by Zefferin LLamas
Last week, we talked about the history of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that guaranteed access to abortion on the grounds that abortion is a private matter. Now, it looks like Roe may be overturned before long. This week, we talk about what that means.
Let’s talk about it: the Implications of overturning Roe
- Whatever you opinion is on abortion itself, the fact remains that there is no banning abortion – there is only banning safe abortion. That is to say, people in need of abortions will find a way to obtain them, even if it means doing so illegally. As such, the overturning of Casey and Roe will result in higher mortality rates for people who seek abortions.
- Additional burden on the most vulnerable. People seeking abortions must often travel long distances and take days off work. Some states require pregnant people seeking abortions to wait 24 hours so that they can “think about it” before the procedure can legally be performed. If you live in a state where your nearest abortion provider lives 200 miles away, for example, then suddenly, a one-day trip turns into a two-day trip and requires you to find lodging. Obviously, this puts a disproportionate burden on low-income people and people who are already struggling to access healthcare.
- Additional burden on the healthcare systems of pro-abortion states. If abortion becomes illegal on a federal level, it will basically become a states’ issue, with some states providing abortion care, and others outlawing it entirely. As a result, people seeking abortions in states where it is illegal will be forced to seek providers in other states, thereby putting a burden on the healthcare system of pro-abortion states. We’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic what an overburdened healthcare system can look like and the negative implications it can have for everybody.
- Jeopardizing other rights we have won. If Roe is overturned, other Supreme Court cases that were fought to secure civil liberties for marginalized people will be at-risk of being overturned as well, for example, Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), a ruling that guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry.
- Hypocrisy of the pro-life argument. Politically, opponents of abortion are less concerned with “protecting life” and are more concerned with promoting religious views that seek to control female bodies by limiting access to reproductive healthcare. If they were truly concerned with protecting life as a general concept, then they would be advocating for the lives of children who are living without parents or caregivers, children who live below the poverty line, children who lack access to healthcare, or who are otherwise disenfranchised. The same people who oppose abortion also oppose social programs that would provide healthcare, reliable housing, food security, and education to the most vulnerable in our society. There is a fundamental dishonesty to the pro-life argument, so we must recognize that it lacks credibility.
- Separation of church and state. The banning of abortion is deeply rooted in an evangelical religious fervor that seeks to define sex as appropriate only if it is (1) between a man and a woman, and (2) results in pregnancy. This is obviously a point of view that reflects n a certain religious worldview, which is fine, but religious worldviews cannot be enacted into the laws of a secular society. The first amendment of the US Constitution says as much (it guarantees religious freedom and forbids Congress from promoting one religion over another).
- There is a bigger picture objective to the banning of abortion. The system of power in the USA has always favored white skin, a Christian-worldview, male-bodies, and heteronormative behavior. The banning of abortion is just one tactic used in a broader campaign to control the civil liberties of women, people of color, queer people, immigrants, and all those who pose a threat to nationalist, patriarchal values upon which the USA was founded and has operated for the past 245 years.
Silver Lining and Resources
Roe will likely be overturned, but this is not the end of the story. A new approach will need to be taken to secure the right to reproductive freedom on a federal level. Moreover, some states with pro-choice governors have been increasing funding for reproductive health, including California and Oregon.
Abortion pills
Medical abortions (abortion pills as opposed to a surgical abortion) are still legal for the time being and can be purchased online. A typical regimen is a combination of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol. This is a self-administered abortion and has expanded in use as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, where abortion-seekers will often self-administer with the guidance of a healthcare professional through online video chats.
Learn more at:
Abortion Funds
The National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) is a network of over 90 local, autonomous (non-governmental) organizations that help provide abortions to those in need, and more broadly speaking is a reproductive freedoms advocacy organization.
Learn more about Abortion Funds here: ABORTIONFUNDS.ORG
Published Monday, May 16, 2022 by Zeff Llamas