--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gag rule is, is that if any program…" description: "\"The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention, cannot speak the word \"abortion\" in the Thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png" --- # The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United… ![“The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention, cannot speak the word "abortion" in the Third World.” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png) > “The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention, cannot speak the word "abortion" in the Third World.” [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The rule bans any mention of abortion in funded family‑planning programs abroad, limiting open discussion of reproductive health. **In simple terms:** Abortion cannot be discussed in US‑funded foreign family‑planning projects. Key Takeaway Advocate for transparent reproductive health policies. Themes human rights policy reproductive health Mood concerned critical Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - NGO program design - international aid - public health communication Key Concepts censorship funding restrictions Questions to Reflect On - How does silencing abortion affect health outcomes? - What alternatives exist to address the issue? A Different Perspective May hinder comprehensive care and informed consent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Abortion World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion-world-3013873/) [Family planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-planning/) [Funding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funding/) [Gag Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gag-rule-3013872/) [Gags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gags/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Receiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receiving/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Third world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-world/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Word Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-abortion-2708139/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The gag rule must be eliminated, and it's just the gag rule, we're not talking now even about funding abortion. We're talking about, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-must-be-eliminated-and-it-s-just-the-gag-rule-we-re-not/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Right before the Bush inauguration, many women were greatly reassured when Laura said of Roe v. Wade on the 'Today' show, 'No, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/right-before-the-bush-inauguration-many-women-were-greatly-reassured/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Under Obama, our federal tax dollars can now be used to fund abortion all over the world. With the stroke of a pen, abortion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/under-obama-our-federal-tax-dollars-can-now-be-used-to-fund-abortion/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We see it in attempts on Capitol Hill to impose gag rules on rules on doctors on what they can say to their patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-see-it-in-attempts-on-capitol-hill-to-impose-gag-rules-on-rules-on/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [One accurate way to describe abortion is subtle infanticide. That is: child-killing done in a way that the people don't recognize it as child-killing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/one-accurate-way-to-describe-abortion-is-subtle-infanticide-that-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Bluntly and quietly, in a series of simple, forthright sentences, she dismantled the architecture of unhappiness that had been growing up around us for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/bluntly-and-quietly-in-a-series-of-simple-forthright-sentences-she/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [People already think the court is there to become the final word on controversial political questions. So everybody looks to the Supreme Court as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-already-think-the-court-is-there-to-become-the-final-word-on/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I apply the three gag rule, which is if I can read a script without gagging more than three times, then maybe I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-apply-the-three-gag-rule-which-is-if-i-can-read-a-script-without/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [Third world nations are producing too many children too fast...it is time to ignore the controversy over family planning and cut out-of-control population growth...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/third-world-nations-are-producing-too-many-children-too-fast-it-is/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [World fertility surveys indicate that anywhere from one third to one half of the babies born in the Third World would not be if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/world-fertility-surveys-indicate-that-anywhere-from-one-third-to-one/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [A focus on people's health and well-being must be the core of family planning research and policy. This may seem self-evident, but the realities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-simmons/a-focus-on-people-s-health-and-well-being-must-be-the-core-of-family/) [Ruth Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-simmons/) > [“Faith drives a wedge between ethics and suffering. Where certain actions cause no suffering at all, religious dogmatists still maintain that they are evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/faith-drives-a-wedge-between-ethics-and-suffering-where-certain/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Many family planning clinics and - and programs that service women have refused now to take women's - United State's money because they feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/many-family-planning-clinics-and-and-programs-that-service-women-have/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney has been a consistent fighter for Afghan women but also for International Family Planning Bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-has-been-a-consistent-fighter-for-afghan-women-but/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Over the past 50 years Bob Hope employed 88 joke writers who supplied him with more than one million gags, and he still couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/over-the-past-50-years-bob-hope-employed-88-joke-writers-who-supplied/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) ## More by Eleanor Smeal > [Feminist humor raises consciousness. And the reason it's funny is because it stands something on its head. Goodness knows you've got to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/feminist-humor-raises-consciousness-and-the-reason-it-s-funny-is/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I'm not a prejudice person, and I've worked with many male legislators and some have been excellent for us, so I'm not speaking against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-m-not-a-prejudice-person-and-i-ve-worked-with-many-male-legislators/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [We want this - and I - we hope that right when they come back, that the Congress passes the Lilly Ledbetter Act which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-want-this-and-i-we-hope-that-right-when-they-come-back-that-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ Carolyn \[Maloney\] is the kind of legislator who, whether she's in the majority or the minority, whether her party is in the majority or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-the-kind-of-legislator-who-whether-she-s-in-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Since 1996, the Feminist Majority Foundation has been immersed in a campaign to support Afghan women and girls in their fight against the brutal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/since-1996-the-feminist-majority-foundation-has-been-immersed-in-a/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Since the 1950s (until the early 1990s), girls in Kabul and other cities attended schools. Half of university students were women, and women made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/since-the-1950s-until-the-early-1990s-girls-in-kabul-and-other-cities/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ We think that Hillary \[Clinton\] will be a symbol and a reality for the women of the world, and it's very important because so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-think-that-hillary-clinton-will-be-a-symbol-and-a-reality-for-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney is really constantly thinking, "How do we improve things?" You know, sees the glass always half-full, and you have to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-really-constantly-thinking-how-do-we-improve/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ She \[Carolyn Maloney\] has there day in and day out for us and for women of this country and of the world, but she… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/she-carolyn-maloney-has-there-day-in-and-day-out-for-us-and-for-women/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I think that we're just fortunate that you have an experienced legislator: 26 years of fighting for our issues in line. I mean, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-think-that-we-re-just-fortunate-that-you-have-an-experienced/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney knows how to get something done, and as I said, it doesn't matter if she's in the majority or the minority. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-knows-how-to-get-something-done-and-as-i-said-it/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Well it's unusual for us to do an endorsement, you know, and the special occasions where you need appointments, but we thought that Senator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/well-it-s-unusual-for-us-to-do-an-endorsement-you-know-and-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [We have so few women in Congress. We are so underrepresented and whether we like it or not, we are in area - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-have-so-few-women-in-congress-we-are-so-underrepresented-and/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I have been studying women's political behavior since the early 1970s and first identified the gender gap in 1980 with the help of legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-have-been-studying-women-s-political-behavior-since-the-early-1970s/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney has been a consistent fighter for Afghan women but also for International Family Planning Bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-has-been-a-consistent-fighter-for-afghan-women-but/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) [Explore all 46 Eleanor Smeal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) [Madison Badesheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-badesheim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) [Sonya Renee Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-renee-taylor/) > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention, cannot speak the word \"abortion\" in the Third World.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eleanor Smeal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-receiving-united-states/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abortion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-receiving-united-states/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/eleanor-smeal-14458_abortion_the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-r_319387.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention…” — Eleanor Smeal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eleanor Smeal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The gag rule is, is that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-receiving-united-states/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-receiving-united-states/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```