The year 2022 was a tragic time for many across the United States. On June 24, after a long debate, it was finally decided for the Roe v. Wade to be overturned, leaving abortion rights not to the federal government, but to the states. Immediately, conservative states began to ban and restrict abortion, while others states kept the less restrictive laws that were put in place after the landmark Roe v Wade decision in 1973. Since Roe v. Wade has been overturned, The Guardian notes that “14 states have enacted near total abortion bans, while two states – Georgia and South Carolina – have banned abortion past roughly six weeks of pregnancy,” In the states that have new restrictions, it is still extremely hard to get a medically approved abortion. Because of the common six week ban, it is nearly impossible for women to figure out they are pregnant and get an abortion in time. There are very few exceptions and they are worded unclearly, causing doctors to be afraid to approve of lifesaving abortions. While the pro-life’s platform is understandable, the problem is that many states are going too far.
In Texas, a woman needs an abortion because doctors warned the fetus will die immediately after birth and giving birth will likely harm her reproductive organs. Recently, the Texas Supreme Court and the Attorney General ruled against her, the lower courts order, and the doctor’s request, meaning the court will not hear cases like hers, putting many women at risk. In the end, she left the state to legally get an abortion which is also against Texas’ extremist law, however, not every woman can do the same.
Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Americans have not always seen eye-to-eye, but many can agree that these bans are too extreme. In the Republican state of Ohio, voters chose to protect abortion in their state’s constitution demonstrating that most Americans support moderate and less restrictive laws.
The polarization of Americans views on abortion and the overturning of Roe v Wade are making it hard for legislation protecting the right to abortion to pass. Hence, right now, the best thing we can do to protect women is to fight for abortion a constitutional right again. When looking at the Texas case and similar cases, it is evident that abortion bans are harming various people. Whether you are young or old, male or female, single or married, the bans are worrisome and reproductive rights are necessary to defend.
Work cited:
Sottile, Zoe, et al. “Here’s What We Know about a Texas Woman’s Battle for an Abortion.” CNN, 12 Dec. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/us/kate-cox-abortion-law-texas-case/index.html.
Lerer, Lisa, and Katie Glueck. “Republicans Under Pressure as Anti-Abortion Activists Call for a National Ban.” New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Jan. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/01/20/us/politics/abortion-republicans-roe-v-wade.html.
“Roe v. Wade.” Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18. Accessed 19 Dec. 2023.
Sherman, Carter, and Andrew Witherspoon. “Abortion Rights across the US: We Track Where Laws Stand in Every State.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 10 Nov. 2023, www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2023/nov/10/state-abortion-laws-us.
Klibanoff, Eleanor. “Texas Woman Blocked from Getting Emergency Abortion by Court Leaves State.” The Texas Tribune, 11 Dec. 2023, www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/texas-abortion-lawsuit-kate-cox/.
“Ohio Votes in Favor of Amending the State Constitution to Enshrine Abortion Rights .” Npr, 7 Nov. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1209092670/2023-results-key-ohio-elections.