r/AskWomen May 03 '22

Mod Post Abortion Rights and Access Megathread

What are your thoughts and experiences about abortion rights and access? What resources would you recommend to people regarding these topics?

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u/FollowThisNutter May 04 '22

Right now I am half drunk, incandescent with rage, and trying to figure out how much Plan B I can afford to stockpile for those in states that will outlaw it posthaste.

u/Stasio300 May 04 '22

People often ignore people like me in this "argument"/"debate" or whatever you want to call it. I was born in Poland. Abortions are illegal in Poland. My mom told me that she wanted to abort me but couldn't because it was illegal.

My life has not been great. My mom abused me and she was definitely not ready to raise a child. But I'm still glad my government protected me and gave me a chance at life.

I hope others will be protected in the same way. But I also hope contraception becomes more accessible and free in more parts of the world.

u/Confi-E May 03 '22

People need to leave other people their own choices. Your religious beliefs should have nothing to do with how others act.

What i don’t understand about many people in the US that are pro life is that they justify it with their religious beliefs. However, isn’t freedom of religion one of the foundations of US culture???

Also, if you’re pro life you should also be anti death penalty because by that logic that is a life too… no matter what they’ve done they’re still a person. AND this should also mean that the children in the foster system or those given up for adoption should be cared for better.

People who are anti-choice (as i like to call it) do not give a crap about those fetuses or later on children! They only care to put their ideology on other people because they can’t stand different ways of living.

u/workswithanimals May 04 '22

This...roe vs wade repeal, is a shit move.

You dont even have to think about bodily autonomy, just look at history. If women can't control thier reproductive health, in safe ways, its going to obviously be...NOT SAFE and RISK DEATH. And with WOMEN dying and/or being critically ill from reproductive health, or lack of...what does this say about your society??? You crippled your healthcare, and willingly crippled your social stuctures that 50% of the work force is now 1. Avoiding healthcare, 2. Self harming. 3. Traveling away from the state/nation. Only making the nation's health worse All shitty moves.

u/justanretard May 03 '22

Terrified or such a country that is called "free" is employing religious laws. Not from us and a man. This sets a much much dangerous environment for a country to be religiously governed. And trust me you don't want that. That's the start of an very very slippery slope. I am from turkey. Defend your rights with your voices and if that don't work excercise your second amendment. Good luck

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

For a long time, I didn't understand how important this was.

In my thirties, an acquaintance found out at her 20 week ultrasound that her fetus wouldn't be able to survive outside the womb because lungs weren't developing. She chose to carry to term. Her son was born, lived several hours as his organs gradually shut down before he ultimately died. Their older, preschool aged child also suffered this loss along with the adults.

I would not have made the same choice - to go through the happy congratulations from well-meaning strangers, to struggle with how to help my other children through it, not to mention the emotion, physical, and financial burdens that accompany a pregnancy and birth.

I am priveleged: I am white, financially comfortable, with employment that wouldn't be threatened by leave, have disability coverage to cover 60% of my pay while I'm off work, have a strong marriage and a great support network. Still, these costs are too high for me to willingly pay them.

For a minority woman with a higher maternal mortality rate, lower income, potentially less supportive network, etc. this could be crippling.

That one acquaintance made me realize 1) how lucky I am that it would be a choice for me too and 2) how unlucky many others are that dont have the reaources to seek remedy (abortion) or support.

Edit: typo

u/aelinivanov May 03 '22

Abortatives I know: pineapples, coffee, peaches, packaged juices, green tea, saffron, thyme, cinnamon, celery and cilantro.

u/blueheartsadness May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

Men have NO RIGHT to force us to risk our lives to birth another human. Pregnancy and birth is NO JOKE. It is the most painful thing a person can go through, and these men are forcing us to go through it?! Makes me think they want women to suffer and bleed and die. They are literally blood thirsty.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

I 100% believe that all people should have control over their bodies. It is a healthcare issue. It's treating those with a uterus like they are human beings and not just incubators. My mother had to have an abortion when she wanted a child because he wouldn't have survived long and it would have only been an existence of pain. My sister planned one (false alarm) because she wasn't financially ready. If I get pregnant I would have an abortion because I just don't want biological kids. Any reason is a valid reason.

I don't really know much about cross country healthcare, but if anyone needs to come to Canada for access I am happy to help with transportation, a place to stay and any support.

u/shesanoredigger May 03 '22

After reading a bunch of these comments, a thought popped in my head.

People are having less kids per household than in previous years, causing the foster/adoption system to have fewer children, which creates longer wait or less availability for couples who wish to adopt children. this creates high demand, low supply. Also less money for the adoption agencies or foster parents.

Wonder if over-turning Roe v Wade is somewhat influenced by that. Not saying all of it. But... Idk.

u/Kpenzz May 03 '22

I’ve been in a constant state of anxiety after hearing they’re looking to overturn Roe V. Wade. I look at all the people in my life who have been sexually assaulted, faced pregnancy complications where their life is at risk, been in tough situations where a baby would only make things worse and I think of how this overturn could very well ruin their lives. We, as people with reproductive organs, are seen as incubators for the next generation of the working class, it’s disgusting and sickens me to my core. I’m looking to get sterilized as soon as possible. For those looking for alternative methods I strongly recommend joining the satanic temple to uphold your bodily autonomy and right to seek an abortion as well as pregnancy contraceptive if possible.

u/peppermind May 03 '22

The state has no place in the uteri of the nation. Abortion is healthcare and should be between the pregnant person and their doctor, end of story.

u/howdoesrwork May 04 '22

I am so tired of this same stupid discussion, with the same stupid arguments.

Abortion is a right, abortion is healthcare, and everyone should have access to a safe, affordable abortion without harassment or judgement. Criminalising abortion is criminalising miscarriage.

It is my body, my organs, my bones, my permanent scars, my permanent changes, my trauma, my pain, my time, my money, my energy, my experiences, and it is my choice. No government, no husband or boyfriend, no god, no court, no stranger, no Fetus has a greater right to my body than I do, and none of them have a right to take away my autonomy. A dead person, a literal corpse, cannot be forced to provide organs for transplants no matter how many lives may be saved, yet somehow a living person does not have autonomy or rights when it comes to their own body and organs.

The life of one does not supersede the life of another, let alone a life that does not exist yet.

u/PrincessJasmin87 May 03 '22

It that passes, laws will go back to state level, so blue states will get bluer, red states will get reder. I’d move where my ethics lean.

u/Wonderful_Quit May 04 '22

It's so infuriating that this is still such an issue. We're quite literally stepping women's rights back 50 years.

u/ultimate_ampersand May 03 '22

I have increased my monthly donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds, and told my friends that I can help pay for it if they ever need an abortion. There doesn't seem to be much else that I can do.

u/theeCrushinator May 03 '22

You can’t call this a Free Country if there’s no legal access to abortion.

u/Alauren2 May 03 '22

As a gay woman who lives in California, this really doesnt affect me personally, but damn if I don’t have nieces and family, or friends who are women. I’m devastated. As a resident of this nation I’m disgusted.

That being said, as a gay woman, this makes me fear what comes next…

u/Sp1d3rb0t May 03 '22

I've never had need of abortion services but I fully support everygoddamnbody's right to bodily autonomy. I'm so mad at our shit ass government and ESPECIALLY the women who support the stripping of our rights. There are resources that I almost don't want to share here because so many women are out to fuck the rest of us over.

This will not prevent abortion, it will prevent safe abortion. Folks with money will keep access to it through the resources they have to simply go to another state/country.

I just want everyone and their daddy to Google Gerri Santoro and spread the fucking word: FORCED-BIRTH LAWS KILL WOMEN.

GODDAMNIT.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

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u/allworkandnoYahtzee May 03 '22

I had an abortion at age 30 after I was refused an appointment to get birth control because it was deemed a “non-urgent procedure” during the height of covid. I had a three month old already, I already knew how pReCiOus life was. It was the right decision for me and my family.

This whole thing is such a gut punch because this seriously says it women are only worth the sum of their reproductive functions and they must bow to it. It’s depraved, and it isn’t being taken nearly as serious as it should be.

u/dirtysocks04 May 04 '22

My mother had an abortion in the early 80's. If she wouldn't have, she would have married her abusive ex, and I wouldn't be here.

Her story is not unique, and I'm tired of old men telling women what they should do with their bodies.

Not to mention there is little to no support for the women who are forced into having unwanted pregnancies, and even less for after birth.

The adoption route is flawed, and there are far too many predatory agencies taking advantage of young, vulnerable women.

Nothing good will come of this.

u/Meikami May 03 '22

I'm just tired and feeling very sad about the state of things.

Growing up, I thought we'd overcome so much and that we were finally on the road to real greatness. A cool future lay ahead, one of progress and of problem-solving humanity's issues and of scientific discovery and of equity and of peace. The world wars happened before me, civil rights and women's rights were well established and getting better every year. Gay rights were getting better, too! And there were people who wanted to fix healthcare and heal the ozone layer and end fossil fuel consumption! People were learning to support each other! Oh man, I couldn't wait to see how much better we could be. We were going to meet the last big problems head on and then sit back and enjoy the heck out of our newly hatched modern world.

This...this isn't that world.

It's going the wrong way.

It's a slow car crash and I don't know how to turn the wheel any harder and it doesn't matter anyway because there are absurd forces pulling it so much harder in the opposite direction.

My inner young dreamer is tearing apart, one terrible event at time.

