A Chance For A Choice: OPINION

In 1969, Norma McCorvey, other known as Jane Roe, a woman in her early twenties, wanted to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. McCorvey, who had grown up in difficult, destitute circumstances had already given birth twice and given both children up for adoption. At the time of McCorvey's pregnancy in 1969, abortion was permitted in Texas—but only to save a woman's life. As a result, some women have resorted to illegal, risky "back alley" abortions or self-inflicted abortions. According to The Guttmacher Institute, “the estimated number of illegal abortions in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s ranged from 200,000 to 1.2 million per year.”

In Texas, As of September 1, 2021 once again, abortion is banned once a fetal heartbeat can be found, except to save the mother's life; a heartbeat is normally present at 5 1/2 weeks, and by that point, nearly no women even realize they are pregnant. The nature of states seeking to restrict abortion at such an early stage is precisely why abortion laws should be re-evaluated in order to solidify women's rights and control over their bodies.

A woman is an autonomous being, and bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right. according to Salon.com, “This rejection of women as autonomous beings is also baked into the parameters of who can be sued;” " Salon.com also says, "permitting the law to go after health care providers or any other person who helps a woman get an abortion, but they cannot sue the person who is in pursuit of it” this shows that the individual seeking abortion is portrayed as an “empty vessel rather than a thinking, feeling human making a decision. As a result, religious oriented conservatives with power and influence in the government law-making apparatus simply cannot recognize the power of choice when making such decisions."

Some may say that sex is a choice, and that person chose to get pregnant; I believe sex is and should always be a choice and most babies are conceived through consensual sex,. However, some are not and babies that are conceived through rape often remind the mothers of their traumatic experience. The national library of medicine did a study In 2011, and found “nearly half (45%, or 2.8 million) of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States were unintended.” This shows that a lot of women may be able to carry children but not have the financial, mental or emotional capacity to care for a child. Many people with the Pro-life stand point may argue that women should opt for adoption, but what these pro-lifers may not see is the negative effects of children who are awaiting adoption. For example, a study conducted by the University of Manitoba says, “foster children are far more likely than other children to commit suicide; and children who are awaiting adoptions are twice as likely to spend 5+ years in the foster care system compared to other children. Adoption is not the simple solution that these proponents suggest.

Although abortion is typically associate with women, LGBTQIA+ people need access also. According to LGB(T)Q+ adult, Alex Petrovna, in an interview with Oliva McCormack of Washington post. he stated “This is going to kill people. This is going to kill trans people,” He discussed the idea of Roe v. Wade being overturned. “Not only through people having to carry pregnancies that they don’t want — but many, many trans people get their [hormone therapy] and get other essential medical care through facilities that are going to be shut down.” According to CNN, In 2016, the United States was one of the most inclusive countries in the world; But here we are six years later and we have only digressed.

In support, The Satanic Temple, a nontheistic organization acknowledged by the IRS as a religion, declared that it will fight back by invoking the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, to seek religious immunity from abortion restrictions. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 limits the government's power to prohibit religious beliefs and practices. The Satanic Temple's efforts to evade abortion prohibitions on religious grounds, like the Heartbeat Bill, need an innovative and difficult legal technique. But I cant be the only one who feels that overturning Roe V Wade is a violation of separating the church from law, first clause in the Bill of Rights that states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

In conclusion, we should all attempt to stop the horrendous attempt to eliminate abortion rights. This is important because the ability to have an abortion affects the mother’s course of life. First, missed opportunities for the mother. Secondly, not being able to care for the baby and providing it what it needs. Third, constant trauma for the mother if she conceived the baby through rape; And finally, the limiting of true bodily autonomy. Abortion should be a choice so that mothers like Norma McCorvey have a chance in life to make future decisions that are best for themselves and (as is often the case) for their future children as well.

#pride