The Supreme Court Overturned Roe v Wade, setting the United States back around 50 years.
On June 24th, 2022, the United States was shocked by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v Wade case. If you do not know what the Roe v Wade case is about, it was the U.S’s landmark decision that the constitution would protect women’s right to legal abortion. The overturning was centered around the state of Mississippi’s appeal to the lower court, ruling that the law’s ban of abortion was unconstituional. They appealed to SCOTUS, asking to not only uphold it’s abortion ban, but to overrule Roe and rule that there is no constitutional right to abortion. As SCOTUS made their decisions, the overturning of Roe v Wade (that has been set for around 50 years) allowed for each state to decide the legality of abortion. This decision marks the first time in United States history that the Court has taken away a constitutional right.
So, what does this mean for women in the United States? Women all around the country are outraged by the decision, where their right to choose has been stripped of them. Thirteen states have “trigger laws'' where the overturning has already gone into effect. These states are: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. For all the women in this states, it is sad to say that abortion is now illegal where women can be arrested as a consquence. Luckily, abortion is still legal for women in states like Alaska, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, Hawaii, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. There are still many states that are undecided yet. Either way, the overturning of Roe v Wade saddens many people in the country. (Link to a website that tracks which states have illegal or legal abortion laws: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2022/jun/28/tracking-where-abortion-laws- stand-in-every-state)
Not only are women outraged by the ban of abortion, but the constitutional right taken away will leave many women without birth control and contraceptives. This decision isn’t solely affecting abortions, but a right to women’s health and their right, as citizens of the United States, to choose what to do with their bodies. This doesn’t only have to do with safe abortions, but for womens healthcare regarding safe birth and miscarriages. With the ruling, it can become dangerous for pregnant women to not have access to abortion, when their life could also be at stake.
Women have become outraged, feeling helpless as their rights are torn away from them. Many women have began protesting, posting information on social media, and even opening up their homes to women who travel seeking legal abortions. They are showing their anger towards the Supreme Court’s decision around the country through these protests, and by using their voice to show how they disagree.
Looking at the bright side of the situation (ironic to say, I know) is that many companies are supporting women in the right to legal abortion. Planned Parenthood has made a statement on their website saying, “Planned Parenthood will work to get patients to care and care for patients. At the same time, Planned Parenthood supporters and abortion rights advocates are doubling down — fighting for everyone to have the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives”, showing their support and how they will help.
There are also many business like Nike, Disney, Tesla, Amazon, Starbucks, Netflix, Levi Strauss, PayPal, etc that will pay their employees for travel expenses for abortions. Many people and companies are coming together to show compassion and support for these women who are scared, hopeless, and hurting.
As a woman myself, I was personally disheartened to hear about the overturning of Roe v Wade. It seems ridiculous and unfair that the decision of 9 people (majority being men) to decide what a woman should do with their body. At this point, it shows how religious beliefs and biased opinions have made their way into decisions by the Supreme Court, who is supposed to make decisions that benefit all the people of the United States, rather than the select few.
Even though, I am from a state where abortion is legal, it breaks my heart and angers me to think about the women who will not have the same access to things I will have. It begins to feel that the higher authorities and the men of the country do not want to let women have access to the same rights and are willing to make us feel less than equal. No matter how many restrictions, women will still find a way to access birth control, contraceptives, and abortion but now it might not be in the safest way. There is truly no way to ban abortion, but only ban safe abortion. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade has darkened the country and angered many people, and who knows what the future holds for not only women, but any other minority in the United States. This is a time for people to come together, support each other, understand and be compassionate, and stand up for what they believe in even if the government will not.