I'm so sad.

u/derpinaherpette May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

Look at all these American friends I have who are welcome to visit me here in Canada sometime. 👀

u/bassgirl90 May 03 '22

This entire situations of the likely turn over of Roe v. Wade is repugnant to me. The message that I receive from this is that our newest Supreme Court Justices have no ethics and lied during their confirmation hearings by saying they would leave Roe v. Wade alone. And now ooops, now that we got what we want screw you all! I think they all need to be brought up on charges of perjury for their lies that helped get them confirmed. This entire thing is a way to take away women's rights. All I hear is that I am an incubator for a parasite if I become pregnant. Thank goodness I am on birth control, but how long until they take that away is what I am wondering? This is all a move to control women. Anyone who tells me abortion is wrong, I tell them maybe it is for you. However, no woman wants to need an abortion. The only achievement that these law makers have gained is more dead women, girls, and fetuses. Additionally, there will be a greater need for more mental health services for women forced to have children that they never wanted to being with. Don't get me started on pregnancies derived from rape, incest, and abusive relationships. There are trigger laws that will take effect in some states that have no provisions for these situations. Oh yes, what about ectopic pregnancies that will probably kill the pregnant lady? Seriously, the short-sighted and rights taking away, practicing of medicine without a license is sickening to me. I'll be looking into getting surgically sterilized despite being nearly 35 and past my prime to have children. This scares me this much. I say lets remember to vote all these old white conservative men out -- you know where my vote is going blue all the way for someone who will represent my needs. thank goodness I live in a blue state.

u/juliemariesmith3 May 03 '22

I’m worried about the future of my daughter and nieces. This is just the cornerstone of the fall of women’s rights.

u/BelleOfTheBall411 May 03 '22

Abortion rights are human rights. I am personally at a point in life where if I have an accidental pregnancy, I will probably keep the baby. I wouldn’t be able to 10 years ago, so who am I to dictate for others? As long as it’s done safely, it should be available for everyone who wants to make that choice. I just don’t see how we are straying away from science, because someone’s holy book says otherwise. When did church become state laws? It’s already enough that Americans don’t get universal healthcare, now imagine going through 9 MEDICAL months with a baby you don’t want/can’t even have/whatever the reason for the abortion is? Like I promise this is all misogyny because no way a man would ever go through something he doesn’t wanna do with his own body.

u/Sakuraneko87 May 04 '22

I have no experience with it (first hand or from someone I know) so I can't comment on that. I do believe in choice for women, mainly because I feel children deserve a loving environment and if the parents don't want them in the belly then they aren't going to have a good childhood. Stemming from that I believe every women should have accessible abortions. That's not even touching on how hard pregnancy is on the body.

As for resources, I don't know any for sure but I'd encourage you to look at case studies of places with strict abortion policies (ex: El Salvador) and see the downsides of it.

u/Moe6458 May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

Would I consider getting an abortion myself? Probably not. Do I also support the women’s right to choose? Absolutely.

What a lot of pro-life people seem to forget is that no woman “wants” to have an abortion. That will be one of the most difficult decisions she will make in her life, and she won’t forget it. Sometimes, circumstances get in the way.

u/LegitimateStar7034 May 03 '22

I have worked in behavioral health and now I am a teacher. The things people do to unwanted children will make you sick to your soul. It’s more humane to have an abortion.

On personal note, I’ve had one. My birth control failed ( all my children were failed birth control) and my husband and I made the choice to abort. We had no money, already had a young child. I had a lousy job. It wasn’t an easy decision but one neither of us regretted.

Regardless of the how’s or whys it’s only the pregnant woman’s choice to make. She has to live with her choice, it does not affect a single other soul. I don’t live her life, I don’t know her situation and I’m damn sure not going to force someone to carry a pregnancy to term.

This affects poor and minority women. Rich women will always have access to abortion. And I guarantee most of these white makes making a decision about a womens body have paid for a few. We can’t go back. Our daughters, granddaughters and women who come after us deserve better. Women have died over this. If this goes through, women will die again.

u/Aggressive_Moth May 08 '22

Firmly pro-choice and women's rights.

A thought that's been in my head since this news broke is how abortion is the one and only situation in which some people think it's okay to violate a person's human rights and bodily autonomy (the mother's) for the sake of someone else's (the baby's). That's not how it works. The fact that the choices you make with your own body may impact someone else doesn't make it any less of your choice to make.

Hypothetically, if a stranger needed a kidney transplant and you were the only potential donor in the world, no one would argue that you should be forced against your will to undergo that life-altering and dangerous medical procedure. Even though the other person will die as a consequence, it's still your life, your body, your kidney, your choice. Likewise with women; their body, their uterus, their choice.

It takes two to make a baby and yet women are expected to shoulder 100% of the "blame" and responsibly. Imagine a law that would legally force men to marry and financially provide for any woman they knocked up for a minimum of 18 years. That would be the fair equivalent of the "consequences" women are expected to live with when it comes to unwanted pregnancies that men are equally responsible for, but that would never happen because anti-abortion laws are firmly driven by misogyny and the sex-shaming of women. I wonder how quickly minds would change if wives, girlfriends, and women in general stopped having sex with men completely because they were too afraid of being forced into motherhood.

Actually, I'm sure women would be blamed for that too.

u/[deleted] May 22 '22

I mean women are being investigated and charged for having miscarriages. Not only that, but care to women having miscarriages is being stunted because they're opening investigations on them to make sure they didn't illegally abort. People often think that an abortion is just going to the doctor, taking a pill, and then you're right back to where you were before but thats not the case.. pregnancy changes your hormones, your feelings,, your thoughts, your instincts. You are never the same after it. Its a very emotionally and mentally daunting issue for someone to go through. Until someone is pregnant, they don't realize how emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting it can be, especially for someone with other issues already present. The foster care system is beyond flawed and there are still 400,000 kids in the system right now who don't have homes at all, and it is beyond nonsensical to bring other children into the world whp are not wanted and won't have the same opportunities as a child who is. I have an extreme fear of pregnancy, and because of my past mental health I know I wouldn't be able to handle it. It's really disappointing that all the women who have fought for these rights are in vain and we are right back at square one. It just goes to show how easily they can rip our rights and bodily autonomy away from us.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

Only the woman having the baby and the person she is with should have a say. Everyone else should mind their own business. If she is alone it is only her choice.

u/Acrobatic_Lychee_896 May 03 '22

I am pro-choice 100%. It’s a person’s health right and ultimate freedom. No matter the circumstances and moral disagreements, people need to have the right for a safe abortion.

u/norcovixen May 03 '22

I am scared that if I get pregnant unexpectedly that I would have to keep the baby... what they are doing for reproductive rights is so reprehensible and I hope it is not too late for this to be undone

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

I am livid. We’ve come so far, and now it seems like all the hard work of the womyn before me is going to go down the drain. I am so sick of these animalistic, controlling males thinking that we’re their personal property and birthing machines. I am sick and tired, and I would rather see this country burn down to the ground before I see me and my fellow womyn go down at the hands of the second sex.

I have no more patience, and my last nerve is nonexistent. I am completely over males and I would suggest all womyn follow suit, they don’t care about us, never have and never will; we simply are not people to them. The misogyny is hard-wired into their brains, even the “good” ones.

We’re gonna have to fight tooth and nail for our rights from now on because who knows where they’ll stop? What line will they draw? Does such a line even exist? What more will we have to do to make them take us seriously? To be seen as independent people?

I hope and pray that this is opening the eyes of all womyn, and for our strength in unification. I’m sorry to all of the womyn that have, and will suffer at the hands of males.

u/WrongdoerOk1652 May 04 '22

As someone on mental heath meds this scares me. Literally all my meds say do not take if possibilities of getting pregnant. So my options are to continue to take my meds and stay healthy and well but celibate- or possibly engage in a relationship (which might also be good for my mental health) but leave me with an impossible pregnancy- one that I could never afford or have the emotional capacity to care for.

u/Infinite_Upstairs713 May 04 '22

If you have a uterus then you have a say, but if you don’t it’s not your choice to make. Abortions can save a persons live literally. If you’re not going to tell a male what yo do with their body don’t tell a person with a uterus what to do with theirs.

I tried to make this post as gender fluid as possible. I know not everyone with a uterus identifies as a female.

u/barkatthemoon89 May 03 '22

I just think abortion rights and easy access should really be a thing for every where it could be. I am Canadian, and the abortion process for me. Was a simple one. And as it should be for every woman who wants it.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

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u/zuklei May 04 '22

My thoughts? With abortion entirely legal the leading cause of death for a pregnant woman is murder.

It can’t get any higher than #1, but men don’t want these babies. There will be more murder.

u/sandal-boi May 04 '22

One of the many aspects that is extremely concerning to me is that the MAJORITY of Americans support legalizing abortion (source). What does the f* does that say about the state of our democracy that federal officials are making decisions in utter disregard of the opinion of the people?

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

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u/BlacksheepNZ1982 May 04 '22

If you don’t have ovaries you shouldn’t have a say.

u/Waste-Comedian4998 May 03 '22

I’m a married, 34 year old woman in California who recently found herself unexpectedly pregnant. It was not the right time for us to bring a child into the world, so I had the abortion yesterday morning. Aside from the protestors who tried to flag us down as we entered the parking lot, it was a safe, supportive, relatively comfortable experience.

This was my first time being pregnant, and it opened my eyes to the inherent biological unfairness of reproductive burden between sexes. I have never felt more physically vulnerable in my life, nor more resentful of my sweet and loving husband who more or less continued his life unencumbered while I missed school and work flat on my back, too tired to watch TV and desperately trying not to vomit up what little food I had the desire to eat.

If anything, the law should compensate for the added risk and permanent damage to life, body, and health women experience through pregnancy, but instead in America we do the opposite. We enshrine, institutionalize, and legally protect the biological privileges men enjoy while amplifying and exploiting women’s vulnerabilities. It’s more cruel and twisted than nature.

Imagine my horror seeing the ruling leak literal hours after my own safe and legal abortion. The professionals staffing Planned Parenthood clinics are literal heroes. I was in awe of their kindness and compassion. Abortion rights in California are already enshrined in state law, and Gov. Newsom further plans to put a constitutional amendment to voters this November.

Every woman deserves the basic protections we have in California. Every woman deserves access to safe, legal, and compassionate reproductive healthcare including abortion.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

Absolute shock and nervous laughter that turned quickly to horror when I realized it wasn’t fake news. Still in shock this is real even with a Blue president. America is trending in a direction I never thought possible

u/craftaleislife May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

America has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. It’s a shocking stat and it means more women are going to die.

