Busy Philipps has felt compelled to act. "Women deserve compassion and understanding in their personal health choices," Philipps, 39, said on Wednesday. "It's something that many people live and live in their lives, and it's a decision about health care, like many health care decisions."
Just one week earlier, she had talked about her own abortion at age 15 on her night show "Busy Tonight" in which she advocated for the protection of women's reproductive rights. Ms. Philipps, known for her roles in the television series "Dawson's Creek" and "Freaks and Geeks," wrote about her abortion in her memoir, "This Will only hurt a bit".
"According to statistics, one in four women will undergo an abortion before the age of 45," she said on Tuesday during the show, referring to a study published in the American newspaper. Journal of Public Health. "This statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you sit there thinking," I do not know a woman who would have an abortion. "Well, you know me."
Now, thousands of women have shared their own abortion stories online, many using the hashtag #Do you know me. During a phone interview, Ms. Philipps explained her motives, her reaction to her story and the following events.
What brought you to talk about abortion in your show?
Part of what I think has been successful in motivating people and involving men in the #MeToo movement has been to hear women tell their personal story. Abortion is historically a very taboo subject that women have difficulty speaking in public because it is such a personal decision.
The anti-abortion people in this country are so noisy and for all these reasons, I think the women have been silent. And I got the impression that maybe sharing is a value.
We must be as strong as they are, but with the truth. That's the only thing we have. For me, this includes people who get up and say, "I am this one in four." It does not matter why, when and how old you are.
"You know me, you love me and I went through that." I think there is something very powerful that can change the story and be able to make sure that many people say, "I've also experienced this thing."
Before speaking on my own show, I had read an article about a An 11-year-old rape victim in Ohio who was going to be forced to carry a pregnancy. I have a girl of the same age. I became physically sick thinking about the horror of this for this child. For these men responsible to decide that this collection of cells is more valuable than this child defies any logic.
How did the comment you made on your show lead to your tweet Tuesday, calling women to share their stories with the hashtag #YouKnowMe?
I do not understand much hashtags. I have never hashtag.
Tina Fey, who does not have her own accounts on social media and who is my executive producer, contacted me. She said, "I think you're laughing at something, it's 'you know me', it makes it very personal. I think you should think about starting this hashtag. "
It was the day after the show. I was already overwhelmed by the answers to my show. I had to think about it.
Last night I went to have dinner with my friends and we were on the phone reading about the Alabama law. I told them about the hashtag and they said, "Do it now. This is the right time to do it. "
What do you think of some of the negative reactions to the comments you made on your show and the hashtag?
Some of the trolls hit me, and a lot of people said, "How can you be proud of what you did?" I never said that I was proud of it. It's something that I have lived as a woman and that many women in this country and around the world have known. I refuse to live in shame, and I refuse to hang on to something for which I have no shame.
I do not know a woman who had an abortion and said, "I can not wait, I'm so excited about it."
I can not control that anyone else has that feeling. I think they are wrong and, to be honest with you, it does not affect me in any way. Not even a second. With respect to subscribers on Instagram, if you believe it's one thing, and a woman should not decide, with her doctor and herself, what's good for her body, you can continue and Unsubscribe. I do not need you.
How can men be allies?
Men can be stronger. I think they can be participatory and stand side by side with women, opposed to these bills.
My husband and I talked about it before I talked about it on my show. We talked about the potential impact. He and I both decided that everything that would be negative in me and that could come to me would be completely tiny compared to the possible good that it could do for others.
What is your vision of the future with regard to reproductive rights?
I really want everyone, including myself, to hope that women can have real equality in our society. I hope for our girls. I hope that we will not retreat backwards and that what we are seeing now is the last murderous hold of old whites who are trying to defend patriarchy and retain their power in every possible way. I hope it's a real turning point and that from now on, things will get better. It could get worse before it gets better, but it's pretty bad right now. And I'm talking about a place with so many privileges.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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