The War on Reproductive Rights

For the past few years, there has been a noticeable change in our country’s climate.  Some believe we’re moving backwards, while others think we’re simply “Making America Great Again”.  Whatever your position there’s no denying the air is thicker than it’s been in years and tensions between blue and red are growing at an alarming rate. 

From the obvious wage gap, to victim blaming in sexual assault cases, to the dismissive attitude towards the trans community and the refusal to include them in the conversation, it seems as if someone is trying to derail everything our bra burning fore-mothers fought for.     

It was only a matter of time before the controversial Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice debate reemerged.

The bill of rights guarantees individuals to personal autonomy, meaning that a person’s decisions regarding his or her personal life is none of the government’s damn business.  However, across America radical bans like the “Heartbeat” bill are being introduced.  These kinds of bans limit the power that womxn have over their sexual and reproductive health. 

The bills prohibit abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. But reproductive rights advocates and doctors say the laws, which prohibit abortion before many women know they are pregnant, amount to a near-total ban on the procedure.  To add insult to injury, a lot of these laws have no exceptions for survivors of rape and incest.

Why would anyone sign such an extreme bill?

Well back in 1973 the landmark case Roe v. Wade ruled that each state could regulate abortions.  The Court ruled that during the first trimester, governments could not prohibit abortions at all; during the second trimester, governments could require reasonable health regulations; during the third trimester, abortions could be prohibited entirely so long as the laws contained exceptions for cases when they were necessary to save the life of or health of the mother.

Before this case, abortion was illegal in at least 30 states. Forcing many women  to seek back ally procedures and/or attempt to perform it on themselves in less than satisfactory settings often resulting in hemorrhaging and death.  With the passing of these laws, it can again drive the practice underground and impose dangers to womxns health. 

A womxn's fundamental liberty to choose is hanging in the balance.  And we must fight!  Kamala Harris once asked Kavanahugh if he could think of a single law that regulated a man's body - to no surprise he came up empty.  We are all created equal and are all deserving of choice.  Its important that we have these conversations, spread awareness and educate ourselves. 

Visit NARAL to gain more knowledge and figure out how you can help.