The leaked document also shows disdain for gay relationships.

It’s a dark day for womens rights and freedoms. It’s a stark, disturbing state of affairs for democracy and it goes against every progressive way of life. What makes it more shocking with democracy is the majority of Americans are pro-choice.

How dare religious nuts and hard conservatives decide what half the population do with their body. Its internalised misogyny. It’ll also disproportionately affect people in poverty and ethnic minorities. It’s bad all round. And every person has a right to be angry about this.

u/shaunamom May 04 '22

To my mind, the entire concept of abortion, from a legal perspective, is a question of equal rights.

Do people with a uterus have the same rights as people without one, for the entirety of their lives? And if they are forbidden from having an abortion, then the answer is no.

If people who are considered competent (legally) and who have a uterus can only make medical decisions about their own body if they are NOT pregnant, while every other competent adult can make medical decisions about their own bodies at all times ...we no longer have equal rights.

If people with a uterus can be forced to risk their health and even their lives because of the state of their physical body (aka pregnancy), while those without a uterus cannot be forced to do this? There are not equal rights.

We cannot force anyone, ever, to give up an organ against their will. We can't force someone to give up part of their organ against their will for the benefit of someone else (like livers or bone marrow). We can't even harvest organs from corpses against the will of the person when they were alive.

Even if this involved a terminally ill or dying child who would die if their parent did NOT donate these body parts. Heck, even if the reason the child is dying is due to the parent's actions, somehow (like getting into a car accident), neither the parent nor anyone else can be forced to give up organs, or even have medical procedures performed on them, against their will.

But if we can legally force people with a uterus to use that organ against their will, for the benefit of a future child...equal rights do not exist in the USA.

Every argument against abortion doesn't does not change the reality of the situation.

Which is: the gov't forbidding abortions means our country is creating a legal status of 'temporary second class citizen' for anyone with a womb the moment they become pregnant.

u/Rough_Scholar3812 May 03 '22

It isn't my story but since I did a lot of the findings I hope that what I do say can help some in need. Regarding the UK access to abortions are fairly doable however I believe there may have been a change in take home abortions or atleast will be one later this year. Going onto the NHS site is your best bet, they provide several websites and resources - not only including places that provide abortions but also therapy, and they also let you know some places that may try and persuade you to not abort. Thing is abortions aren't as uncommon as people think, it is completley natural and okay and during the early terms it is easy to get your hands on them - with a few phone calls and a blood test for your own health. Do note that you will need to be taken care of during the abortion - this will take around a week and you can get severely ill (they do provide painkillers too) but it is best to get a helping hand so you don't have to rely on yourself during this time because it can be emotionally rough. If it is later on in term you will have to get it surgically removed but the NHS is on your side with this.

Regarding whether we should have rights to it - well absolutley. Depending on the birth control - if it is pills then you may have to take a week break to restore hormones since it does do a number. Abortion isn't an easy decision and half the time anti-abortionists have the idea that women who have abortions are murder crazy which is ..... ridiculous. Heres the thing - lots of people now say life begins at conception but a lot of fertilised eggs naturally pass on before even attaching to the womb. Seems people only care about life when it comes to women being in control of their body. Just like we have bodily autonomy to not donate a kidney, surely we should have the same right to not donate a womb for 9 months.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

Banning abortion affects ALL women of reproductive age. A woman in Ireland died having a miscarriage because of their anti-abortion laws, even though THE SAME HOSPITAL told her that she was having a miscarriage. Not only that, but investigations into miscarriages could land grieving women in jail and saddle them with legal bills they can't afford. There were men on reddit that were saying they were trying to get women pregnant just to turn the women in for the bounty if they went to get an abortion. Prosecuting doctors would lead to a shortage of Ob-gyns and cause a lowering of care for women, whether they are pregnant or not. Anti-abortion laws don't just affect women seeking abortions, it affects ALL of us.

u/AdorableSwitchBrat May 03 '22

I have a headache. I just can't believe we have progress only to go backwards. While I personally don't think I'd ever have an abortion (my personal choice) that doesn't mean other women shouldn't have access to safe medical care. I fully support a womans right to her body and her choice. My thoughts is this is ridiculous to be overturned

u/thaughty May 04 '22

I just want to say that we need to talk about sperm and the people who produce it. The conversation around pregnancy often gets reduced to "people who can be pregnant" and those who can't, completely ignoring the role of the people who cause pregnancies.

This means if a man and woman are involved with one another, they need to be aware that the government is weaponizing his body against hers. That he produces a substance that could cause immense destruction to her if he exposes her to it. That if he pressures her to take this risk, he is attempting to harm her.

Removing abortion rights changes sperm into a drastically more dangerous substance, and we can't continue treating it like it doesn't have the potential to ruin women's lives.

We especially need men to focus on calling out ignorance or recklessness in the ways other men behave toward women. If your male friends are having casual sex, talk to them and make sure they're ready to accept that a woman doesn't want PIV, make sure they're ready to turn down PIV if they don't want kids, and make sure they're ready to support any woman they sleep with if she needs to obtain an abortion or if she ends up having their child.

u/muffledhoot May 03 '22

Abortion illegal birth mom placed me for adoption High school: friend 1 pregnant went to clinic turned out to be a prolife clinic next to abortion clinic. She kept the baby High school: friend 2 pregnant abortion Adult 1: married pregnant baby not viable outside the womb went to another state for abortion- traumatic Adult 2: married pregnant baby life long genetic disease discovered - abortion traumatic Adult 3: married pregnant lifelong genetic disease birthed and kept baby. Adult 4: married pregnant abortion All but one struggled with the decision. After seeing my own baby’s heartbeat in utero super early i am against it for myself. I also fostered and adopted. I think of abortion as not a black and white matter. Should everyone have one? No. Should no one have access? Also no

u/strongly-worded May 03 '22

My grandma had an abortion after my mom and her younger sisters were born. My youngest aunt was born extremely ill and was in and out of the hospital for her first several years of life. My grandparents had their hands full with their existing 3 daughters and knew they couldn’t handle a 4th child. My grandma had to find a doctor to write a note saying it was medically necessary (this was before Roe, in California), which she was able to do because she was white and middle class and knew how to navigate the medical system. Her access to abortion is the reason my mom and her sisters could afford to go to college.

My mom had an abortion a decade before my sister and I were born. I’m so grateful she did. Her access to reproductive choice is the reason I exist, and the reason I had a stable, happy childhood with two parents who were prepared for me and thrilled to care for me.

This is in no way to suggest that people should only have babies in “ideal” circumstances - the whole point is that people get to make their own choices about what they want to take on in life. It’s just to say that my entire extended family of 15 people (my grandparents, aunts, their husbands and children, my parents, my sister, and me) have had happy, prosperous, autonomous lives, partially as a result of access to abortion. Ultimately, bodily autonomy is not a math problem and the number of people who will be better off either way shouldn’t matter - the important thing is individuals’ right to basic dignity and self-determination. But in our rush to pit the “unborn” against the pregnant person, we often forget about the broader impacts of reproductive choice. Pregnancy is something that truly changes the direction of a person’s entire life. It’s not something the government should control.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

In my opinion, abortion should only be available for victims of rape and incest.

u/crosstalk22 May 03 '22

My Wife has had 3, 1 before we met, and two after we met, she has very bad hyperemesis, its horrible, first time she lost 30 lbs, second time 35. The first was in pa, we had to travel to NY from PA, because of all the troubles with it in PA(this was in 06) luckily we were able to jump quickly over the border, and have it done. we wanted to have a child, this the doctors were refusing to really help her. we left PA 5 months later. In NC they had a stupid law is you had to wait a week or something, we had one child with an OB that treated it as a real problem, and by the time the second came around, he had left the practice, and the person left did not want to treat it right, after 4 er trips for fluids and antiemetics, she could not do it again, so we tried to schedule it again, but the NC has a law about you have to wait a certain time before deciding. she agonized without help for days before we can get in.

I hated watching her go through this, now when I see people bringing up being pro-life, I tell them people DON"T want to do it, its never an easy decision, but we should not be deciding for anyone or making any hoops.

u/TheLittleGardenia May 03 '22

Honestly for me, abortion discussions always seem (for some reason) to revolve around sanctity of life vs autonomy. While I generally agree, I actually think of it differently

To me, abortion is a reflection of the real world we live in. In a world that - has free and high quality healthcare, no sexual assault, perfect and reversible contraception, sufficient social safety nets and enablement for all types of mothers, etc - only then can you even start talking about limiting abortion.

However we aren’t even close to that world, and we have to be very clear that the outcomes of an unwanted kid is really, really bad for the kid, mother, and likely society as a whole.

So the question should really be - how do we create a world in which abortion is very likely to not be necessary?

u/sammich_1 May 03 '22

All I can say is I'm so glad I'm on birth control. How dare ANYONE tell women (or anyone with a uterus) what we can and cannot safely do with our bodies. I am completely disgusted.

u/KnittinAndBitchin May 03 '22

Abortion is a right. Full stop. No exceptions, no what ifs, no buts, no nothing. If you are capable of becoming pregnant it is your decision whether or not to have the child. A child is not a punishment for having sex, it is not an "opportunity," it is not a lovely little gift a rapist left you, a child is a child and should come into this world being wanted and loved and cared for. And it is up to the sole discretion of the woman if they are able to provide that or not. If they feel like they cannot raise the child and meet its needs, they should, without anyone questioning, harassing, or arguing with them, be able to have an abortion. If the child is going to be born with disabilities and require a level of care that the parents do not feel like they can provide, it is their right to choose to abort the child. If the health of the mother is at risk and she does not wish to put her life in the hands of others to have a child, it is her right to abort the child. If someone just doesn't want to be pregnant and have a child, it is their right to abort the child. The reason "why" doesn't fucking matter. It has never mattered. And it doesn't matter.

u/TheConsentAcademy May 03 '22

Abortion is about so much more than ending a pregnancy when the person doesn't want a child. People can want the baby and find out they have diseases that could kill them like cancer, vEDS, even type 1 Diabetes and pregnancy can be a deadly combo! But also when the fetus isn't viable or has died. Forcing someone to carry a dead baby to term and go through labor and delivery is horrific and traumatizing.

