Election years are times when Americans ask themselves necessary questions about important issues. One of the most crucial questions this year is on the future of reproductive rights in our nation. Women around the country, who make up half of our nation, are impacted daily by the recent actions of conservative politicians and judges. Two core pillars of reproductive rights have been directly threatened in the past two years: abortion and in vitro fertilization (IVF) access. When we go to the polls this November, the protection of reproductive rights must be of the utmost concern for all voters.
The right to choose was once a protected right in the United States. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Roe v. Wade that women had a constitutional right to receive an abortion. Justice Harry Blackmun’s opinion stated that there was an implied right to privacy in the 14th Amendment, which protected women’s right to choose to receive an abortion. However, this right was overturned nearly two years ago in Dobbs v. Jackson. The majority opinion in this case stated that since there was no mention of abortion in the Constitution, it was not protected. And just like that, the right to choose was gone.
Since then, about two dozen states have banned abortion. Many conservative politicians have cheered this on. Some Republicans like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have openly supported the idea of a national abortion ban after 15 weeks. After months of speculation, former President Donald Trump released a video on Monday clarifying his abortion policy. In the video, he “proudly” claimed responsibility for the ending of Roe v. Wade and thanked each of the Supreme Court Justices who overturned the law by name. He also endorsed the current status quo of abortion in America, with abortion access being up to the states. Trump seems to think it is fair for a woman’s right to choose to be dependent on her zip code. It’s not. While there can be debates on abortion as a concept, the decision to make that choice should be made by the woman herself. Dobbs v. Jackson robbed millions of women from making that choice.
In the states where abortion is banned, there can be life-threatening consequences for women when a pregnancy goes wrong and their right to terminate is stripped. Texas currently bans all abortions except in “life-threatening” conditions that would lead to death or “impairment of a major bodily function.” Last year, Kate Cox became pregnant with a fetus that had a life-threatening condition and argued that delivering it would threaten her life. However, the Texas Supreme Court would not allow her to receive one, forcing her to travel to New Mexico. Since then, Texas has been criticized for not having clear guidelines on what medical exceptions to their abortion ban are. Medical guidelines should be a priority, but they’re an afterthought in Texas.
The attacks on the right to choose have now been joined by attempts to ban access to IVF treatments. IVF is a medical procedure to help couples who are having issues conceiving get pregnant. IVF is safe and has allowed for 1 million babies to be born in America between 1987 and 2015. There was chaos in Alabama earlier this year when its Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos used in IVF treatments are considered children under state law. Immediately, IVF providers across the state had to halt services, upending many Alabamians’ pregnancy plans. After a mass outcry, the state passed a law to protect these clinics from legal action. Despite that, the Mobile Infirmary has decided to end IVF at the end of 2024 due to litigation fears. States like Alabama seem to make these decisions without much foresight into their consequences. Blocking access to IVF makes it harder for women to conceive, and the fact that it was restricted in the first place demonstrates the current deterioration of reproductive rights.
Conservative politicians and judges are making huge decisions about reproductive rights but not thinking too hard about the consequences. Why did Texas lawmakers leave medical exceptions so vague in Texas? Why can IVF clinics in Alabama be targeted by an old law? Because reproductive rights and their impacts on women are not a priority to conservatives. But, the uncomfortable truth for conservatives is a majority of Americans support abortion access. An Associated Press poll from 2023 found 64% of Americans believe abortion should be legal. Even the video Trump released this week is an acknowledgment that restricting reproductive rights is a toxic issue for Republicans. But hoping things do not worsen is a flawed strategy. The only way to effectively protect these rights is to vote for candidates who fully support them. This November, vote to reverse the current attack on reproductive rights so America can move in a better direction.
