June 16, 2019
With the recent abortion bills signed into law in Alabama and Missouri, will this be a huge issue in the 2020 election?
Two states have recently passed anti-abortion laws that prevent the termination of a pregnancy if a fetal "heartbeat" can be detected. Alabama recently signed their bill into state law by Governor Kay Ivey, and it is the most restrictive bill that makes it criminal for any physician or abortion-care provider to perform an abortion. Missouri did so as well, just a week or so after Alabama, but it was less restrictive. This is in addition to the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal money being used to provide for abortions except in the case of rape and incest. For most voters in the United States, abortion is not the single most pressing issue they worry about. Having a good economy with stable jobs to support their families is the topic that matters most. So why the sudden decisions to sign these bills into law? For religious conservatives and "pro-life" supporters, ending the Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade, which protects medical privacy in relation to abortion, is paramount. Their argument underlines the belief that babies have no one to protect them, so those conservatives work to protect life itself. Proponents of pro-choice policies feel that conservatives are just using the court's ruling and abortion itself as a way to police a woman's sex life. By making abortion illegal, women will think twice about having sex lest they have to bring an unwanted child to term. In effect, freedom for consequence-free sex becomes an obstacle to a woman's quality of life.
A woman should have the choice to determine if she wants to keep a baby or not. Once the baby is born into the world, what support systems do the mother and the new child have? Certainly, having access to affordable child care and post-natal services are not available to all women. It is not easy to raise a child, let alone by a single parent or mother and especially if that woman is poor, young and lacks any financial resources. Parents who resent their children for impacting their lives can have adverse effects on everyone involved. It leads to mental health issues and untold consequences, poor relationship choices (for women, staying with an abusive partner) or with men, using violence as a means to deal with issues relating to the relationship with one or both parents. I don't think it is as simple as "protecting life," as conservatives feel. This issue is far more complex than people acknowledge.
A recent documentary by CNN showcased the abortion debate and provided some in-depth analysis. The primary focus was about reproductive rights and reproductive justice. The show touched on the idea that the welfare of the mother is equally important, providing women with the necessary support system for either delivering a baby or terminating a pregnancy. Hardships women face in the contentious conflict between the powerful pro-life forces and those passionate about a woman's choice in the matter was discussed in a thought-provoking way.
In this debate, few people shed light on the immense societal and cultural difficulties affecting sexual behavior in women. The burden is on them to absorb the fallout of an unplanned pregnancy. For a fair and inclusive debate, men must be included regarding their roles as well. For those women who want to keep their pregnancies, proper care and health for the mother are necessary. Planned Parenthood provides screening for sexually transmitted infection (STI), cancer and sex education. Anna Corbin on Twitter found that infant mortality rates and maternal mortality decreased in states that expanded Medicaid, and rose in states that did not. Governing.com provided information that of nine states which passed abortion-restricted bills this year, five had chosen not to expand access to Medicaid. Having affordable and easy access to quality health care is important, and conservative states that turned down this expansion is proof that the health of the mother and child were not a priority. If women do not have those health care choices, options for them include emergency contraception, or "Plan B." However, in order for those drugs to be safe and effective, the person using it needs to be under medical supervision. Without proper physician oversight, Plan B drug use can lead to bleeding, infections, later infertility, and even death.
I believe it is best to keep this personal decision to have a baby between both adults, with the final say with the woman who has to care for the healthy pregnancy. Abortion should be performed as a safe, timely and medically supervised option for women, but I also feel that society must provide women quality of life options (sex education, access to good health care) to prevent unwanted children. If a woman makes the choice to bring a new child into her family or her life, there must be resources available for proper education, prenatal care and opportunity to nurture that life. If access to health care is removed, it will create an unhealthy future for the mother and the child. I know religious conservatives will not favor it, but unless there is a financial and mental health support system for the mother for the life they care so much about, it is unconscionable to force women to care for a life they do not want.
A woman should have the choice to determine if she wants to keep a baby or not. Once the baby is born into the world, what support systems do the mother and the new child have? Certainly, having access to affordable child care and post-natal services are not available to all women. It is not easy to raise a child, let alone by a single parent or mother and especially if that woman is poor, young and lacks any financial resources. Parents who resent their children for impacting their lives can have adverse effects on everyone involved. It leads to mental health issues and untold consequences, poor relationship choices (for women, staying with an abusive partner) or with men, using violence as a means to deal with issues relating to the relationship with one or both parents. I don't think it is as simple as "protecting life," as conservatives feel. This issue is far more complex than people acknowledge.
A recent documentary by CNN showcased the abortion debate and provided some in-depth analysis. The primary focus was about reproductive rights and reproductive justice. The show touched on the idea that the welfare of the mother is equally important, providing women with the necessary support system for either delivering a baby or terminating a pregnancy. Hardships women face in the contentious conflict between the powerful pro-life forces and those passionate about a woman's choice in the matter was discussed in a thought-provoking way.
In this debate, few people shed light on the immense societal and cultural difficulties affecting sexual behavior in women. The burden is on them to absorb the fallout of an unplanned pregnancy. For a fair and inclusive debate, men must be included regarding their roles as well. For those women who want to keep their pregnancies, proper care and health for the mother are necessary. Planned Parenthood provides screening for sexually transmitted infection (STI), cancer and sex education. Anna Corbin on Twitter found that infant mortality rates and maternal mortality decreased in states that expanded Medicaid, and rose in states that did not. Governing.com provided information that of nine states which passed abortion-restricted bills this year, five had chosen not to expand access to Medicaid. Having affordable and easy access to quality health care is important, and conservative states that turned down this expansion is proof that the health of the mother and child were not a priority. If women do not have those health care choices, options for them include emergency contraception, or "Plan B." However, in order for those drugs to be safe and effective, the person using it needs to be under medical supervision. Without proper physician oversight, Plan B drug use can lead to bleeding, infections, later infertility, and even death.
I believe it is best to keep this personal decision to have a baby between both adults, with the final say with the woman who has to care for the healthy pregnancy. Abortion should be performed as a safe, timely and medically supervised option for women, but I also feel that society must provide women quality of life options (sex education, access to good health care) to prevent unwanted children. If a woman makes the choice to bring a new child into her family or her life, there must be resources available for proper education, prenatal care and opportunity to nurture that life. If access to health care is removed, it will create an unhealthy future for the mother and the child. I know religious conservatives will not favor it, but unless there is a financial and mental health support system for the mother for the life they care so much about, it is unconscionable to force women to care for a life they do not want.
