Chapter Ideas: Involving Youth in the Pro-life Movement

Now Is the Time! Youth are More Pro-life than Ever.

By Holly Miller, NRLC Field Coordinator

A March 30 New York Times article entitled "Surprise, Mom: I'm Anti-Abortion" revealed the progress the pro-life movement has made with young people. The gist of the article is that, much to the chagrin of their "pro-choice" parents' generation, more and more young people are identifying themselves as pro-life.

The article's author, Elizabeth Hayt, points out, "Teenagers and college-age Americans are more conservative about abortion rights than their counterparts were a generation ago." Following a high school speech class on topics of the students' choosing, one startled parent commented, "I was shocked that there were that many students who felt strong enough and confident enough to speak about being pro-life. The people I associate with in town are pro-choice, so I'm troubled - - where do these kids come from?" (emphasis added)

As a pro-life woman born after Roe v. Wade, I can't help but grin when I hear that reaction. The other side is completely befuddled by the "ingratitude" of our generation for the "right" to abortion. Yet, young people recognize that harm has been done to each of us as a result of losing 42 million peers. And by seeing family and friends that have suffered following their own abortions, we know that abortion also hurts women and that we would not recommend it. The New York Times article also indicated another important change in thinking between our parents' generation and our own. "The most commonly cited reason for the increasingly conservative views of young people is their receptiveness to the way anti-abortion campaigners have reframed the national debate on the contentious topic, shifting the emphasis from a woman's rights to the rights of the fetus," according to Hayt.

"A student who opposes abortion, and who says her views are more conservative than those of her parents, put her argument succinctly: 'It's more about the baby's rights than the woman's rights.'"

Pro-abortion leaders have always tried to focus the debate only on the pregnant mother and to ignore her unborn child. Thanks to pro-life educational efforts, like partial-birth abortion awareness, and scientific advancements, especially ultrasound technology and a better understanding of fetal development, Americans cannot help but recognize the unborn child as a victim in an abortion.

Chapters, take heart, your efforts in your local communities are succeeding. Public sentiment is shifting in our favor, fewer women are choosing to have abortions, and with more young people becoming pro-life, there will be plenty of able hands to carry on your legacy. That last is why it's crucial to focus on engaging young people.

Over the next few months, I'll be writing articles with an aim towards recruiting youth into the pro-life movement, or just educating them on their own turf and terms. Something to always keep in mind is that the high school students you work with today will be college students soon.

We can rejoice in the number of teens identifying themselves as pro-life, but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to work with the schools and the campuses in your community to make sure there is a credible pro-life presence.

National Teens for Life and National College Students for Life are the official Youth Outreach programs of the National Right to Life Committee. Their many activities include peer education, peer counseling, and assisting the educational and legislative efforts of local NRLC chapters and state affiliates.

Encouraging students to start a Teens for Life or College Students for Life group will ensure a constant pro-life presence in colleges, high schools, and even middle schools. When teens graduate, they usually see the need for a pro-life presence on their campuses, and start Students for Life groups at their colleges.

At a minimum, local teens and college students should put business cards or fliers advertising the nearest pro-life pregnancy center in the women's restrooms and locker rooms of the high school. If girls can get information about pro-life pregnancy-related services in a confidential way without going to Planned Parenthood or opening the phone directory to abortion providers, we will save lives.

Finally, let's face it, young people have a lot of energy. They can do the labor-intensive work of the chapter, easing the burden for the adult volunteers. So, the next time your members have a great idea for a chapter activity, rather than think of it as a lot of work, approach it as an opportunity to make young people more active. Who knows what they might teach their parents!