What Does A Coat Hanger Tattoo Mean

The coat hanger tattoo is primarily a symbol of pro-choice advocacy and a show of support for women’s reproductive rights. It is a reminder of the desperation and danger many have faced to terminate a pregnancy when abortions have been illegal or out of reach, harkening back to dangerous and improvised methods such as unsafe do-it-yourself home abortions, before this procedure became safe and legal. The coat hanger tattoo is a memorial for those who have been victims of unsafe abortions, as well as a sign of hope for a better future, with safe and legal access to medical services.