What?
On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating a woman's constitutional right to abortion after nearly 50 years of it being guaranteed.
Context
Roe v. Wade is the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion within the first two months of pregnancy. It began when a woman in Texas sued the state of Texas over the constitutionality of its abortion laws when she was denied an abortion. Her attorneys gave her the name “Jane Roe” to protect her identity, and the case defendant was Henry Wade, hence “Roe versus Wade.” In the end, the Supreme Court issued a 7–2 decision on January 22, 1973, in favor of "Jane Roe", holding that women in the United States had a fundamental right to choose whether to have abortions without excessive government restriction and striking down Texas's abortion ban as unconstitutional.
Significance
The 1973 Roe v. Wade case did not have much of an impact on the number of abortions performed yearly in the U.S. According to Guttmacher Institute, in the years before 1973 Roe was decided, over 1 million illegal abortions were performed yearly. After 1973 Roe was decided, the number of abortions performed remained around 1 million, performed legally. Additionally, the rate of deaths occurring as the result of abortions dropped dramatically in the years following Roe. This shows that banning abortion does not stop abortion, but rather only stops safe abortions.
The recent overturning of the Roe v. Wade makes it possible for states to ban abortions earlier than 12 weeks. While abortion won't immediately be banned nationwide, individual states will now have the power to determine whether and how they permit abortions.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, over 20 states are moving to ban abortion and an estimated 40 million women will live in states where abortion will be hard to access.
Why should abortion be legal?
Abortion bans deny bodily autonomy, creating wide-ranging repercussions.
Women have a moral right to decide what to do with their bodies
Banning abortion puts women at risk by forcing them to use illegal abortionists
“A pregnancy to a woman is perhaps one of the most determinative aspects of her life. It disrupts her body. It disrupts her education. It disrupts her employment. And it often disrupts her entire family life.”
- Sarah Weddington, lawyer representing “Roe” in Roe v Wade (1973)
“This landmark decision... not only protects rights of bodily integrity and autonomy, but has enabled millions of women to participate fully and equally in society.”
- Kathryn Kolbert, the attorney arguing Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)
How can you help?
The North West Abortion Access Fund is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, that provides financial assistance to individuals seeking abortion care in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
Their mission is to remove the financial barriers to accessing abortion care for people in need, specifically those who reside in areas with limited/no access to abortion services. In addition to financial help, NWAAF also refers to other resources to support individuals seeking abortion care (counseling or practical support).
Donate to the Northwest Abortion Access Fund today to help make sure no one is forced to carry a pregnancy to term due to lack of money for abortion care, and thank you!