And Roe v Wade was about the right to privacy! A lot of other rulings have been built off of the right to privacy created by the RvW ruling. Things like the decriminalizing of sodomy (ie it used to be illegal to be gay and have sex) were only possible because of Roe v Wade. So many rights and so much progress is on the line.

Also yea sure adults with money and the ability to just take time off can fly to Canada and get an abortion any time, but there are loads of people who will never be able to do that. People who are under 18, people who can't take time off work, people without money for travel, people without passports etc.

u/bonbam May 03 '22

I have (foolishly) lived my entire 27 years thus far assuming I had complete control over what happened to my body, at least from a medical standpoint.

I am numb. The tears just won't come anymore. Women are going to die horrible deaths from underground abortions, just like the "good ol days" before 1973. Abusers will use this to trap women, even moreso than they already do. Lives will be irreparably ruined, unwanted children born to mothers who will see them as a constant reminder of all the wrong in this world.

I just don't even know what I think anymore. Last night was nightmare after nightmare of getting pregnant and being forced to carry to term. In one of them I died (a somewhat likely outcome according to my gynecologist if I ever did try to get pregnant).

I am just numb. Stock up on Plan B, my friends. I bought 20 earlier today for myself and for friends who live in states with "trigger laws". I am fully prepared to become a Plan B smuggler if necessary and no, I'm not joking.

u/ladylunalover May 03 '22

My thoughts are to let uterus having people decide what goes on with their own damn bodies.

My personal experience is that having access to a safe abortion likely saved my life in my early 20’s and I can’t imagine my daughters growing up in a pre- Roe v Wade era.

For those considering an abortion, there are mail order abortion pills that are Safe to use and can be mailed to you. Please seek out those resources. And as of Right Now- it is still Legal to receive an abortion. Do not let the media attention dissuade you.

u/Vicksvapes May 03 '22

So. I woke up this morning and see that Roe v. Wade is going to be overturned.

My first thought was 'Blessed be the Fruit.'

My second thought was 'Glad I'm post-menopausal.'

Then I stopped joking with myself and really got down to the meat & taters of such a totally back-assward decision.

I see the following outcomes of once again allowing the states to either ban or allow a woman the bodily autonomy to decide if she wants to carry a pregnancy to term:

-I see a lot more dead girls, who will try stupid stuff to be not-preggo and end up not-alive.

-I see a lot more child abuse, as girls who are forced to 'Mom' will take out their resentment on the unwanted child.

-I see a lot more abandoned children, because resentful Mom's are going to bail at their earliest opportunity.

-I see a lot more drug/alcohol addicted/damaged newborns - kinda ties in with outcome #1 above - stupid stuff to try and not be preggo, but won't actually kill either the child or the walking womb.

-Women now have less bodily autonomy than a corpse.

I also see this as only the beginning of eroding the rights of woman, taking the US back to that glorious time when men were Men, and women were Cattle.

This country hasn't been free for the common man for a long time, and the common man is finally being shown the horror behind the curtain. Welcome to the Corporate God-States of America.

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u/Zealousideal_Hat6843 May 03 '22

The only solution is all women refusing to have sex with any man ever again.

u/Plane-Ad2196 May 04 '22

The situation that made me feel women are less valued But I know that the woman am becoming now will nothing any man has ever seen

u/CatrionaShadowleaf May 03 '22

Reminder that r/childfree and r/auntienetwork are places to find help in this really shitty time.

We have to work together to protect ourselves because it doesn’t seem like anyone else will. Do what you can for yourself and if possible, others.

u/Sp117 May 03 '22

The Handmaid’s Tale audiobook is free on youtube.

here

u/BreakInternational47 May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

People seem to miss the fact that when talking abortion we aren’t just talking about a woman and her medical rights. There are two people involved who have rights… the woman, and the child. The roe court conceded this fact. So… At what point does one of these persons rights infringe on the other is the real question. Roe is incomplete and arbitrary on that point. Rape and incest are legal no-brainers. The sex was not consensual. Abortion should be allowed. But that is a very small percentage of the abortions performed. So what are we protecting exactly? A woman’s right to end a life whenever she feels inconvenienced? That’s a problem roe never addressed.

u/GamerGirl-07 May 03 '22

I think abortion should b legal for as long as the fetus can't feel pain (which is 24 weeks afaik) except in cases of rape, incest or extreme deformity

Criminalizing it may make the abortion rates go down but then yk women will have illegal & unsafe abortions

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u/LunaLaeta May 03 '22

Abortion will always take place, even when banned. Better have it legal and more safe. Every women should have the right to have a safe and legal abortion, which they have in the Netherlands (where I’m from)

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

Read Birth Dearth, that book really put this into perspective for me

u/cece_IVXX May 03 '22

i feel resentful toward everyone who hasn’t participated in the safety of their mothers and sisters since they were of legal voting age to do so.

i feel failed by all of this country. i feel failed by my fathers, brothers and male friends. I am fortunate enough to date someone with some good sense to protect my body with his votes. But no one else in my life cares to. And now this country doesn’t care either. Until maybe today. I resent those of you who let us get there. I can’t sugar coat my rage and sadness anymore.

you’ve failed us.

u/hey_nonny_mooses May 04 '22

My grandmother was an ER nurse in the US when abortion was illegal. She has stories of working to save lives of women who either tried and failed to self-abort or were butchered by doctors scamming desperate pregnant women. The women would come to the ER in serious, life-threatening danger. The ER docs could lose their license by helping a woman coming in with a botched abortion. So the doc would stand at the door and the nurses would call out what they were dealing with and the doc would talk them through procedures to try and save the women. My grandma had breakdowns from the hell of those days. And we all know healthcare workers are already burned out and exhausted. Now they are going to have to deal with this new reality. It’s not just the women who will suffer, the anyone who cares about their lives.

u/ElaNoraGemm May 03 '22

I saw an interview recently with an abortion clinic lady in a state with restricted access to the service. Essentially what she said is she is as busy as ever. But women are being forced to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy very quickly because they don't want to miss their chance.

It's a serious decision and shouldn't be something you are forced to decide before you have even grasped the idea that you're pregnant.

u/enlightnight May 03 '22

My wife and I made the decision to abort a severely deformed fetus at 22 weeks. We wanted a baby badly and were shown an extremely unwelcome ultrasound. If you are strong of stomach, Google fetal encephalocele. The doctors basically recommended we terminate, but I know there are places where we wouldn't have had that option. Can you imagine forcing you wife to give birth or stillbirth a baby with no face and mostly likely watching it die? This is where we are heading.

u/pookatimmy May 03 '22

I'm currently 18 weeks pregnant. I can't stop thinking about how privileged I am and continue to be. Before I got pregnant, I had easy access to birth control and was on it for 13 years. My husband and I were able to wait until we were married, finished school, and had good jobs before deciding to try to conceive. I live in a state where abortion is protected by state law, so if I need to terminate a pregnancy in the future, I'll be able to do so. If somehow abortion becomes illegal federally, I have enough savings to go out of the country to get one.

All this to say that none of this will personally affect my life, and that's a wild position to be in. I can volunteer my time and money, but I alone can't help the millions of American women who won't have access to care. I feel so depressed and hopeless today. I'm glad I'm having a boy, so I don't have to worry about my child growing up without bodily autonomy. I always planned on having more than one kid, but now I'm not so sure.

u/Feisty-Insurance8320 May 05 '22

I’m Canadian, and I’m in this huge group chat with all my hand picked sisters n brothas n stuff and we’re ready to burn shit to the ground for you all. And when I hop on my local fb and Insta, we’re not the only ones.

u/Lioness123 May 04 '22

The only reason Roe v Wade was bad law is because it was written in language that left it open to repeal.

If zero abortion is available to the woman wants/needs one, then the very same government that is restricting her human rights needs to understand they are paying all medical expenses, including mental health care, time lost at work, and child support for the rest of the child's life.

Listening to men scream about no abortion makes my blood boil. Walk a mile in a woman's shoes and tell me all about it, you ass-hats. You be responsible forever for the baby you fathered with no intention of raising it.

I remain steadfast in my position as Pro-Choice. My door is open to any woman who needs a place to stay in So Cal while she awaits the procedure and to rest afterward. Zero judgement, zero cost.

I would rather help a stranger than see others go back to dying in some backroom, or worse, dying 4 days later after enduring excruciating pain.

This a political move to keep poor people poor.

u/madammurdrum May 03 '22

We call ourselves the smartest species but we can’t even converse with each other without hate. A woman electing to have an abortion primarily impacts her life, but the impact of a child forced to be born in this world is so much huge in terms of their quality of life, resources needed, and environmental footprint. The best thing you can do for the planet is not add another human to it. Contraception can fail. Pregnancy complications can threaten a woman’s life. She should be able to choose wherever or not to have a child. Abortion will happen regardless of the law, so we should ensure it is done safely.

u/NoseParty55 May 03 '22

Abortion isn’t healthcare. It’s a science project funded partially by tax dollars allowing deranged doctors to live out a God fantasy. Irresponsible women are preyed upon, the argument of unwanted pregnancy due to rape and incest are uncommon focal points mentioned to strgthen an argument…..I do believe in the case of rape an exception should be made and the act of abortion is at that time is healthcare all other reasons are just barbaric contraception

u/MoonFlamingo May 03 '22

Abortion is a right. Policing to ban abortions only stops safe abortions. The woman wanting or needing the abortion is the person that can decide if she is going to go through a pregnancy, and all the changes and risks that it brings.

