Post has been slightly updated.
Access to abortion once allowed someone I love a whole lot to be around and keep raising the two children she already had.
I try not to swear gratuitously. I save up those words to use when really needed for maximum impact. Here’s my gut reaction to today’s news about the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade: we’re fucked. We are truly fucked. I live in a state with trigger laws. Everyone in this state who possesses a uterus no longer possesses full human rights. Here are some links to give an idea of the full extent of dystopia we have just entered.
In states that already have restrictive laws, patients experiencing miscarriages are being denied care because doctors are afraid of being accused of providing abortions should they provide medical assistance in removing the miscarried pregnancy. Folks just have to suffer in pain on their own for however long it takes and hope they don’t die of sepsis or something. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/05/roe-dobbs-abortion-ban-reproductive-medicine-alabama.html?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=traffic&utm_source=article&utm_content=facebook_share&fbclid=IwAR2b_x5pch_hrdTDMHKw78MkqUed18kzD7R7OtvIFnZee-oGEKvMs7o1szU
Never forget the case of Savita Halappanavar, who died after being refused an abortion. Her case helped spur a movement in Ireland for a change in the law. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-20321741
In the U.S. already, people have been jailed for having miscarriages. This is already happening. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59214544
“Putting the data aside…” https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-devastating-economic-impacts-of-an-abortion-ban
“A recent study estimated that banning abortion in the U.S. would lead to a 21% increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths overall and a 33% increase among Black women…” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/abortion-restrictions-health-implications/
I know parents of young children who are seriously investigating leaving the country. Between the increasing number of gun deaths and the stripping of human rights, they’re realizing this is a pretty dangerous place to raise kids. As one friend said, “It feels irresponsible to raise my daughter in this country now.”
If anyone is currently composing a response playing “devil’s advocate” or providing a “logical” anti-choice explanation from a person without a uterus who’s never had to ponder how a pregnancy would personally affect them, I invite those folks to keep your typing fingers off my page. Your time is better spent listening, really listening, to the loved ones in your life who are devastated today by this ruling. This post isn’t an invitation to debate whether roughly 50% of the population should or shouldn’t have fundamental rights.
I know this post is disjointed and lacks eye-catching graphics, but if feels necessary. We have to find a way to right these wrongs. I wish I knew what that way is, but I know it’s not going to be done by remaining silent.
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Nomadic Noesis 