Words that Resist: How Communities Talk About Abortion Amid Stigma and Censorship

Roxana Vivas
Sep 29
2 min read

In countries where abortion is criminalized or deeply stigmatized, language becomes a tool of resistance. The words we use to name abortion and abortion pills are never neutral. They act as codes, safe shelters, and collective care strategies. Across countries and communities, creative and affective ways emerge to keep talking about what cannot always be named openly.

Abortion Pills With New Names

The most common abortion pills —misoprostol and mifepristone— have been renamed by feminist networks, activists, and users as a way to protect themselves and connect with each other.

Some examples include:

Venezuela: Misoprostol is often called “estrellitas” (“little stars”), referring to its hexagonal shape. Asking “Do you have estrellitas?” becomes a code of solidarity and urgency.
Guatemala: Pills are called “dulces” (“candies”), a metaphor that softens the conversation and creates a discreet code.
United States: Self-managed abortion networks refer to kits, meaning the full package that includes instructions, pills, and accompaniment.
Mexico: Pills are called “amigas” (“friends”), “compañeras” (“companions”), or even “flores” (“flowers”), reframing abortion as part of a vital cycle.
Argentina: People simply say “miso” to refer to misoprostol.

These alternative names protect against state, legal, and social surveillance, while also building community and care. Naming is not only about survival; it is also about belonging.

Abortion: Between Euphemisms and Affirmations

The word abortion itself is often reframed depending on the cultural, legal, and political context:

Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (VIP/IVE): a technical term used in progressive legal frameworks and advocacy campaigns seeking institutional legitimacy.
Menstrual regulation: historically used when pregnancy was assumed due to lack of menstruation rather than a confirmed test, making abortion easier to discuss.
Cycle regulation, menstrual accompaniment, body decision: terms that center autonomy and the right to decide.
In some community spaces, people simply say accompaniment, process, or what I need to do.

These shifts show how language adapts to context—sometimes to gain legitimacy, sometimes to protect communities.

Language as a Strategy Against Abortion Stigma

These words and codes emerge in response to:

Criminalization and legal restrictions on abortion.
Social media censorship of abortion content.
Widespread stigma, violence, and criminalization faced by people seeking abortion.

Naming in code allows information, care, and resistance to continue. Far from being a weakness, this strategy affirms life, dignity, and bodily autonomy for women and people who can get pregnant.

What Words Reveal

Behind each coded word lies a story of struggle, creativity, and affection. Estrellitas, dulces, kits —these are not just objects, they are symbols of a network of care. Every time we say interruption, accompaniment, or decision, we are affirming that abortion is not about shame —it is about life, dignity, and rights.

At Vitala, we believe that the way communities resist abortion stigma through language is a powerful reminder of the creativity and resilience that drives reproductive justice.

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