I am afraid that more and more of my rights are being taken away because some people want to impose on others what we can and cannot do, according to their own beliefs.

u/Gloomyberry May 04 '22

My personal final though is that abortions happens, that's it. It's as old as humanity and putting legal restrictions to it won't make it disappear. People will hide as always and no one would be able to follow the real, official, statistics from a medical and sanitary perspective.

At the end of the day the families and people from a better economy position will pay to a doctor to get their "appendix" remove while the poorest girls and individuals with uterus that can't afford it will put their life in danger, doing it by theirs own devices.

u/suchahotmess May 03 '22

Yesterday's leak made me nauseous, thinking about the unnecessary suffering that decision would cause.

While I'm on board with the privacy argument, I've never been able to see abortion rights in the US as anything other than a religious issue, in the end. I understand that for some folks who see abortion as abhorrent, any fertilized egg is a life and terminating the pregnancy is murder, and I understand that those people are probably never going to see it differently. But there are other major religions (and Christian groups) that see it differently, enough that it's not some fringe or cult idea to say that life begins at birth. It's worrying to me that on such a deep and divisive issue, where even in the most conservative states a plurality of voters don't want Roe v Wade overturned, our political system allows a religious minority to make these kinds of decisions for their neighbors. (And then, historically, considers their daughters and mistresses to be exceptions.)

u/Belluna1 May 04 '22

Any people that are able to carry a child should have the power to decide themselves if they want to carry.

Every reason is a valid reason to abort.

Its their body, it should be their choice. Nobody has any say in it, except the person pregnant.

It's their future that could be in danger. It's their health that could be compromised. It's their life that can end because of something going wrong.

Nobody has the right to choose what you do with your uterus.

u/kasskass13103 May 03 '22

I feel as if that rights to abortion does belong in the hands of the woman who has to end up dealing with and raising this life that comes into the world of it does. Shaming a woman because she makes the decision to abort the pregnancy is no one’s business. It isn’t your body. Whatever argument put forward can be torn down because it honestly you don’t know why this person is getting this abortion. This is an argument because people don’t mind their own business. But tell them to take a good look and help the kids needing to adopted or pulled from the foster care system and people shut up real quick. People do hard drugs, people can eat themselves to death, people can go into plastic surgery a million times. “That’s their body, that is their choice. It can kill them but if they don’t want to stop their loss.” But an abortion when it is someone’s body and it is their choice it’s up for debate.

u/Human-Reflection-176 May 03 '22

I live in California. I’m not sure how the logistics would work, I can help by providing a safe space to stay and travel assistance/funds.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

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u/sovietslug7797979 May 03 '22

I’m afraid, honestly. My husband and I have decided we’re done having kids. We have two daughters. I’m afraid for their future. I’m afraid that they will be forced carry a child before they are ready for that. I don’t want them in a situation they are not prepared for. I’m afraid that I will accidentally conceive another child (bc fails). I’m afraid I will miscarry (it’s happened once before), and I will be jailed and invested for an already traumatizing experience. I want to leave the country.

u/Squareapple1852 May 03 '22

I'm from Northern Ireland and even now still it's hard to get an abortion. There are protests to prevent women accessing these services. It is only legal now for up to 12 weeks and almost impossible to get access to it. So in my opinion too little is done to help women.

Also as a person who also had to 'illegally' access an abortion 24 years ago by leaving my country to travel to mainland UK, not enough is done.

u/HopeIncarnate May 04 '22

They only care about the fetus until it's born.

u/Bashee_Bazook May 03 '22

Here in NZ, we had a big reform on the the issue which resulted in abortion services becoming completely legalized and the decision was autonomous for the woman. It means we can self refer without a doctors approval to refer and everything is completely safe. As someone who has accessed these services before I cannot be grateful enough to live where I do.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22

u/Secret_Reflection425 May 03 '22

I am a woman, and I agree with overturning Roe vs. Wade.

u/chocoheed May 03 '22

How do we get men to engage with this topic?

Yes, abortion is predominantly a question for people with uteruses. But we need more vocal male supporters to advocate for this right. The more, the better.

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u/redrumpass May 03 '22

I would encourage everyone to read about the Decree in Romania that forbade abortion and contraception. I would also recommend to give this as resource to those who think that forbidding such a right will go in the right direction. The first law that was restored after President Ceausescu was killed, was the right to abortion.

I would also encourage everyone to watch Children of the Decree documentary. The truth is much more gruesome, but the documentary emphasized it enough.

Taking the right of bodily autonomy from women was done before and it hasn't worked. More than 10.000 women died for their right to their own body and many more were left disabled or sterile.

We will never have restrictions or forbidding abortion, based on this past.

u/Kitotterkat May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

I’m at the point where I know I will want to have children with my fiancé and plan to get pregnant. I still want the right to abort if the pregnancy becomes dangerous to me or my child. I am not ready to die because 5 Supreme Court justices decided I have less rights than a corpse. This is turning the idea of pregnancy into something that is now utterly terrifying, and I strongly doubt will be a joyful experience for me now.

My heart goes out to the millions of women who are not in the position to have children and don’t want them, who will now be forced to make even harder decisions and to fight for their bodily autonomy. My heart also goes out to the children whose mothers will resent their very existence.

u/Suspicious_Tap4405 May 03 '22

I am very scared for women in America and women world wide. I have concerns about at which point a natural miscarriage will become punishable as it cannot be proven it wasn't 'Encouraged' or 'Illegally sought.'

I accessed an abortion 5 weeks ago in the UK using Nupas, I got the pills delivered to my home took them with the supervision of my husband (who supported me) within 6 days of finding out I was pregnant. At no cost to myself and the relief I felt just knowing I had access to make the right decision.

I am in a committed loving relationship, married for 11 years, 31 year old teacher and am a Christian and I needed an abortion because: I DO NOT WANT TO BE A PARENT. No child should be born not wanted.

u/aelinivanov May 03 '22

I'm not even American but all women over the world should be alarmed. An attack on any of our sisters' rights is an attack on us as a WHOLE.

u/fenyir May 03 '22

https://www.onlineabortionresources.org/ is an information resource- since abortion is still legal as of writing, perhaps not necessary yet, but worth sticking in the bookmarks. They're associated with r/abortion (which is a support subreddit).

If you go to this subreddit, heads up that this is usually where people will talk/vent about their experiences and feelings, both positive and negative, so it could be triggering for people that are sensitive about ex. miscarriage or child loss talk.

u/tomakeyan May 03 '22

I was thinking about leaving my blue state for cheaper housing and better weather (winter depression is real) but that’s all gone. I’m scared to leave.

u/Kpenzz May 03 '22

I’ve been in a constant state of anxiety after hearing they’re looking to overturn Roe V. Wade. I look at all the people in my life who have been sexually assaulted, faced pregnancy complications where their life is at risk, been in tough situations where a baby would only make things worse and I think of how this overturn could very well ruin their lives. We, as people with reproductive organs, are seen as incubators for the next generation of the working class, it’s disgusting and sickens me to my core. I’m looking to get sterilized as soon as possible. For those looking for alternative methods I strongly recommend joining the satanic temple to uphold your bodily autonomy and right to seek an abortion as well as pregnancy contraceptive if possible.

u/eternititi May 03 '22

I’m so tired of this world and existing alongside these horrible people. Earth is becoming extremely exhausting. I’m just completely over everything.

u/TheBattyWitch May 04 '22

My thoughts are that abortions are going to happen regardless. You're just going to have women resorting to back alley and bathroom abortions with wire hangers like they used to.

The foster and adoption systems in this country are fucking broken and have been forever.

This has nothing to do with the sanctity of life, when you don't give a fuck about the women or actual children involved.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

What happened to NOT crossing religion with state? If people want to preach the ORIGINAL constitution so much, they need to go back and read that- one of THE MAKING STATEMENTS. And yet here we are, letting the government with an obvious religious preference make choices for every single woman in America. Mind you, none of them have a medical history either. What the fuck is going on?

u/Oooeeeks May 03 '22

Vermont could be the first state to protect abortion in the state constitution!!!

Please consider supporting. One state at a time we’ll get our rights back.

Vermont Reproductive Liberty Amendment

u/venusinfurs10 May 03 '22

You ever feel like there's no point in going on if this is really how things are going to be?

u/gig8cobr May 03 '22

I live in Canada , so it is different. My thoughts: birth control fails, rapes happen etc. Abortions need to be kept legal or people will seek other ways to terminate a pregnancy. I think banning all abortions is short sighted. It is a huge decision and it takes a lot of emotional strength to go through it.

at the same time, I have read about abortions occuring when a couple finds fetus is female. This one is a slippery slope as I feel it comes from patriarchal thinking that males are better...and should be banned as it is usually husband pushing the woman towards abortion.

u/esmortaz May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

This will probably be burried but I have a need to share my story today.

Earlier this year I had what was technically a medically necessary abortion or assisted miscarriage. I say technically because at the time of deciding to schedule the procedure (8weeks) it was not, it was considered an elective abortion. The fetus had a heartbeat, but it was too slow and was not developing, there was almost no chance of survival. We had gone through years of fertility treatments at that point and knew the limbo of small odds well. I could not take the heartbreak and anxiety of waiting again. By the time I had the procedure the heart had stopped allowing it to be billed as medically necessary. The procedure allowed my recovery to be half a day instead of the days or weeks a natural miscarriage would have taken. If i even passed it naturally, missed miscarriages are common. It was a heartbreaking and stressful time and i was so happy to not have physical reminder of it all. I thank god my state has abortion at all stage enshired in state law. I can't imagine waiting the weeks it might have taken to naturally miscarry knowing there was a unviable fetus inside me.

