Take Action On Abortion

In the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court, Justice Samuel Alito writes, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” While not solidified quite yet, this decision would essentially turn abortion into a state’s issue as opposed to a federal one. This law will not stop people from having abortions— but it does make the process a whole lot more complicated and unsafe.

Who does this affect?

Unfortunately, according to the current political climate there are about 26 states that are likely to either limit or outright ban abortion. For people who reside in liberal states like California or Massachusetts, it’s likely that not much will change immediately since the state government is in favor of protecting abortion rights. However, when we look at states like Florida or Texas this decision becomes far more of an issue. These states are more likely limit/criminalize abortion as well as simultaneously limit things like sex education and access to contraception. This has deadly implications. For example, due to historical factors and political composition, Florida is considered a state that is likely to outright ban abortion. According to Power to Decide, over 1 million Floridian women in need live in contraceptive deserts. Additionally, the women of reproductive age are less likely to have adequate health care coverage- the uninsured rate of women in Florida is 18%. Without access to contraception or comprehensive sex education, the possibility of teen pregnancies becomes higher. According to the NIH, adolescents are “more likely to delay the abortion, resort to unskilled persons to perform it, use dangerous methods and present late when complications arise.”

It is also important to note that the issue of abortion rights also uniquely impacts Black and Brown women in the United States. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to experience unintended pregnancy, and therefore stand to lose the most from severe restriction of abortion rights.

“They can just travel”

Restricting abortion in some states but not others increases the likelihood that a person seeking an abortion will have to travel in order to access care. Although better than having no access, this has negative implications for maternal health. For one, the person would likely have to delay their abortion to a later gestational stage while making travel arrangements. Delaying abortion past the first trimester increases the possibilities of maternal health risks like blood clots, heavy bleeding, anesthesia-related complications, perforation of the uterus wall, cut or torn cervix, pelvic infection and more. Additionally, forcing someone to delay their abortion to a later stage can increase the emotional volatility of the process. A British study on the psychodynamic effects of delayed abortion decisions revealed that delay is associated with “greater disturbance in the basic sense of self and lower achievement orientation (‘striving’).”

What can we do?

While we fight to ensure that abortion rights are codified and federally protected through law, it is important to recognize the immediacy of this problem and support local action groups who continue to provide safe abortion services to those who need it most. Additionally, it will be crucial to support pro-choice lawmakers especially for the senate in order to make sure that abortion rights will become codified and part of federal law. Below is a list of hyperlinked actions you can take to support and help protect reproductive rights in the US:

1. A comprehensive list of abortion resources by state
2. Split a contribution to 5 abortion funds
3. Donate & follow this list of pro-choice candidates
4. Educate yourself on the history of abortion rights

Regardless of the Supreme Court’s final ruling, the nature of abortion will not change; it is a human right. A human right that shouldn’t be controlled and determined by a panel of majority old men who will never directly know the consequences of their decisions. When global organizations like the World Health Organization and Amnesty International have deemed safe access to abortion as a basic healthcare need for women around the world, it is laughable that this country, which proclaims itself to be a world leader, falls so far behind.

To the men reading this article, I implore you to go beyond resharing posts and focus on true advocacy. Check in your female friends along with anyone else who may be affected by this ruling. Donate to abortion funds. Support pro-choice candidates. This draft is foreshadowing of a concerning and uniquely American problem, but that doesn’t mean that we should give up and stop fighting. In fact, it becomes more important now than ever to ensure that we stay vigilant and continue to do the best we can to support those who need it the most.