Reproductive Rights

What’s at Stake?

EDITED September 12, 2024 | Written by G.K.

When thinking about where to apply for jobs or graduate schools after college, one often considers a multitude of factors. Do I have family close by? Do I want to live on the sunny coast or experience the four seasons on the east coast? Do I have the resume of a competitive applicant? When deciding where I wanted to apply to medical school, there was one question that, up until June 2022, I would not have considered. Will the state that I’m moving to protect my right to make decisions about my own body?

Moving on to this next chapter in life should be an exciting time. Of course, there are some fears that accompany it, but being denied access to an abortion or contraceptives should not be one of them. However, this is the current reality that young women such as myself are faced with.

In June, 2022, the supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade. Following this decision, states across the country implemented bans on abortion. More recently, right-wing individuals and organizations have also begun discussing bans on contraceptives, labeling them as “abortifacients”¹. These decisions impact roughly 25 million women of reproductive age, or those between 15 to 49 years old, who live in states with abortion bans or restrictions².

As of July 29, 2024, 9 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas, have banned abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Other states, including Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, and West Virginia, have a near-total ban in place, with limited exceptions³. North Dakota allows for exceptions for rape or incest within the first 6 weeks of pregnancy, while Mississippi only allows for exceptions for rape. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s laws on abortion allow for restrictions on the sale of abortion pills.

Some states have imposed abortion bans with slightly fewer limitations. South Carolina, Iowa, and Georgia have all banned abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy, the time at which a pulse is normally detected. In Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Nebraska, abortion is banned between 12 and 15 weeks of pregnancy, with some states including exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies. Meanwhile, Utah upholds an 18 week ban. While these laws are more lenient than other states, they continue to place restrictions on the female body and can cause women to face life-threatening circumstances.

In Iowa, for example, women are only afforded the right to an abortion if a medical profession can evidently prove that the mother’s life is in danger as a result of the pregnancy⁴. However, the type of medical emergency that the mother must face in order to qualify for an abortion is not well defined. As a result, women must endure unimaginable health complications before they can receive necessary treatment. Even in such instances, an abortion is not always a guarantee.

A woman in Iowa recently spoke out after being denied an abortion while experiencing life-threatening pregnancy complications⁵. At 22 weeks pregnant, she was informed the fetus had significant developmental delays and, if she carried the pregnancy to term, there was a possibility that she would not survive. Due to the current laws in Iowa surrounding reproductive rights, however, she was denied an abortion. At 33 weeks pregnant, she experienced preeclampsia with liver failure, a life-threatening condition characterized by dangerously high blood pressure. Fortunately, the woman was able to recover from the pregnancy complications after giving birth. However, other women may not be as lucky and could potentially die as a result of their state’s inhumane abortion laws.

Bans on contraceptives will likely follow abortion bans in many states. Already, steps are being taken to limit women’s access to birth control in Texas, which recently ruled that, as part of the Texas family code, women under the age of 18 must receive parental consent in order to obtain contraceptives⁶. Official bans on birth control, and the shipment of such contraceptives, are prominently outlined in the Project 2025 agenda, which could be implemented if Donald Trump is re-elected in November. The 900-page document outlines plans for eliminating access to contraceptives and sexual health education, as well as the removal of all references to gender equality and reproductive rights in documentation from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The election of Donald Trump in November 2025 would likely lead to further restrictions on women’s rights. In a 2024 Time Magazine interview with the former president, Trump asserted that he would continue to allow states to place restrictions on women’s pregnancies and support the prosecution for those who violate state bans⁷. However, he explained that he would leave most decisions regarding abortion bans up to individual states. In contrast, Harris had made it clear that protecting women’s rights is a top priority of her agenda, and she has vowed to fight for legislation that will end bans on abortion and contraceptives, should she be elected⁹.

What can women do to protect the right to make decisions about their own bodies? Vote. Women should so their research and cast their ballot in support of the candidate that protects their rights and those of future generations.

Voting in the presidential election is not the only means by which women can advocate for their rights. Women in historically red states also have the power to campaign and vote for representatives in their own state who support women’s rights.

This November, women must fight to protect themselves and future generations, because it’s not just our rights that are at stake, it’s our lives.

Below is a list of resources for women who live in states that have placed bans on abortion⁸. These organizations provide a variety of resources, ranging from legal and financial support to safe treatment options for abortions.

National Abortion Hotline: The organization provides individuals with information on accessing abortion care and legal services. Funds for travel and medical care are also available.
AbortionFinder: The site provides a directory of safe and verified abortion services and offers abortion pills through telehealth services.
Repro Legal Helpline: The hotline offers guidance on legal questions related to abortion and pregnancy loss.
Repro Legal Defense Fund: The organization provides financial support for individuals facing charges relating to abortion or pregnancy in-person clinics that can supply abortion pills and provide medical guidance and care
Repro Clinics: The site provides a listing of pro-choice medical providers that offer reproductive healthcare, including abortions.

Footnotes

International Mosaic

A Kaleidoscope of Different Ideas

Reproductive Rights

What’s at Stake?

What’s at Stake?

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