'Computers cause cancer in women': Video reveals the desperate lengths women have to go to get an abortion by comparing the process to horrific customer service calls 

  • New video gives satirical take on how difficult it is to get an abortion - comparing it to 'tech support from hell'
  • The short film imagines a world where users of other services are treated like women seeking terminations and made to wait for days
  • Central character, played by Cirocco Dunlap, left on the phone on hold for so long that she runs out of movies to watch and even learns French
  • American Civil Liberties Union, who published the video, claim restrictions being considered could leave Texas with ten clinics serving 5.4 million

A new film comparing abortion access with 'tech support from hell' imagines what other services would be like if they treated users like it claims women are when they are trying to get a termination.

The sketch, which is less than three minutes long, takes a satirical look at the seemingly-never-ending steps many women say they have to go through in order to get an abortion.

Starring actor and writer Cirocco Dunlap, from Brooklyn, who has written for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The New Yorker, the sketch by rights organization American Civil Liberties Union asks: 'What if tech support were like trying to access an abortion?'

Desperate: A satirical new video offers an entertaining look at the lengthy process women have to go through in order to get an abortion by comparing it to dreadful tech-based customer service

Desperate: A satirical new video offers an entertaining look at the lengthy process women have to go through in order to get an abortion by comparing it to dreadful tech-based customer service

Outrage: At first she is relieved to find the number for a phone line which promises it can provide assistance for her problem - but that feeling soon turns to anger when she is told she will have to wait on hold for 72 hours

Outrage: At first she is relieved to find the number for a phone line which promises it can provide assistance for her problem - but that feeling soon turns to anger when she is told she will have to wait on hold for 72 hours

Starting at 8.04am on a Monday, Dunlap's character is seen in a panic at home typing on a computer. She picks up the phone saying: 'Customer services to the rescue,' and makes a call.

But rather than a helpful person she is met with an automated voice who tells her: 'You have called to request a service as a female computer user which is regulated by state law. Now please enjoy this government-mandated recording from your state representative.'

The next automated voice is also unhelpful saying: 'Are you sure that's what you want?' 

It then adds: 'Sure I don't know anything about you or lady computer users or how they work but because I disapprove of your choices, here are some false but scary implications of your actions.'

The voice tells her that using computers 'causes cancer in ladies' and eventually tells her to hold for 72 hours.

As she waits, phone on hold, the woman watches so many films on a fictional streaming service that an alert pops up on the screen that reads: 'Netfilms warning you've watched all of Netfilms!' 

Fueling up: As she continues to kill time waiting for someone who can talk to her about her problem, the nameless woman, who is played by Cirocco Dunlap, continues to go about her business at home

Fueling up: As she continues to kill time waiting for someone who can talk to her about her problem, the nameless woman, who is played by Cirocco Dunlap, continues to go about her business at home

Alert: As time goes on, she becomes more bored, and even exhausts all of the movies on her 'Netfilms'

Alert: As time goes on, she becomes more bored, and even exhausts all of the movies on her 'Netfilms'

Lentement: In a desperate attempt to occupy her time, she starts learning French with a book of verbs

Lentement: In a desperate attempt to occupy her time, she starts learning French with a book of verbs

The following morning she is seen reading a book of '501 French verbs' then later in the evening entertaining herself with paper cups. By the following morning she is still waiting but appears to be almost fluent in French.

Eventually, at 4.36am on Thursday, after spending several days on hold, an automated voice is finally heard on the phone saying: 'We appreciate your patience, are you still there?' 

After entering her ZIP code, the voice tells her that 'government restrictions have forced many centers in your area to close' and that the nearest one to her is 147 miles away.

Exasperated she says: 'Are you kidding me? I want to talk to a human.'

When she is told she will have to make a 'totally unnecessary visit to the center' before she can go back for the service she requires she says: 'No, what? This is some bull****.'

As she beats a pillow over her head in frustration, a message appears that reads: 'Think this is some b******t? Accessing an abortion is even harder. 

Progress: Later her studies appear to have worked as she starts speaking sentences in fluent French - all the while remaining on hold 

Progress: Later her studies appear to have worked as she starts speaking sentences in fluent French - all the while remaining on hold 

Finally: As she begins to dose off during the wee hours of the morning, days after she made her first call, a voice is heard coming from her phone

Finally: As she begins to dose off during the wee hours of the morning, days after she made her first call, a voice is heard coming from her phone

Exasperated: Cirocco  is told that she will have to travel 150 miles to a center for an 'unnecessary visit'

Exasperated: Cirocco is told that she will have to travel 150 miles to a center for an 'unnecessary visit'

B******t! Outraged by her treatment she vents her rage in expletives and punching a pillow

B******t! Outraged by her treatment she vents her rage in expletives and punching a pillow

'Abortion is a constitutional right. But a right with no access is no right at all.' 

ACLU claims that the Supreme Court's decision on abortion case Whole Women's Health v Hellerstedt is one of the most important in decades.

In a caption with the video, posted on YouTube, it says that in the case if the TRAP laws are upheld Texas could be left with 10 clinics serving 5.4million which it claims will require women to go 'vast distances to access services'. 

It adds: 'Leading medical experts oppose clinic-closing restrictions on abortion access because they endanger women’s health. 

'Why are politicians passing them? Abortion is a constitutionally protected right. But a right without access is not right at all.' 

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