The Coat Hanger Symbol: Its Meaning And History

what does the coat hanger symbol mean

The coat hanger has become a symbol of the reproductive rights movement, specifically in the wake of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the US. The symbol is a reminder of the dangerous pre-Roe era, when women were forced to use coat hangers to perform unsafe abortions. The coat hanger has been used as a protest symbol since 1969, when 300,000 protesters in Washington marched with coat hangers around their necks, holding signs that read Never Again. The coat hanger has been used in recent protests, both online and in-person, as a warning of what might happen if abortions are made illegal.

Characteristics Values
Symbolises Dangerous, self-induced abortions in pre-Roe America
Used as A protest prop during Roe v Wade protests
Represents Attacks against bodily autonomy
Reminds Women of an earlier time when abortions were illegal and unsafe
Warns Of the consequences of abortion being made illegal

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The coat hanger as a symbol of the reproductive rights movement

The coat hanger is a symbol of the reproductive rights movement and a reminder of the dangerous and gruesome pre-Roe era in America. It symbolises a desperate last resort for women who have been denied legal abortion services. In the pre-Roe era, women were forced to use household objects like coat hangers to terminate unwanted pregnancies, which could be unsafe and deadly. The coat hanger is a cheap and accessible object, which means it can be widely and quickly used as a protest symbol.

The coat hanger has been used as a symbol of the reproductive rights movement for decades. In April 1969, years before the Roe v Wade ruling, 3 lakh protesters in Washington marched with coat hangers around their necks, holding signs that read "Never Again". The Roe v Wade ruling allowed women access to legal abortions. However, in June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned this ruling, and protests spread across the country. Within hours of the ruling, memes with coat hangers popped up across social media, and activists in pro-choice protests turned to the coat hanger as a symbol and a warning of what lies ahead for women in America.

In May 2022, a college student bought a pack of six wire hangers and shipped them to the Supreme Court. In a viral TikTok post, she encouraged others to do the same. Soon, thousands of women sent coat hangers to the US Supreme Court as a symbol of protest. The coat hanger has seen a resurgence in pro-choice protests, both on the ground and online. Lady Liberty is often depicted holding a coat hanger in her hand instead of the scales.

While the coat hanger is a powerful symbol, some pro-choice activists and doctors advocate using less sensational imagery when fighting for reproductive rights. They believe that the coat hanger makes abortions seem unsafe and violent, which bolsters pro-life arguments and dissuades women from seeking abortions. They recommend using more empowering imagery to advocate for abortions.

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Coat hanger abortions

The coat hanger is a symbol of the reproductive rights movement and a reminder of the dangerous pre-Roe era in America. It is a symbol of a desperate last resort for women who have been denied legal abortion services.

The coat hanger abortion refers to the practice of using the object to induce an abortion, along with other household objects or homemade herbal remedies, when safe or legal abortion access is unavailable. The practice involves inserting the hanger's wire into the cervix to perform the abortion.

The coat hanger has been used as a symbol to represent unsafe and self-induced abortions, and as a representation of attacks on bodily autonomy. It is a reminder of a time when abortions were illegal and women were forced to use dangerous at-home remedies to deal with unwanted pregnancies.

The coat hanger was first used as a protest symbol in 1969, years before the Roe v. Wade ruling, when protesters in Washington marched with coat hangers around their necks and signs that read "Never Again". The symbol has seen a resurgence in recent years, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, with protesters using it as a warning of the potential return to unsafe and illegal abortions.

While coat hanger abortions are not a prevalent method today, it does still occur occasionally, and experts agree that it is crucial to ensure access to safe and legal abortion care to prevent women from resorting to such dangerous methods.

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The coat hanger as a protest symbol

The coat hanger has become a symbol of the reproductive rights movement, particularly in the United States, where it is associated with the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. The coat hanger is a reminder of the dangerous and gruesome reality of pre-Roe America, when women were forced to take matters into their own hands, often with tragic consequences.

The coat hanger specifically refers to a method of unsafe abortion, where a person inserts the wire of a coat hanger into their cervix to terminate a pregnancy. This method, though macabre and life-threatening, was a desperate last resort for women who lacked access to safe and legal abortion services. The coat hanger, therefore, symbolises the ongoing fight for reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

The symbol first emerged in protests in 1969, years before the Roe v. Wade ruling, when protesters in Washington marched with coat hangers around their necks, holding signs that read "Never Again". This powerful image captured the desperation and resilience of those fighting for their reproductive rights.

In recent years, the coat hanger has seen a resurgence as a symbol of protest, particularly in response to efforts to restrict abortion access. In 2016, protesters in Ohio decorated the statehouse fencing with coat hangers to oppose the Heartbeat Bill, which would have banned abortions after six weeks. Similarly, in 2018, Senator Susan Collins' office received 3000 coat hangers ahead of Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation, as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of anti-abortion legislation.

