Pro-Voice

Summary

Once vilified by pro-life and pro-choice supporters alike, Aspen Baker has now shown that "pro-voice" might be the best method to move past conflict and hatred around abortion. With her nonprofit, Exhale, she has demonstrated that it's possible to get people talking respectfully even about the most polarizing topics.

When Aspen Baker had an abortion at the age of twenty-four, she felt caught between the warring pro-life and pro-choice factions, with no safe space to share her conflicted feelings, which didn't fit into either side's party line. In this hopeful and moving book, Baker shows how she and Exhale, the organization she cofounded, developed a philosophy and a set of tools that enables anyone to have respectful, compassionate exchanges about even the most divisive topics. Initially distrusted by both sides, Exhale now receives post-abortion referrals from pro-life and pro-choice organizations and has become a leader and innovator by pioneering a more respectful, supportive dialogue about this highly emotional issue.

Baker examines the history of the abortion debate, identifying the mistakes and misunderstandings on both sides that have led us to the current painful divide. She shares how Exhale discovered creative ways to build a caring, nonjudgmental space for women and men to share their feelings about abortion, such as starting a post-abortion telephone service and piloting a nationwide story-sharing tour led by women who'd had abortion experiences. They call their approach "pro-voice."

This book shows how pro-voice can be adopted by anyone interested in dialogue rather than dogma. Peace, in this perspective, isn't a world without fighting or conflict but one where conflict can be engaged in-fiercely and directly-without dehumanizing ourselves or our opponents. Our world is full of gray areas. It's vital we learn practices like pro-voice to help us move from paralysis to progress.