Against Abortion? Don’t Have One.

I don’t really know how to express my anger and frustration at what’s happened in America. 

I know that abortion is a divisive subject matter but I simply can not understand how 5 individuals can make such a huge decision regarding medical treatments that concern an individual woman. 

Four of the five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade (a landmark decision made in 1973) that guaranteed abortion rights nationwide are men. When the Senate confirmed the justices, a staggering 91% of the yes votes came from men.

It’s ok if you don’t believe in abortion. It’s ok if your religion tells you that abortion is a sin. It’s ok if blind faith prevents you from ever having an abortion. It is absolutely your right to believe it. If you’re against abortion, then don’t have one.

Many people, myself included, see religion an outdated manuscript that isn’t really fit for purpose in 2022. There are situations where today’s medical advancements can literally save a person’s life.

What’s not ok is for fundamental medical rights to be revoked because of the outdated viewpoint and opinion of a group of people who will never know what it means to carry a child, have a child and in many cases, even raise a child. 

Not everyone can cope with unplanned parenting. Situations are unique and central to any decision to have a child. Only the pregnant woman will know if they are ready or not. Only the pregnant woman should decide.

Deciding to end a pregnancy is never an easy choice.

You might not be emotionally or financially ready, you might be in an abusive relationship, you might have kids already and having more just isn’t possible. You might be in an awful situation where you’ve discovered that the baby you’re carrying won’t survive once born. Or in some truly terrible cases, that your pregnancy is the result of sexual assault. 

Whatever the reason, the choice should be given to the person carrying that child. It’s their body, it’s their mind, it’s their life.

Why are the rights of the woman who is actually pregnant secondary? 

Overthrowing Roe vs. Wade shows America to be taking a huge step backwards and according to reports, 80% of Americans are against this ruling. The average American understands that this will not stop abortions, it simply limits access to safe abortions. 

Mary Wollstonecraft famously wrote ‘I do not wish them (women) to have power over men; but over themselves.’ She wrote this in her book in 1792. 

What an incredibly sad day it is to see that women in 2022 are faced with the same level of inequality and rights as 300 years ago. Where is the progression?

If you want to help, get involved or simply learn more, then head over to Bans Off Our Bodies.