New developments call for personal responsibility

On June 24th, 2022, Roe V. Wade was overturned, and there was no more federal, constitutional right to get an abortion. The basic access to medical care was up in the air for all the women and girls in America, and was left for individual states to decide. Immediately, the state of Texas put the most restrictive limits where providers could be in legal trouble simply for counseling women on their reproductive rights. In Wisconsin, we have reverted to a law dating back to 1849 because the state did not put laws into effect to anticipate the Supreme Court’s action. 

People always prioritize the fetus over the person carrying it, the very life force that is responsible for developing a whole body. In doing so, we are abandoning those who are in significant danger; people with abusive partners, people in poverty, victims of sexual abuse, children too young to understand pregnancy and rape, people facing pregnancy complications, and patients being told that they need to be closer to death in order to recieve care. It doesn’t have to be an extreme case of pain in order for an abortion to be justified. Sometimes a woman is just not ready to be a parent. 

In May of 2022, students at SHS joined the Feminist Club in a protest against the leaked court draft. Over 100 students showed up, and it was amazing to yell in the streets and hold up signs, and it was empowering to see everyone take turns in front of the crowd to share their views. What I ask of you now is that everyone who cared enough to show up, talk about it and speak in front of the crowd keeps caring about it. Social change is incremental, but we can’t accept that it will take 50 years to get reproductive rights. We can’t let down future generations, the way we have been let down. It is important that we write to Wisconsin politicians, it is important that we research candidates, start discussions with family members, and if you’re 18, it is vital that we vote for candidates that have prioritized full access to reproductive healthcare.

Many people think that they aren’t impacted by this reversal, but everyone is in danger. If bodily autonomy is under attack for pregnant people, it will be attacked for others as well. For men there is a sibling, friend, parent, or partner whose rights are being restricted. Your gender does not exempt you from participating. If our government can control the personal medical decisions of half of our population, it won’t be difficult for that control to spread into birth control access, gender affirming care, or even marriage equality. Restoring Roe isn’t enough. We must push for more protections, more social safety nets, and better Democratic leadership in our city, state, and country. We must meet the gaze of the millions who have been stripped of their reproductive rights and show that they are worthy of care, worthy of support, and worthy of living.