Face to Face: Women who were coerced into abortion speak with men who coerced

In the latest episode in Live Action's "Face to Face" series, a group of men and women sat down together to share deeply personal stories of how abortion touched their lives — some through being pressured to abort, and others through the way they coerced women to abort.

Their accounts, though diverse in circumstance, were united by a shared desire to bring healing and awareness to others walking similar paths.

Key Takeaways:

• Members of the group noted the lasting impact abortion has on both men and women.

• Abortion coercion was a recurring theme, with pressure to abort coming from family, friends, and outside influences.

• Despite the trauma that abortion can inflict, hope and healing are possible.

Pressured to Abort: Stories the Abortion Industry Doesn’t Want You to Hear

The Details:

Jessica: Choosing life amid pressure and pain

Jessica’s story began when she became pregnant with twins at just 15 years old. Growing up in a home marked by domestic violence and emotional abuse, she viewed pregnancy as a way to escape her painful environment. However, instead of receiving support, Jessica faced immense pressure from her mother and grandmother — both of whom had previously undergone abortions — to abort her baby.

“They were conspiring to take me out of state to have an abortion,” Jessica recalled. Her stepfather even offered to pay for college if she agreed to abort.

Despite the fear and pressure, Jessica stood firm in her decision to keep her babies, bolstered by the support of her boyfriend (now husband) and her father, who opposed abortion after witnessing the trauma it had caused Jessica’s mother years before.

At 16, Jessica gave birth to healthy twin boys. “God gives us life, and He has the power to take it away, and no one else does," she said.

Now a mother of four, she shares her experience to encourage other young women facing unplanned pregnancies.

Ron and Eusi: The burden of abortion coercion

Two men, Ron and Eusi, shared the emotional aftermath of coercing their partners into abortion.

Ron coerced his wife into an abortion 50 years ago — a decision that destroyed his marriage and sent both him and his wife into years of pain and loneliness.

“It’s something that will haunt me for the rest of my life,” he admitted. Decades later, through faith, Ron found healing and now dedicates his life to helping other men recover from post-abortion grief.

Eusi’s story echoed similar regret. Nearly 30 years ago, he pressured his girlfriend into aborting their baby, driven by fear and a lack of courage to seek guidance. “All the things I was afraid of were non-issues,” he said. “I wish I had talked to someone.”

Both men now advocate for male accountability in protecting life.

Roxanna and Norma: Abortion's hidden wounds

Roxanna’s abortion took place during her final semester of college. Her boyfriend, a medical professional, failed to offer her support, and instead arranged her abortion procedure. “The ultrasound screen was turned away — I never saw my baby,” she said. She described the isolation that followed, and the emotional devastation that set in once her relationship ended.

Abortion’s dirty little secret: Women don’t always choose

Forty years ago, Norma was raped at the hands of her boyfriend, leading to her first pregnancy. Though she described experiencing pressure to abort, she chose life for that child. However, she later fell into a destructive cycle of six abortions, using them as birth control following the trauma of her rape.

Years later, through a faith-based healing program, Norma said she was “healed spiritually, physically, and emotionally in one night.” Since then, she has devoted her life to helping women recover from abortion-related pain.

Hallie: The destructive nature of abortion

After getting pregnant at 15, Hallie found herself pressured by her abusive boyfriend to choose abortion. She ended up having a total of three abortions, all after heavy pressure from her controlling boyfriend.

After going to college, she had a fourth abortion, after yet more pressure from a different boyfriend. The pain and trauma of these abortions led her down a destructive path. Today, she is open with sharing her story and her mistakes with her children, so they do not experience the same lasting trauma.

The Bottom Line:

Despite the pain and regret expressed by those who had chosen abortion, there was also the hope of healing and redemption. All the participants expressed the hope that by sharing their stories openly, others might learn, heal, and ultimately choose life.