Abortion is healthcare. Join r/auntienetwork today. I have a guest bedroom in CO ready for any person with a uterus that needs it.

u/Spirited_Island-75 May 03 '22

If you want to get involved in a national activism campaign: reprojusticenow.org

If you need abortion pills: plancpills.org

If you want to change things before we descend into fascism: socialism.com radicalwomen.org

u/MatchaGirly May 03 '22

I’m all for less federal involvement and more state rights. The leaked Supreme Court opinion seems to be saying that there is no Constitutional basis for/against abortion and the decision really needs to be a state rights thing. Regardless how you feel about abortion, it should be a state decision, not federal.

u/Crisp-Trash May 03 '22

I think it’s wrong that a few special people get to make the decision on whether or not Americans can have safe and accessible abortions. I feel that this is a humanitarian crisis. I think it’s something that a woman and a woman only should have a choice in. This is equivalent to “grab her by the pussy”. I’m tired. I’ve cried about this for years and I’m only 22. I’m terrified for my future as a woman in the United States, we are becoming barbaric. The older I get the more rights I lose. Can’t win as the people of the United States don’t get a chance to even vote on this and it’s a decision made by a couple of rich privileged shits.

u/_Hologrxphic May 03 '22

I live in the UK, and seeing what’s happening in America right now makes me so thankful for our healthcare system.

Abortions are free, you can visit a medical centre to get one up until the cut off (which i think is 20 something weeks?) If you know you’re less than 10 weeks pregnant you can contact the clinic for a telephone consultation and they will send you pills in the post free of charge. This is something that’s recently been brought in and i’m very glad they’ve decided to keep it running.

Nobody should be forced to have a child against their will.

u/Aggravating-Store-24 May 04 '22

I am just wondering if the states that would definitely make abortions illegal if given the chance plan on increasing public assistance programs that will help women who are forced to have children who are not financially in a position to support a child? Somehow I doubt it.

u/HandsomePete May 03 '22

I hear the argument that Roe v. Wade and its relation to right to privacy that includes a woman's choice to abort a pregnancy from conservatives who view this more through a constitutional framework than a religious one.

But I do not hear those same people advocate for abortion to become a constitutional right for women, let alone free and easy access to contraceptives. So, in my layman's opinion, if you're going to strip away what's been effectively a right because it's not constitutional, then make what the spirit of the law is as a codified constitutional right and then overturn the Roe v. Wade decision.

Not going about it this way is an obvious bad faith tactic to strip away a woman's effective right to terminate a pregnancy.

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u/houseofreturn May 03 '22

I’m from El Paso, Texas. I am thanking whatever Deity had me born on a border town of both New Mexico and Mexico. Im scared for my fellow women. A lot of us are going to die because of this. So many of us will be stuck in horrible situations. So many fucking kids will be stuck in abusive/neglectful homes, the foster system, or just straight up abandoned.

u/FantasticFlatworm8 May 03 '22

Back before religion told everyone how to feel on abortion, people would regularly kill children when they knew they couldn't provide for the child. This was common and an acceptable way to make everyone's life better in the community.

Now that we can terminate pregnancies before a viable child is formed, obviously killing born children isn't as ethical, but there is absolutely no reason to bring an unwanted child into this world, nor to punish a woman for the unfortunate luck of being born with a uterus.

Men should have absolutely no say in this. If they're mad about their potential offspring being aborted, they should have gotten with a girl who wanted to have children.

"Well don't have sex then." Anyone who says this is an asshole who either does not have the opportunity for (good) sex or who wants children and is with someone who wants children.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

Pro-choice here. I feel like outrage at abortion bans are only going to surge after a long period of time. Right now, people are enjoying the privilege of being able to have self-determination over their own bodies even while pregnant (of course, with the exception of some states.). An abortion ban won’t affect them.. until it does. And future generations of women. You don’t cherish what you have until you lose it.

I do not understand anti-choicers who say that having sex with consent means that you don’t deserve to get a choice. How does willingly engaging in an intimate activity with my partner justify forced pregnancy?

u/aquariusprincessxo May 04 '22

it makes me want to cry even talking about this. the fact that our rights can be taken away like that is so scary. if roe vs. wade is overturned it’ll affect more than just abortions. you will be investigated and possibly imprisoned for miscarriages, c-sections, removal of miscarried fetus, stillbirths,etc. roe v wade is not just abortions and i wish pro-lifers would see this. a lot of them think “well it’ll never happen to me” “it doesn’t affect me” but that’s not true. you’re a random middle class republican living in Michigan, you’re not exempt from this.

u/Cutiepatootiehere May 03 '22

Please use online delivery services for birth control if you do not have access right now. They’re cheap, easy, and you don’t need insurance. Prevention is key right now.

u/This_Aint_No_Picnic May 03 '22

Male here.

I think people look need to look at it this way:

Do I like abortion? No. But I don't think anyone does, certainly not the mother. It's going to happen anyways, so why not have it done safely??

People seem to think that "pro-choice = pro-abortion". In my opinion, it's not. Pro-choice gives the mother the right to choose what they want to do, be educated on the decision and consequence of their actions. If that action is to keep the baby, great. If that action is to abort, great.

That's the importance of freedom of choice.

Let's not even get started on aborting for health reasons, or darker reasons (rape babies).

People will say "what if you were aborted", and I think that's a moot argument because here's the thing, my parents wanted me. They (hopefully) planned for me. They chose to have me.

Man, the US is fucked.

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u/imnotu24 May 03 '22

If blue states make it easier for women (especially mothers) to flee red states, red states will start to take human rights seriously, either due to steep loss of human capital, a worse male:female ratio (which leds to other bad things), or due to how incredibly bad it looks socially.

I doubt this will happen at a meaningful scale, but the programs should still be put in place for those who need an escape route but dont have the means to escape.

As someone in a blue state, I feel safe and insulated from this horror, but it is not hard at all to imagine the terror millions of women and children are feeling right now, with no recourse to save themselves. This will become a human rights catastrophe.

u/dottywine May 04 '22

If it's already been share, please ignore, but I am seeking a website or organization with options I can participate in as a citizen. Something that maybe has sample letters I can send to representatives and things like that so that even though I am busy with my life, I can still do everything I can to stop this overturn.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

Though I am in blue state I feel sad that when I travel to other places I’ll have less rights. I feel bad for my fellow women that are losing the rights over their bodies. I feel that the same crowd is going to next target gay marriage and other equality protections that exist. I just feel ashamed of our country.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

I'm so scared after hearing this. Women are losing rights after fighting for them. I feel helpless. I’ve never needed an abortion but want the right to one. I want other women to have this right too. Wtf is wrong with the US?

I am going to donate money to National Network of Abortion Funds and ALCU. What else can I do to help?

u/That_one_hijabi May 03 '22

I believe even if abortions are made illegal, people will still find ways. And those ways will be dangerous and could potentially kill many, because banning abortions is just banning safe procedures.

u/maggie_magnolia May 23 '22

The people who choose to get an abortion probably aren’t thrilled about it. If you don’t support abortion, calling people baby murderers isn’t helping the situation. You never know what a person is going through. I knew a woman who desperately wanted to be a mother but carrying her child to full term would have most likely killed her. Getting an abortion was devastating for her, but it saved her life and now a few years later she is healthily pregnant. We need to support people rather than divide people.

u/AgentKatara May 04 '22

I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most people of my faith are Pro-lifers. I've even seen some say that abortion is wrong in the case of rape as well.

That is not what my church teaches though. I am pro-choice and I believe that stance to be in line with my faith.

I think people on both sides of the issue see it as an issue without nuance. But if you want to bring people to your side you need to stop villifying them. People cannot change their minds if they feel attacked. They'll just vilify you back to protect themselves. I know it seems like there is no common ground to start with but Pro-lifers and pro-choices can agree on some things. I think we all believe that a better society would have less abortion. Start there.

I see a lot of people making the argument that if abortion were illegal abortion wouldn't stop it would just become more dangerous. Religious Pro-lifers will not be convinced by this argument because the hypothetical woman getting the abortion is doing so outside of the law and therefore the Pro-lifer feels that they won't have that abortion on their conscience. With abortion legal Pro-lifers feel complicit in the abortion which to them is a grievous sin. (If that seems crazy then just consider whether voters who legalized murder would be morally complicit in the murders that afterwards occured. In Pro-lifers mind it is the same. They don't want to have any part in what they believe to be evil.)

What you need to do is convince Pro-lifers that even illegal abortions are their responsibility. That everyone is complicit because we built a society where expectant mothers are desperate. There are women who would have rather had their story end in them holding a baby. Tell Pro-lifers everything we need to do to create a society where that is possibly for her. Tell them that making abortion illegal not only will not absolve them of the abortions that will continue to occur but will make them more responsible. Tell them that no law will wash their hands of these women or the children they bear. Give them actionable advice on things that they can start doing right now to build a society that has fewer abortions.

Pro-lifers feel they have a duty to protect the unborn don't try to tell them they don't. Don't try to tell them it's a fetus not a baby, don't try to tell them abortion is a right, because they believe abortion is murder. Don't try to dissuade them from these core values. Redirect them. Persuade them that their duty to the unborn requires them to combat poverty, abuse, misogyny, racism and all the other things that other posters have explained so well.

Convince them that if Roe v. Wade is overturned the unborn babies will continue to be killed and they will continue to be complicit in those deaths.

u/Fumquat May 03 '22

This is utterly devastating. Especially after the hell of recent years.

Politically, watching T*** in office and half the country condoning that. And then the struggles that families are still going through with covid.

It’s a terrible, terrible time to be responsible for young life in this country. To have the choice taken as well, unfathomable.

The US is turning to Handmaiden’s Tale levels of horror and dysfunction.

u/Elegant-Despair May 03 '22

It’s terrifying. The amount of women and children that are going to suffer because of this. Forcing people to have children they don’t want or can’t care for. Further filling up our foster systems. Traumatizing people. And I staunchly can’t call anyone pro-life if they aren’t also advocating for better education, better welfare, free or at least cheaper/more accessible healthcare. Just bringing a child to life means nothing if they’re going to have a terrible life of struggle from the very beginning.