The coat hanger has also made its way into popular culture, with artists, journalists, and activists using it as a powerful symbol. For example, in 1988, political cartoonist Paul Conrad drew Lady Liberty with a coat hanger in her hand instead of the scales, critiquing anti-abortionists. More recently, in 2019, a guerrilla street artist placed wire coat hangers in pharmacies, calling them "at-home abortion kits" and highlighting the potential return to dangerous, back-alley abortions.

While some pro-choice activists argue for less sensational imagery, concerned that the coat hanger reinforces negative stereotypes about abortion, others embrace the symbol as a stark reminder of the grim reality of unsafe abortions. The coat hanger has become a powerful and enduring symbol of the reproductive rights movement, a call to action, and a warning of the potential consequences of restricting abortion access.

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The coat hanger as a symbol of unequal access

The coat hanger has become a symbol of the reproductive rights movement, specifically in the context of the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. The coat hanger is a reminder of the dangerous and gruesome methods women would resort to when they were denied legal abortion services. This symbol has been used in protests, both in-person and online, as a warning of the potential consequences of restricting access to abortions.

The coat hanger represents a desperate last resort for women who are unable to access safe and legal abortion services. It is a cheap and accessible object that can be quickly and widely used as a protest symbol. The use of the coat hanger as a symbol of the reproductive rights movement dates back to at least 1969, when protesters in Washington marched with coat hangers around their necks, holding signs that read "Never Again".

The coat hanger has been used to symbolise unsafe and self-induced abortions, which can endanger lives. In the pre-Roe v. Wade era, thousands of women died or were left maimed due to unsafe abortion practices. The coat hanger represents the inequality of access to safe abortions, as those with more privilege and resources were able to obtain safer abortions, while those with less privilege, money, and connections were forced to resort to dangerous and makeshift methods.

The coat hanger has been invoked as a symbol by both pro-life and pro-choice advocates. While pro-life supporters view it as a symbol of the dangers of abortion, pro-choice activists see it as a reminder of the gruesome consequences of denying women access to safe and legal abortion services. The coat hanger has been used in protests and activism to advocate for reproductive rights and to warn against the potential consequences of restricting access to abortions.

The coat hanger, therefore, serves as a powerful symbol of unequal access to reproductive rights and the potential consequences of denying women safe and legal abortion services. It is a reminder of a gruesome era in history and a warning of what could lie ahead if access to abortions is restricted.

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The coat hanger as a symbol of community-led abortion provision

The coat hanger has become a symbol of the reproductive rights movement and community-led abortion provision. Its thin metal wire, which can be bent and inserted through the cervix, has been used by women who are unable to access safe and legal abortions. This practice, known as a "coat hanger abortion", is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe complications or even death.

The coat hanger as a symbol represents a desperate last resort for women who have been denied legal abortion services. It harks back to a darker era, before the Roe v. Wade ruling, when abortion was illegal in the United States and women were forced to resort to unsafe methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies. In this context, the coat hanger serves as a powerful reminder of the gruesome realities of pre-Roe America and the dangers of restricting abortion access.

During the ongoing protests against the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the coat hanger has re-emerged as a prominent symbol of community-led abortion provision. Protestors have been seen at marches holding posters with coat hangers drawn on them, wearing coat hanger necklaces, and even shipping wire coat hangers to the US Supreme Court. This resurgence of the coat hanger as a symbol underscores the fear and anger surrounding the potential return to unsafe abortion practices.

While some reproductive rights advocates argue that the coat hanger imagery is no longer representative of the current reality of abortion provision, others contend that it serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of restricting abortion access. The coat hanger, in this context, symbolizes community-led abortion provision as a desperate measure in the face of limited options and a lack of legal, safe alternatives. It represents the determination of those seeking abortions to take matters into their own hands, even if it means risking their health and safety.

The coat hanger, with its "graphic simplicity", has become an enduring and powerful symbol of the community-led abortion provision movement. It evokes a range of emotions, from unease to anger, and serves as a call to action for those fighting to protect reproductive rights and ensure access to safe and legal abortions.

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Frequently asked questions

The coat hanger is a symbol of the reproductive rights movement and a reminder of the dangerous pre-Roe era in the US when abortions were illegal. It symbolises a desperate last resort for women who were denied legal abortion services.

A coat hanger abortion refers to an unsafe abortion performed by inserting a wire coat hanger into the cervix to terminate a pregnancy.

Abortion-rights activists use the coat hanger as a representation of attacks on bodily autonomy and a reminder of the gruesome pre-Roe era. It is a cheap and accessible object that can be quickly and widely used as a protest symbol.

To pro-choice activists, the coat hanger symbolises the dangerous measures women will resort to when they are denied access to safe abortions. It evokes a societal memory of times when women used desperate measures to end pregnancies.

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