Survey finds 75% of parents have discussed abortion with their children because of campaign.
A survey by One Family, Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting, and separating, has found that over 88% of parents think the referendum posters are unhelpful with 75% confirming the campaign has led to discussions with their children about abortion.
One Family, which provides crisis pregnancy and post abortion counselling services launched the survey last week following an escalation in the number of people seeking its counselling and parenting services, particularly its tips on how to speak to your child about abortion. The majority of those seeking support said they had done so after they, or their children, had seen graphic campaign posters.
Speaking about the results, One Family CEO Karen Kiernan said, “There has been a marked increase in women and couples seeking our counselling and parenting services. What we are finding is that parents are being triggered by the images into a conversation with their children that they are just not ready for. Many parents are particularly annoyed by posters that parents believe are targeting parents and children such as those being placed near schools. Although we don’t know how the parents might vote, overwhelmingly they are unhappy with the graphic posters.”
When asked ‘Have your children noticed the posters associated with the referendum campaign?’ 84% of parents said yes, their children had noticed the campaign while 88% answered No to the question ‘Have the posters associated with the referendum campaign been helpful to you as a parent?’
The survey found that 75% of parents had a discussion with their child about abortion because of the referendum but many did not do so proactively or willingly. Verbatim comments demonstrate some of the anger parents are feeling:
“This not a topic that I thought my 9 yr old was really ready to hear about or actually understand, but the more graphic posters from the no campaign made the topic impossible to avoid. Initially he was v shocked by the “killing babies” posters and was quite upset about it.”
The survey was conducted online by One Family through its social media and e-zine followers as well as via other organisations working with families and had over 300 respondents. 42% of parents who responded had children in the 6-10 age group, followed by 26% in the 3-5 age group and 20% in the 11+ age group.
Selection of verbatim quotes from parents:
Q: Have your children noticed the posters associated with the referendum campaign?
“You can’t miss them 100 feet from their school gates.”
“Is it yes for abortion? What is abortion? Do you want abortion?”
“They are a constant source of discussion. They have come up in my child’s class 4th and when he was in 2nd classroom also discussed there. Think teachers are under pressure to provide age appropriate info. think it would associate abortion with killing and murder of babies because of the no posters and don’t know what effect this will have on these kids later.”
“ My 10 year old now informs me randomly that “1 in 5 ‘babies’ in the UK are aborted”
“Thankfully they are too young”
“My eldest son 9 has & can read. My 6 year old hasn’t noticed or hasn’t commented to me.”
Q: Have you discussed the issue of abortion and the referendum with your children as a result of the referendum campaign?
“I didn’t necessarily want to but had to. In the car. Images didn’t help at all. Would have likely discussed it but on my terms and in my words.”
“The campaigners left us with no choice but to discuss an issue which is not appropriate for our children”
“It’s been very difficult. I feel the posters are designed to be manipulative and to force parents into uncomfortable conversations with their children. Will the no side try to win at any price ? Even the innocence of children??”
“As far as it is Human Rights issue, content No poster not negative towards children”
“6 years old too young to discuss it with.”
“This not a topic that I thought my 9 yr old was really ready to hear about or actually understand, but the more graphic posters from the no campaign made the topic impossible to avoid. Initially he was v shocked by the “killing babies” posters and was quite upset about it.”
“He’s five so I’ve just explained about voting and we’ve practised voting with him and his younger sister on simple issues like what will we have for dinner. He hasnt read the word abortion he hasn’t asked so I haven’t discussed”.
Q: Have the posters associated with the referendum campaign been helpful to you as a parent?
“It’s nightmare explaining to 8 year old about abortion”
“I would have liked to have been in control of when we had the conversation.”
“Very difficult for them to get a balanced view when posters are so based on images of babies. I don’t think it is fair coverage. Referendum posters should be text only in my opinion.”
“Would answer somewhat helpful. Neither side is fully engaged or respectful with the impact this has on potential parents, pregnant women, but i would say particularly the No side has been disrespectful of women.”
“The images of foetuses on the posters with messages about killing etc. are extremely unhelpful because they have required explaining to my son (age 8) and that the No posters are lying about babies being aborted at 6 months, that they are just trying to manipulate people.”
“The posters are forcing parents to have to discuss a matter that’s just not appropriate for discussion with young children. I don’t want to tell my child why girls and women need access to a abortion ie when they have been raped, suicidal or when their life is at risk.”
“I’m lucky he hasn’t asked anything about the issue. But it’s been helpful to introduce the concept of voting and having a say in what the government does.”
Notes to Editor:
Survey ran online from Saturday 28 April to 9am Friday 4 May and 325 parents responded.
One Family, formerly Cherish, has been providing services and supports for people parenting alone, sharing parenting, and separating since 1972. One Family provides post-termination and crisis pregnancy counselling and supports to its clients in their roles as parents and into training, education and employment. One Family also provides support for children in one-parent families.
For more information on who we are and what we do please visit: www.onefamily.ie
One Family’s counselling services are funded by the HSE Sexual Heath and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). Details of HSE funded services are available on www.positiveoptions.ie and www.abortionaftercare.ie
One Family’s parenting tips are available here:
www.onefamily.ie/how-to-talk-with-your-child-about-abortion-a-guide-from-one-family/
For more information please contact:
- CEO, Karen Kiernan on tel: 086 850 9191
- Communications and Events Manager, Noel Sweeney on tel: 085 7241294
