20 Women

For quite a while on social media, there has been a moving pro-choice argument that details the stories of several women who had abortions after difficult circumstances. It starts with: "I’m not pro-murdering babies. I'm not pro abortion I'm pro-Becky who found out at her 20-week anatomy scan that the infant she had been so excited to bring into this world had developed without life sustaining organs." It took a while to find the author because on social media sharers don't cite their sources, but the original poster is writer Samantha Scanlon. The post continues to detail horrific reasons why women end up getting abortions. (Her reasoning to be pro choice has been so popular that anti-choice activists have written scripts and videos on how to counter her arguments.)

Her piece is very effective, but the fact is women of reproductive age need safe access to abortion as a means of treatment just as they need easy access to any gynecological or prenatal care from their physicians. The need hasn't changed, just the accessibility.

I can think of 20 women off of the top of my head who have had abortions. Before I tell you their reasons, I want you to know that I have never had an abortion, but I once had to go to Planned Parenthood for Plan B. My friends who went to Planned Parenthood for Plan B (back in the day) or abortions had similar experiences. The medical professionals were very direct that as a woman, you were responsible for your reproductive health and that Plan B (and for the women I speak about below: abortion) was not being responsible. They insisted on making a plan then and there so that they would never need to see you again, unless it's for a check up.

Map from Politico

Seven of the women aborted due to fetal anomalies. Of the twenty, I know at least two who had to do so during the second trimester because the anomaly developed or was only able to be seen during the second trimester.

Five were teenagers or not in stable relationships and didn't feel ready or interested in having a child.

Three were married but couldn't handle more children 

Three were in bad marriages and couldn't cope with more children and being in a bad marriages.

One was married with two children but was destitute and couldn't afford a third child or the medical expenses involved in prenatal care and recovery from what would be a third c-section.

One was raped. 

For these twenty women, abortion was part of their healthcare, both physiological and psychological. Why the hell should the government be part of these very personal medical decisions?

"That woman, that family, might seek spiritual guidance, they may seek medical guidance, but that decision is not going to be made any better medically or morally, because the government is dictating how that decision should be made," answered Pete Buttigieg when he was pressed on Fox News about third trimester abortions, which are extremely rare, when he was running for President.

I understand and respect that for men and women who oppose abortion that this is a deeply religious issue. They really feel that they are doing God's work by banning abortion. A woman's right to healthcare does not supersede that for them. However, they shouldn't be deciding the law of our land.

For five of the six Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, they weaponized the law to serve their religious dogma. Catastrophically, they created a health care situation that puts the United States way outside the human rights bounds for women living in like-countries (ones in the EU, Israel, Australia, UK, New Zealand, and Canada,).

This is an emergency situation, and until it's rectified, I agree with Senator Elizabeth Warren who said that clinics must be set up on Federal lands to provide women with access to the healthcare that they need when they need it. 

I'm in the US this month. Hopefully, I will see you or at least your photos at some protests. Lastly, if you are considering a place to donate, I recommend the Brigid Alliance. They are already on the ground helping women get access to safe abortions in states like Texas that had already enforced draconian laws.