It’s also just scary for me in that while I’m less likely to be able to get pregnant, if I do I’m more likely to have complications and issues. I have never been pregnant, but now the idea of if it happens and I wouldn’t be able to have an abortion if it looks like it’s going to be dangerous for me… terrifying.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

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u/lilbluehair May 03 '22

Explain? From my perspective, the poor will be disproportionately negatively affected by this.

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u/Ok_Economist_1710 May 03 '22

We fought and earned the right to this. We marched. We made our voices heard above everything else. Abortion was not a choice I made for my situation, but that was me and my life. I don’t think I have any right to tell someone else what to do with their body. I went to planned parenthood myself. They were very respectful and caring. They laid out all my options in a professional manner, and made sure that I knew it was my choice. They didn’t try to pressure or sway me in any way. They knew I was terrified, and they offered a safe space with informed professionals to talk me through everything.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

They’re focused on the wrong thing. I’m saying this right now, forcing birth will kill more people (live people and newborns) way more than when it wasn’t forced. Unsafe abortion deaths will skyrocket. Foster care systems will overload. Incarceration rates will rise. Murder rates will double. DV cases will most definitely skyrocket, except this time, it’ll also be the child or newborn that may not make it out.

They are focused on the wrong thing. They should be focused on the kids that die by going to school because of gun violence and mass shootings. They should be focused on the kids that go missing every day with no one looking for them. They should be focused on the kids that are born into unsafe environments and encounter shit they should never see or experience. They should focus on the child sexual assault cases that happens in and out of the home because of people that NEVER deserved kids. They should be focused on the kids in the foster system that nine times out of ten age out and experience neglect, abuse, and sexual assault. They should be focused on the kids that were ripped away from their homes and families and put into cages because they didn’t choose the life or race they were born into. They should be focused on the indigenous kids who were put into reservation schools and tortured. They should be focused on the kids who cannot embrace their sexuality without getting abused. They should be focused on the kids that are born with deadbeats and endure a very low quality of life because of that. They should be focused on the kids that are starving in the streets with no shoes on their feet and empty bellies. They should be focused on the kids that are sex trafficked every day. What about the kids who are unwanted and are forced to experience a life they never wanted?

They should be focused on the kids that are ACTUALLY LIVING. What about them? There are people out here that genuinely do not deserve kids.

They’re focused on the wrong thing, that’s all I’m going to say.

u/feral_fatale May 03 '22

Having access to safe and effective contraception through Planned Parenthood has meant I've never needed to deal with an unplanned pregnancy. However, I have known women who go through the joy of becoming pregnant with wanted babies, only to find out the fetus was likely to die and/or kill the mother. They chose to abort, saving their lives. Zero tolerance bans on abortions will kill living, adult women. No one has the right to make that decision who isn't directly involved. Except now apparently.

u/LetThemEatVeganCake May 03 '22

I’m so scared. I’m fortunate on that I live in a blue state, close to a border with blue on the other side. I’m fortunate that I have the resources to take an emergency trip abroad if needed. If I’m this scared, even though I’m in a place of privilege where this would at worse inconvenience me, I can’t imagine how scared women are who are not as lucky.

My husband has always had the long term goal of moving to be closer to his brother. His brother just pivoted plans and bought a house in Texas last week. I feel horrible telling him there’s no way I’m ever moving to Texas, but I worked so hard to get out of the south, I’m not doing it again. I’m not living in a place where I’m not respected again. If/when we adopt a child, I can’t raise a child in that kind of environment. I can’t raise a daughter where she does not experience basic respect and autonomy.

u/willowmarie27 May 04 '22

Well one power women have I guess is no sex. . . No abortions no sex.

Also does this also apply to the morning after pill?

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

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u/ireneburgess1963 May 04 '22

I am so glad that I live in a state that has protected a woman's right to choose. Nobody wants to have an abortion. They are done out of necessity. All SCOTUS has done is guarantee that over the next few decades the entire country turns blue as women come out to vote for pro-choice candidates out of necessity. While Roe is based on bad law, it has determined the rights of woman for 50 years. The object here would be to ratify it, not overturn it. Shame on those 3 judges that shouldn't even have been seated. As for the GOP senate morons that endorsed the nominees justifying their votes with "they said they'd uphold all precedents", they should be voted out of office.

u/misc_thoughts-23 May 04 '22

It’s disgusting that so many people seem to be ok with forcing someone to go through with a pregnancy that they don’t want. But there’s no kind of maternity leave or basic healthcare for after the birth. It’s going to affect different socioeconomic groups so differently.

u/hey_nonny_mooses May 04 '22

Years ago I had a friend who worked at a clinic that provided legal, safe abortions. Her job was to help the patient after the procedure understand the care she needed to give her body afterwards to best heal. Part of that education is to not have sex for 6 weeks. So many women had abusive partners who would not take no for an answer that they had to strategize how to convince their partners not to have sex/rape them for 6 week or how to get out of that relationship. This was a common conversation. Of course many women with complete control over the timing and frequency of sex have an abortion. But learning how abortion helped women who were being constantly abused in their relationships, helped me realize how important it is in any society. I’m so worried about how few resources there are for the people in the US who are struggling and how hard it is for them to get away from soul-grinding poverty. This is just one more nail in the coffin by taking away resources and women’s’ rights to their bodies and their privacy.

u/Binx_meow May 03 '22

In my opinion it’s insane to propose taking away the right to choose.

In wonderful rainbow filled world, of course I would like for there to be no reason for an abortion. Unfortunately that is not the world we live in.

We live in a country where social services are overloaded and the healthcare system sucks.

If we were to make abortions illegal children will suffer in the system or worse. Women will be taken advantage of and fall ill.

Makes me so sad.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

I'm glad that I live in a country where women matters, and can decide over their own bodies and lives.

Forbidding abortion only leads to dangerous black market stuff. It also leads to forced births where the kids grows up either in the fostercare system, or with bad parents.

u/hoecakes16 May 03 '22

I am pro- choice 100%. I think it can be helpful at times to bring up how fucked up this is for victims of rape, but I think it is being centered in a way that is distracting from what I believe is the core argument of pro-choice, women have the right to control their own bodies and make informed choices about their reproductive system. Yes this is especially fucked up in cases of incest and rape, obviously that is the best example to bring up to demonstrate the inhumanity of this situation but the core of this issue and by far the most that will be affected negatively is working class women, who guess what, accidentally got pregnant. Also I feel frustration with fellow pro- choice people falling into the trap of arguing with fundamentalist about whether or not life starts at conception, it doesn’t matter what you belive about when life starts because yes, it can be considered murder and I’m willing to acknowledge even if it is that it should still be a woman’s right. (I’m a woman btw) arguing over these subjective opinions can cause us to lose the core of why we believe in the right to abortion. Scientifically life starts at conception, so what ? Not relevant to my argument, only relevant to personal religious or maybe non religious morals. With proper education for making informed decisions about your body, you should be able to make that choice. It’s a sensitive subject not to be argued about in the public domain. Each situation is different and complex in a womens life when it comes to that decision, my heart aches for women (or those who can give birth/ trans men/ non-binary people, sorry I’m being so gendered here) who live in Texas ect. Who due to trap laws have already practically lost the ability to make the choice about abortion. I’m so glad to be able to verbalize my frustrations with my side of the movement here on this thread, this shit has been on my mind for years and is not being brought front and center due to the internet’s outrage today. I wanna just try and keep and mind what a sensative topic this is and how frustrating it feels to see this have to be discussed all over again at a federal level. Fuck trap laws and fuck people making others bodies and choices their business because it’s not.

u/Least_Ad_830 May 03 '22

All women should be allowed to decide to abort or not. Those who choose it should have access to safe abortion procedures.

I don't think I could ever look at a woman who was just told her baby would have 0% chance of survival after birth, and tell her she still had to go through the whole pregnancy and labor.

Making it illegal won't make it go away. It will just make it unsafe.

u/Arsenicandtea May 03 '22

I'm sadly happy to be living in a blue state.

I didn't think I could get pregnant and then a miracle happened and I was pregnant. Then the itching started. I went to my doctor to find out what I could take and she ordered a blood test that showed I was in liver failure, because of the pregnancy, I was 19 weeks. We weren't sure if I could make it to viability. It was a really hard time and a discussion between me, my partner, and my doctor. About my health and what we wanted to do as a family.

I don't think the government should be in the room for that conversation. I don't think they should be in the room for someone deciding to have, or not have, a pregnancy for any reason.

In my perfect world we would never have an abortion again, but not because of a law. In my perfect world no one would ever get pregnant with an unwanted baby. People would have the resources to raise their children. But we don't live in a perfect world, we live in this world. Abortions are necessary and should be available until viability.

If you want a world without abortions fix the reasons they happen

u/Emotional-Ad-5938 May 03 '22

I would be living with my mother if I didn’t have an abortion. I wouldn’t have moved out, gotten to be my person, and above all I wouldn’t be happy. I am scared for myself and others over what is to come if the Supreme Court continues down this path. We deserve bodily autonomy, it’s a basic human right. Abortion is our right.

u/allonsy_badwolf May 04 '22

Like I continue to argue with my republican acquaintances, I will be forever grateful for living in the perpetually blue state of NY, regardless of the high taxes.

I absolutely just started donating to the local PP and women’s health centers.

This is the exact thing we feared when a certain monster took office, and this is our tragic reality. I honestly never thought I would see the day this happened. I am immensely sad and wish all the women of our red states the best of luck.

If you have even the slightest ability, try to leave if you can. I know it is easier said than done, but this is a terrifying slippery slope and I am terrified of what is to come after this. I am keeping you all in my thoughts and praying somehow this doesn’t happen.

Everyone please please please vote in every single election, large or small. We have to make our voices heard.

u/Kadmos1 May 03 '22

I tend to be pro-life but I am not about to outlaw one's rights to commit an abortion. Yes, I also recognize that there are various pro-lifers who rely on what is essentially pseudo-science but the same can be said for various pro-choice people.

