Graphic by Ilan Sherman-Kadish
Reese Pinto
Opinions Reporter
On September 16th, a law passed in the West Virginia legislature was signed by the governor, banning nearly all abortions in the state. As of now, 14 states have near-total bans on abortion as well as four other states with laws severely limiting access.
Indiana’s ban has been temporarily blocked, one week after it took effect. Many more states have abortion bans that are currently being blocked, but it is unclear for how long and if these blocks are even permanent.
As these laws take effect, we are forced to face the horrid reality that millions of women in the country will not have access to the basic health they need. The day this decision was made will forever mark a dismal day in our country’s history.
Pregnancy has resounding effects on a woman’s lifestyle, along with numerous health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Not to mention, having a child is a life-altering decision, starting with nine months of carrying a fetus inside of you.
Only one of the five justices who voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade is capable of child-bearing or can even fathom being in a situation where the decision to have an abortion would have to be made. How does it make sense for them to have the power to make this decision for millions of women in the United States?
Not only do these bans take away a woman’s right to choose, few of them allow for exceptions for rape or incest, emphasizing how little this decision has to do with “saving” and “protecting” lives. These arguments are all we hear from politicians, but they are not substantial. The profound effects that having a baby in these situations would have on a woman’s mental health are incredibly obvious; ignoring this only further emphasizes how these laws are an act by the government to display their power. In no world is there any justification for forcing a woman to have a baby, let alone under these circumstances.
These laws go against the core of what our country was built upon: freedom and opportunity. Any and every woman should have the freedom to decide what to do with her body, irrespective of where she lives. These laws also perpetuate the cycle of poverty and keep women from the opportunities that may come later in life. The fundamental right that people should have access to the healthcare they need should not be something that is up for debate for any group of people.
