This episode of the Access podcast exposes the myth of adoption as an easy and parallel alternative to abortion. Instead, adoption can be an ongoing challenge for both birth parents and children, shaped by structural inequity and stigma against young or single parents. The episode helps explain why only 1% of pregnant people choose adoption compared to the 25% that choose abortion, and why 91% of people denied an abortion go on to parent.

Also check out RHEDI’s approach to Options Counseling, which starts with the options of abortion and staying pregnant and recognizes that adoption is not something most pregnant people want to discuss when making an abortion decision.