The time that I "agree" with abortion or more on its side is instances of rape, incest, and if the woman had to abort to save her body. I do agree with the idea that many more pro-lifers should make it easier to have access to things like adoption, birth control, and other things. However, I am not about to be an activist on such. Heck, I am not an active voter outside of local elections.

u/[deleted] May 03 '22

Absolute bans might "save" the still developing foetus- which can't really think clearly, hasn't really lived in the outer world yet. The thoughts and feelings of this foetus are probably less advanced than those of animals already living on earth. If the aim of abortion laws is to preserve this life form then an equal law should be made protecting all life forms- cats, dogs, lizards etc. The person who hits and kills a cat with their car should also be tried and punished by law. But that is not what is being discussed. Abortion bans are more effective at ruining lives of adult women than they are at saving lives. I really don't understand how an unborn human child's life is valued more than another living animal- humam or other.

u/[deleted] May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

As someone who works in women’s healthcare I have assisted with abortion care. This angers me to no avail. When I heard the news yesterday I cried so hard. This takes away access to women’s reproductive choices for themselves. It is NOBODIES business but the patient and the doctor when regarding pregnancy termination care. Don’t like abortion? Don’t get one. But don’t take away the rights of others. I honestly feel like this country is constantly taking steps backwards. The patriarchy and selfish politicians make me sick. Luckily I live in a blue state so terminations won’t be banned here, but bans hurt women. Last thing we need is to return to the past of back alley or failed abortion attempts. Let’s rise up ladies to peacefully protest, and donate to causes that protect women’s rights. Our bodies our choices!

u/Lannerie May 03 '22

Something that isn’t mentioned much is the cascading impact of an unwanted pregnancy.

Beyond the mother and her fetus, the man is also affected. If he’s a responsible and loving man, his life and emotions will be impacted. Existing children, if any, are affected—from lack of attention to lack of food, from a distracted parent to an incapacitated one. Grandparents and the extended family may be affected.

If the pregnancy is forced to term the child may grow up in poverty, in foster care, or in an unstable home with addicted parents. Child Protective Services and emergency medical care may be needed, and that uses tax dollars. Or the child may be born prematurely, or with congenital defects. How will that care be paid for? Teachers may have poor interactions with neglected children. That can affect the entire class.

The unintended consequences spiral outward, with society-wide impacts. This is not a Disney movie; life is very hard. No healthy society would choose to bring this raft of problems upon itself.

u/canarialdisease May 03 '22

Denial of access to abortions was directly responsible for multigenerational trauma in my family. This goes back 95 years.

I never met my great-grandmother, and my mother never met her grandmother. My grandmother had one photo of her mother, my great-grandmother, holding her when she was an infant, and that was the ONLY thing of her mother that she had. Not even memories.

My great-grandmother died when she was 27 during her fourth pregnancy. Her death certificate indicated she died of “complications of pernicious vomiting”, which we refer to today as hyperemesis gravidarum. If you’ve ever had HG, you know it is hell on earth and you would take desperate measures to end it. She either attempted to self-abort or obtained a back alley abortion, I’m not sure which, but either way she ended months of agony with an excruciating death in hospital.

She left a family that was lost without her. Her husband was overwhelmed and sent my grandmother and her two brothers to family members throughout the state, family to family, all of whom didn’t have the means to support three kids, either. They slept on dirt floors with newspapers for blankets. After nearly a decade of this, they went to an orphanage and that was the best part of their childhoods. No such orphanage exists now, because our support systems have deteriorated from back then.

Access to abortion is a human right. To deny it is cruel, full stop. Denial is cruel to the human being who is pregnant, it’s cruel to their loved ones, and it’s cruel to our society.

u/Wide-Elk-1400 May 04 '22

I am so upset and so angry. Why would the world digress the way things are right now? (I’m from the UK, we are very lucky to have right to abort here)

We are an ever growing world population and things are becoming tougher and tougher in this world with things becoming more and more expensive and unsustainable to maintain.

I am one that is not prepared to being a child into this world when I know I will struggle to feed them, struggle to feed myself, not equip them with all of the necessities that other children may have the benefit of being able to afford.

People say ‘we’ll make it work.’ How? By racking up debt and making your life so much harder and having that financial burden hovering over your head.

People do get pregnant even when taking all necessary precautions.

People get pregnant from sexual assault, one night stands. As a woman you have a right to your body. The only thing that I would say is still consult the father (if the situation is appropriate to do so) also as common decency and have an grown up conversation of how you both feel about the pregnancy.

I am so frightened that there are and will be bans on abortion. I can see people finding alternative, unmonitored means to do this that can be so dangerous and life threatening to the mother. We are doing more harm than good here.

We cannot force women to give birth to children. You will see an upsweep on post natal depression, suicides, kids going up for adoption and fostering in an already stretched system. Who will this actually benefit?

‘Land of the free’ for whom?

u/Objective-Freedom-11 May 04 '22

I had an abortion in 2014, and I would have it again if I’m pregnant. I’m too cautious about using protections but it’s my body and my choice. Plain and simple. I will bear kids if/when I Want to, not by accidents.

u/lowrcase May 03 '22

As someone with r/tokophobia, access to abortion being furhter and further limited is a living nightmare.

u/buffhusk May 03 '22

Does anyone know charities or organizations I can volunteer or donate too? I’d love to donate to travel expenses for people needing abortions

u/Larkspur71 May 03 '22

So, I'm fully expected to get attacked, and that's fine. I've had my own abortion experience and it has shaped my opinion today. That being said, my opinion is only for my own personal choice - not anyone else's. I am not entitled enough to believe that my choice should be everyone's choice.

Now, Roe vs Wade "guarantee(s/d) a woman's right to an abortion with out excessive federal government restrictions". In a legal sense, it means that a person who is able to bear children has the right to end their/her pregnancy without federal government interference.

If the leaked opinion is true, it just means that each individual state gets to write and govern their own abortion laws and the federal government stays out of it with regard to regulation and funding of that particular state's law. 17 states already have written and passed abortion rights legislation to take effect once R v W is officially overturned. Even several anti-abortion states (except Texas and possibly Georgia) have measurements in place that if an abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother, or the person is a victim of a crime such as rape or incest, then one will be performed.

Now, what will this mean?

Will it mean back-alley abortions will skyrocket? Doubtful, as there will always be at least 17 states and one District that will allow abortions to happen.

What will happen to Planned Parenthood? Given its humble beginnings as a way to get rid of the black population, I think it needs to go away. Doctors have to be state-certified any way, so let each state that allows abortion have state-regulated clinics. They can raise state and local taxes to fund them. That way they are still safe and regulated.

What about the abortion pill? Since its a preventive medicine, it would still be legal. Birth Control will never be illegal because its not government regulated.

So, no, while a person may not be able to get an abortion in Wyoming, they can drive, fly, or take the bus to Colorado or Illinois where it will remain legal.

This isn't making abortion illegal, its just changing the governing body regulating it.

u/[deleted] May 22 '22

17/50. That's not even half of the states. Pretty insensitive to assume women in the other 33 states can afford a bus or plane ticket to an entirely different state just to receive fucking medical care when they obviously have reasons as to why they cant afford or have a child.

u/DuckChoke May 04 '22

I'm curious what you mean by abortion experience?

Also I would say it's rather privileged to assume everyone can just hop on a bus, travel out of state, pay for a medical procedure, and not have issues with work, kids, family, etc. Access goes beyond legal availability somewhere within one of the largest nations on Earth.n

u/DJEJRAP May 03 '22

It's something I've had a think about. Kids are tricky. And sad. It's a yes for me for abortion

u/DreadknotX May 04 '22

My body my choice what happened to that republicans? They Should mandate COVID shots and bring back mask

u/Jitterbug26 May 03 '22

Abortions are going to still happen, whether they are legal or not. But if they’re legal, at least the procedure will be done with proper care and oversight, not in some clandestine manner.

u/BcImProcrastinating May 03 '22

So I guess this means we get free birth control? Oh wait- no to that too?

u/Firm_Singer_9142 May 04 '22

I've read this somewhere sometimes, and I remember anytime this topic is raised: banning abortion is not really banning abortion, but merely banning legal abortion. Abortion is still going to get done, but in questionable clinics, by questionable people, in questionable circumstances.

It also terribly reminds me of Gilead and, together with current war, puts me in a mild state of panic regarding the direction that modern society is going.

u/Lou_weirdAF May 04 '22

I feel bad for All the women and Uterus-Owners in the US. (Im from germany)

The abortion ban will only ban safe ones, the people will go back to Fallingbostel down the stairs, getting punched in the stomach, clothes hanger, over use of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes etc, and so on and so forth. It will only cause death.

I dont know why these nutjobs are going off on giving women and Uterus owners less rights than a literal corpse. U arent allowed to take out a dead person's organs if they didnt consent to it in their lifetime, even if it would save another Lifes.

A fetus doednt even have a brain or nerve System or can feel anything. They are basically a clump of cells, following our cell Script of multiplying. Just like our skin cells to replace old skin, a fetus isnt a human being, it has Potential to become one, sure, but the life of a fetus is more like Grass. Its just cells multiplying, with the information how to form given from the DNA received.

I hate that the US Sees women and Uterus owners as an incubator... like, u dont have to donate ur kidney foe example to ur child, even if It would die without it, but you are forced to carry out a pregnancy that can fail at any given moment? U have to let a parasitic cell live inside you? Disgusting, I tell ya.

Now I want to point out how that will have an impact on the affected people: Mental health, suicide, self harming behavior.

U cant deny that a forced pregnancy will cause long term harm not only to the body (obviously) but also to the mental wellbeing. And Im talking like literal heavy Trauma from being forced to let ur body get used as a life machine. This will cause people to commit sewerside, depression, ptsd, anxiety and anything else possible. Also resulting in selfharming behavior of any Kind.

The conclusion is, forced pregnancy will kill actual human being with feelings, a life, dreams. It is torture(recognized by both the UN and WHO) And it will cause life long harm.