Some people don’t have the maternal instinct, as seen in my friend, who wanted to get her tubes tied at twenty-one. While that is understandably young, it is ultimately her choice. However, the number of hoops she had to jump through to have this procedure was ridiculous. The most absurd part was the mental evaluation, which required her to be cleared as competent enough to make this decision. In the end, the trouble didn’t seem worth it, so she decided to stay on birth control.
With the way the world is unfolding regarding women’s reproductive rights, one might wonder: is it really just an attempt to control women? After all, there are no laws that infringe upon men’s bodily autonomy in the same way. Throughout history, women’s bodies have often been subject to societal, religious, and political control, suggesting that reproductive rights are not just a matter of health but also of power.
ROE VS WADE
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, effectively dismantling federal legal protections for abortion. This decision shifted the authority to regulate abortion rights to individual states, resulting in a patchwork of laws across the country. Many states moved to ban or severely restrict access to abortion, leaving millions of women with limited or no options for reproductive healthcare. I vividly remember this day, never thinking it was fathomable that this healthcare right could be stripped away. It was particularly striking to me that this decision was made by a court largely composed of men, who, despite not experiencing the same reproductive realities, had the power to determine the choices available to women.
Amber Thurman
Thurman is just one of the many victims of this statewide abortion ban. After complications from taking an abortion pill, her body was unable to expel all the fetal tissue. In need of a routine dilation and curettage, no doctor was willing to help due to the risk of being prosecuted and facing up to a decade in prison. Thurman waited in pain with her six-year-old son for up to twenty hours until they finally decided to operate. Unfortunately, it was too late, and Thurman passed away. This is utterly devastating. Thurman should be at home with her child, pursuing her nursing dream, but she is now just another victim of this epidemic of women being denied their right to healthcare.
BIRTH CONTROL
The overturning of Roe v. Wade prompts us to consider: what’s next? The uncertainty remains present, particularly around contraceptives. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, some lawmakers have already signaled intentions to restrict or even ban certain forms of contraception, raising concerns that reproductive rights may not stop with abortion access. This potential shift leaves us questioning the true motives behind these actions. Is this movement genuinely about protecting life, or does it point to a larger agenda aimed at controlling women’s choices and freedoms?
Image- From The TV Show Veep
If men could get pregnant, abortion might be as accessible as an over-the-counter purchase, perhaps even offered at a gas station. The gender disparity in how reproductive rights are regulated is drastically different with women’s reproductive rights often coming with restrictions, judgment, and barriers. If men faced the same realities, the conversation and policies around reproductive health might be drastically different.
So I bet you’re asking what can I do, GET OUT AND VOTE, make your voice heard!
Image- Kamala Harris Instagram
ShoutOut! James Madison University 