The holidays are a time we look forward to—gatherings filled with tradition, connection, and shared meals. But for many, they also bring something a bit less festive: challenging conversations with family members who hold very different political views. Topics related to reproductive health, autonomy, or gender equity can surface at the dinner table, and even the most well-intentioned dialogue can quickly become charged.

As healthcare professionals and advocates, AMWA members often find themselves in the difficult position of being both a trusted voice and a target for debate. This year, as reproductive rights continue to be shaped by shifting laws and public opinion, holiday gatherings may feel especially fraught.

But there is good news: the same skills we use in patient encounters — empathy, evidence-based communication, and strategies for de-escalation—can also transform these same conversations. And AMWA’s training on navigating complex reproductive health discussions offers a practical framework you can bring to any dinner table.

Why These Conversations Feel Hard

Reproductive health inherently intersects with identity, values, faith, and personal experience. When a loved one’s opinions differ dramatically from ours, the conversation can trigger:

  • Emotional defensiveness
  • Fear of judgment
  • Misinformation and confusion
  • A sense of personal stake in the outcome

Even for those accustomed to difficult clinical conversations, the family dynamic adds complexity. Unlike a clinical encounter, these relationships span decades and carry emotional history.

How AMWA’s Training Can Help

The Reproductive Health Coalition training Navigating Conversations in Reproductive Health Care offers content developed by CMPartners (in partnership with AMWA and Doctors for America) and a framework to support clinicians in navigating these conversations with empathy and understanding. Learn about the ladder of inference and how it shapes our reactions, influencing how we interpret others’ words and how they interpret ours.

👉 Training link: https://bit.ly/rhcnavigating

Here are some pointers which can guide your holiday interactions:

1. Center Empathy Over Persuasion

The training emphasizes curiosity—asking open-ended questions to understand the values or fears behind a statement. When people feel heard, they are far more willing to listen in return.

2. Recognize the Difference Between Communication Goals

In clinical care, the goal may be understanding and guiding a patient. In family conversations, the goal may simply be connection, clarity, or diffusing tension—not changing someone’s worldview in one night.

3. Set Boundaries with Compassion

Not every conversation needs to be had. Learning to say:
“I care about you, and I care about this topic—but I don’t think discussing it right now will be helpful for either of us.”
…can preserve relationships while honoring your emotional bandwidth.

4. Practice the Pause

In tense moments, silence is a tool. The training underscores the value of slowing down your response so the conversation remains intentional rather than reactive.

Bringing Holiday Conversations Back to What Matters Most

At their best, holidays remind us of our shared humanity—something that can be easy to forget amid political divides. Using skills from the reproductive health communication training, we can approach difficult conversations with more grace, clarity, and confidence.

You may not change someone’s mind this season—and that’s okay. What you can do is foster understanding, reduce conflict, and model the kind of compassionate communication we hope to see in the world.

As you prepare to gather with loved ones, consider gifting yourself a moment to explore the training:

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/rhcnavigating

And remember: connection—like health care itself—begins with listening.