Interrupting the Stigma: Abortion Imagery in the Works of Portuguese Artists

Abstract

This article analyzes the feminist-driven arts that challenge the stigma of abortion in Portugal between 2004 and 2023. By examining the works “O meu corpo pertence-me” (Paula Tavares 2005), “Lavagem a seco” (Carla Cruz and Catarina Carneiro de Sousa 2004), and “Cyanovan (Protocol)” (Diana Policarpo 2020), it aims to deepen the theoretical and historical frameworks on abortion stigmatization; to understand the visual narratives and strategies used in these works to identify, inform, and combat stigma; and, ultimately, to reflect on the potential of art to reconfigure political, ethical, and social realities, rather than merely represent or mirror existing conditions.