‘It’s not the 90s any more’: the all-women team reinventing abortion advice for the TikTok age
The irreverent approach of the Colombian hotline Jacarandas has made it the most-followed abortion account on social media in the Spanish-speaking world
TL;DR
- Jacarandas, a Colombian abortion helpline, uses non-traditional art and social media to engage young people.
- The organization provides advice on abortion and reproductive rights via a WhatsApp helpline staffed by a lawyer, psychologist, nurse, and social worker.
- Their strategy includes creating eye-catching illustrations, fun TikTok videos, and adapting their content to current trends.
- Jacarandas aims to make abortion seem like a normal health procedure, countering societal stigma.
- They attend events like music festivals and comic conventions to raise awareness and sell merchandise to fund travel for women needing clinics.
- The helpline has a significant social media following and has assisted thousands of users, primarily before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- Jacarandas also offers legal support to women facing difficulties accessing free abortions or experiencing mistreatment.
- The organization has faced censorship on platforms like WhatsApp, temporarily switching to Telegram.
- Activists emphasize the ongoing need to fight for reproductive rights, drawing parallels to the US situation.