Feminist Student Organization Screens "After Tiller"

On Thursday, March 20th, the Feminist Student Organization screened “After Tiller”: a documentary which discusses reproductive rights and ideologies behind abortion providers. Before Dr. Tiller was assassinated, he provided late-term abortion services to people in their third trimester of pregnancy. He was one of five doctors in the country who is qualified to do so. The documentary followed the remaining four doctors and examined their thoughts about Dr. Tiller, their interactions with patients, and their opinions of why people should have access to late-term abortion services. The patients’ stories also explored various reasons why parents decide to have late-term abortions, including debilitating fetal illnesses, ability to support another child, or not wanting a child in general.

After the film, a panel followed which included members of the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and Planned Parenthood. The panelists discussed the multiple barriers that people face when they try to access abortion services in the United States. Such topics included navigating specific state-wide restrictions on abortion, barriers that limit access like proximity and ultrasounds. In regards to late-term abortions, they also brought up how the doctor’s decision as to whether or not a pregnancy is too far along for the procedure can be a limiting factor in obtaining abortion services. The panelists provided their thoughts based on their background working for women’s rights organizations and were able to provide perspectives about national access to abortion and how their work related to reproductive rights.