Recently, Donald Trump reached out to anti-abortion activists, laying out his intentions to nominate justices who oppose abortion, cut funding for Planned Parenthood, impose a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, and make the Hyde Amendment a permanent fixture, which restricts low-income women from using Medicaid for abortion services. Meanwhile, late-night TV continues to entertain us with hair tousling and long-forgotten birther controversies, so you might have missed that Trump has grand plans to restrict abortion rights.
A vote for Donald Trump translates to a vote against women’s autonomy. As noted by journalist Sarah Mitchell, a Trump presidency could usher in a judicial system filled with “pro-life justices,” potentially criminalizing abortion and, given the trajectory of his party, possibly even contraception. This means limited access to healthcare and reproductive control for low-income Americans, with a 20-week cutoff that ignores when many fetal anomalies are diagnosed.
If this scenario doesn’t read like a dystopian novel filled with forced pregnancies and systemic oppression of women, it might be time to revisit The Handmaid’s Tale. A Trump presidency wouldn’t just shake things up for four years; it could alter the landscape for decades. Planned Parenthood could face closure, leading to a lack of essential services like cancer screenings, putting women’s lives at risk. Women facing severe pregnancy complications could suffer dire consequences, and those unable to access safe abortions could either die or face legal repercussions, a reality Trump has flirted with before backtracking.
Voting for Trump is essentially a vote for potential fatalities among women. This isn’t an exaggeration. Under his administration, young women could find themselves in a precarious situation where reproductive choices feel like a game of Russian roulette. I refuse to accept that fate for my daughter or any woman I care about.
Let’s be clear: Abortion is not some mythical procedure relegated to the shadows. Statistically, among a group of ten women around the age of 45, three have likely had an abortion; one might even be you. The majority of women who seek abortions are already mothers. Yet, while men can publicly discuss their health issues, the conversation surrounding women’s reproductive choices is often hushed. As the HBO show Veep cleverly pointed out, “If men got pregnant, you could get an abortion at an ATM.” Preach!
For me, my abortion is as unremarkable as the wrist surgery I had at eight years old. I’m grateful that I made the choice not to have another child. If another woman believes her future would be compromised by giving birth, I trust her judgment. I want my daughter to have the autonomy to decide when she becomes a mother, and I will fight to ensure that abortion remains legal and accessible without being subjected to Trump’s ownership.
If you’re interested in more about reproductive choices, check out this helpful resource from the CDC, and for practical information regarding home insemination, visit this guide. For a deeper dive into the subject, you can also read more here.
In summary, the potential impact of a Trump presidency on women’s rights and health is alarming. It’s crucial to recognize the implications of political decisions on our bodies and futures. Every woman deserves the right to choose her path without fear or oppression.