Abortions Rights in the United States: What Every Woman Should Know

As you all, on June 24th the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade (1973). We at According to Chren were appalled by the decision. We are pro-choice and believe that everyone has the right to her/their/his own body. It’s horrifying that modern women have less rights than previous generations.

We put together this post to understand what the United States will look like by state. Unfortunately, many red states now have the ability to ban abortion entirely and other states will have partial bans. Next, we discuss what the consequences of ending an almost 50-year precedence and how it will impact women all over the country. Finally, if like us you feel helpless, we came up with a few ideas for how to get involved. If we pro-choice Americans work together, we can take back our rights.

Abortion Access Based on States

We created a U.S. map based on our research. The states in red are the one who are fully banning abortion, while the one in orange are expected to fully ban abortion. The ones in white are a little more complicated because they are either unknown or planning partial bans. Finally, the states in blue are expected to remain fully legal and will be safe havens for those seeking abortions. However, things can change in the coming weeks and months. We recommend staying updated on how Congress and state governments act. If you have any questions for us, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments or send us a message.

The Consequences of Ending Roe v. Wade

While the Supreme Court decision impacts many people, it has the most negative consequences for minority and low-income women. Women who can’t afford to travel out of state to get an abortion and can’t afford other needed healthcare services. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) has openly talked about her pre-Roe abortion in an alley in Mexico. These stories will become the norm again and unfortunately lead to a lot of death.

Another consequence is for women who choose to carry a baby to term, but complications arise. It would become illegal in states that ban abortion to save the mother when her life is in danger. Women could also be charged for miscarrying, or at least be investigated. Imagine one of the saddest days of your life and the state government investigating whether or not you were responsible for something out of your control. Again, this can lead to death and women being prosecuted for nothing.

While there will be many more consequences than just those listed above, even the few we mention have the ability to hurt many people. Opponents to abortion say they care about life, but what about the life of the mother? Yeah, life after birth is “too complicated” for conservatives.

What to Do

If you’re like us, you felt pretty helpless on Friday when you heard the news. It’s okay to feel sad, depressed, angry, etc. But after, please try to turn your outrage into action. We came up with a list of things to do to try to protect the rights of Americans. If you live outside the country and support abortion rights, please take to social media and show your support. If you have a platform, please use it!

1. Talk

The first step is to talk about your feelings with people you trust. We talked about this with each other and with other friends and family. Show your support for those around you and talk to each other about your thoughts. We discussed everything from to what to do next to how this decision impacts our views on eventual parenthood. If you don’t have any person to talk to, please find another way to highlight your feelings, whether its journaling, drawing, painting or another form of self-expression.

2. Protest

Please, if you choose to protest, research your rights before you leave your home. We’ve seen people, such as actress Jodie Sweetin, get abused by cops. Cops are arresting peaceful protesters and tear gassing them. If you choose to protest, do your research on keeping yourself healthy and safe. Some companies are paying for bail to those arrested from protesting the Supreme Court’s decision.

Protests are happening in U.S. cities across the country, everywhere from east to west. Protesting is an important part of civic action and is given by the First Amendment. Remember, you are allowed to peacefully protest. Show the world that you support your own rights and make a sign expressing your opinions.

3. Call Your Representatives

One way to guarantee rights is for Congress to pass legislation codifying abortion into law. Call your representative at the local to federal level. We have experience in the legislative branch and yes, they are required to take down your opinion and information. Representatives know what their constituents support based on their zip code. Call everyone in your state and call other states as well. Call people like Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, who voted for anti-choice Supreme Court Justices. Use your voice!

4. Educate

Educate yourself and those around you. For yourself, stay updated on any news regarding to abortion rights. Know which states are planning on more restrictions and which states protect rights further. Also, take note of what Congress chooses to do moving forward.

Next, educate your friends and anti-choice people who don’t understand the meaning of bodily autonomy. Give statistics on public opinion. Also, show that the best way to lower abortions is to actually provide all people with free access to birth control and providing students with sex education. While the counterargument to this is using religion as an excuse. According to separation of state, freedom of religion is freedom to practice your own beliefs, not force it on everyone else.

5. Vote

Abortion is on the ballet for the midterms in 2022! Please, check right now who is on your ballot in November. Research their views. And if you aren’t, register to vote right now. Seriously, it’s so easy to do it through TurboVote. Voting is an important right to exercise and make your plan as early as possible. Research any voting problems that could occur in your state as well, considering conservatives are trying to make this harder, especially for minorities.

6. Donate or Volunteer

Not everyone can afford to donate to the pro-choice politicians and organizations such as Planned Parenthood. If you can, please donate. If you can’t, you can donate your time and attention. Whether that’s becoming a volunteer or simply retweeting information from politicians and organizations, there’s a way for everyone to get involved. Volunteering can be as unofficial as getting the word out there to people you know.

7. Help

Last, but certainly not least, help the people around you. If someone you know needs an abortion and lives in a red state, please help in any way you can. Whether it’s helping someone find treatment, getting that person a ride or providing emotional support. We love seeing people offer to take people out of state or provide a place to sleep in blue states. If you can help someone, even just doing research with them, please do. You don’t know that your assistance can mean for someone.

Conclusion

These are scary times living in the United States. If we work together and turn our outrage into action, we can overcome this obstacle. But be prepared, some dark things are about to happen in red states and most likely, lack of access in places like Texas and Mississippi are going to lead to coat hanger and back-alley abortions again. If you know anyone who is considering risking their life, do what you can to get the person safe medical care. According to Chren believes in bodily autonomy and free/equal access to healthcare. It’s what we’re fighting for right now. If you have any other ideas or stories about personal experiences, please feel free to leave a comment. Any anti-choice comments will be deleted. This is a safe space.