Reproductive Freedom: A Pro-Choice Manifesto
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash
Since the foundation of our nation, or really, since the creation of the concept, abortion has been a controversial subject; socially, religiously, politically, and personally. An abortion, as defined by Oxford Languages, is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. Pregnancies are divided into trimesters, each one being about twelve weeks. The earliest time after conception you can know if you are pregnant is about 2 weeks but many do not know until they’ve missed their next period. The age of consciousness, defined as the earliest onset of attention and awareness is around five months or 35 weeks; mid-way through the second trimester. Abortion should be legalized in every state until 28 weeks, or more, depending on the circumstances.
Connecticut was the first American state to regulate abortion in 1812. Anti-abortion laws quickly gained traction and were held to the same upstanding/sentence as second-degree murder. Abortions used to be conducted by abortifacients that would kill the fetus in the womb or induce miscarriage. Once abortions were criminalized and a woman could not get access to pharmaceuticals or professional assistance, she had to resort to the ‘next best option’ - a hanger, or worse. Without getting into too much detail, a woman would attempt to perform her own abortion by using a hanger or using other strategies to kill the fetus. Without professional help, abortions can be dangerous and not uncommonly, fatal. Luckily, in 1973, one of the most renowned court cases in American history took place; Roe v Wade. The simple background of the case can be described as such: Norma McCorvery “Jane Roe” challenged Dallas County DA Henry Wade on a woman's right to her bodily autonomy. The Supreme Court ruled in McCorvey’s favor and so it went. For years to come, people would oppose the ruling but no major changes ensued until 2022.
In June of 2022, Roe v Wade was overturned meaning that almost instantaneously abortion rights would be rolled back in nearly half the states. Penalty for abortion varies by state. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, abortion is not protected in 3 states, hostile in 11 states, and illegal in 14. In Texas, where it’s fully illegal and described as first-degree murder, the punishment for assisting/performing or undergoing an abortion is up to a lifetime in prison. Many living in overturned states seek out-of-state care but abortion opponents are trying to punish.
Opponents argue that fetuses and embryos are human life and it is immoral at best (unconstitutional at worst) to kill any form of human life. However, at least until the age of consciousness (at the earliest), they should not be considered human life because until then, they’re really not. They are just a clump of cells. A fetus is not a person until they have developed a brain, and the ability to survive outside the womb. They may also argue that “that baby could be the next Malala or Ghandi” but that argument works both ways.
More women need to be included in decisions relating to their health. While abortion isn't a congressional decision, the lack of female representation is an obvious sign of the exclusion, and outdated values people in politics possess. The very same people making decisions on behalf of the citizens. Laurel Elder, a political science professor at Hatwick College found that at this rate, it won't be until 2140 that there will be an equal number of female Congress members as men.
Each person deserves the right to their bodily autonomy. Politics should stay out of the uterus. It is time for women to participate in conversations regarding our health. Reproductive healthcare is healthcare and must be accessible to all.