*All opinions are my own*
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a pregnant woman’s right to get an abortion without excessive government restriction was protected by the Constitution. This month marks 47 years since this historic case, yet unfortunately, there’s still heavy opposition as to whether or not a woman’s right to abortion should be legal. Currently, 20 states (primarily in the south but expanding to the Midwest) are at risk of overturning Roe v. Wade. Not only is this fundamentally problematic, but it’s hideously irresponsible for a multitude of reasons.
(Photo by unknown via time.com)
For starters, abortion is much more common than most people assume – nearly 1 in 4 women will get an abortion in their lifetime. If Roe v. Wade were to be overturned or limited, a vast number of 25 million women will be at risk of losing abortion access in their states. However, contrary to the pro-life agenda, this most likely wouldn’t prevent women from getting abortions, it just prevents them from getting safe abortions. It’s more than possible women will resort to dangerous methods of trying to abort the fetus (e.g. using coat hangers, intentionally throwing themselves off stairs, or running into poles to induce a miscarriage), which now puts the women themselves in danger.
(Photo by Spencer Platt via slate.com)
Beyond this, the hypocrisy of the pro-life agenda is appalling. The argument is that the fetus is entitled to the same rights as any other human, however, it seems that the pro-life movement is more concerned with controlling women’s bodies, not with the safety of America’s children. I point this out because if you pay attention to the news for even a day, it’s extremely clear that as soon as these children are born, their safety is disregarded. Our foster care system is highly flawed, with many children subjected to poverty, lack of genuine care and support, as well as instability. In 2019, an immense 5,400 children were split from their families at the border; and several other children forced into detention centers where they were subjected to disgustingly inhumane conditions, with some cases even resulting in death. So, then this raises the question: where are pro-lifers in these situations?
And the issue of trying to control women’s bodies goes beyond abortion, yet still focuses on her reproductive ability. For example, the despicable act of forcibly sterilizing women in jails without the state’s approval was at its highest during the 70s, however, the practice continued well into the 2000s and even today.
(Photo by unknown via nbcnews.com)
Therefore, it’s quite shocking that abortion remains such a contended issue when it’s obvious that the issue isn’t about saving lives but rather trying to assert dominance over a woman’s body. It’s unacceptable that thousands of women are at risk of being denied this basic human right, and it’s time for us to stand up for them. Through organizations that are easy to volunteer for such as Pro-Choice NARAL, Just CARE (Campus Action for Reproductive Equality), or simply raising awareness in your social circles, it’s time for us to fight this blatantly misogynistic attack.