Educate Yourself, Donate and Take Action: Update on Abortion Law in the U.S.
By now, you’ve probably heard (and are just as outraged) about the recent potential violation of female reproductive rights being presented in the U.S. Supreme Court. To catch you up, recently, a draft was leaked that stated a potential, very aggressive proposal to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
In this draft, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito states:
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”
The 1973 landmark Roe vs. Wade case ruled to protect a pregnant woman's freedom to choose to have an abortion.
“Before the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, data on abortion in the United States were scarce. In 1955, experts had estimated, on the basis of qualitative assumptions, that 200,000–1,200,000 illegal abortions were performed each year. Despite its wide range, this estimate remained the most reliable indicator of the magnitude of induced abortion for many years. In 1967, researchers confirmed this estimate by extrapolating data from a randomized-response survey conducted in North Carolina: They concluded that a total of 800,000 induced (mostly illegal) abortions were performed nationally each year.”
— The Guttmacher Institute, The Public Health Impact of Legal Abortion: 30 Years Later
Outrage and discontent have exploded across the country as people take to the streets to protest this draft and protect women’s right to make decisions for their own bodies.
We are active supporters of everyone's reproductive rights, and we firmly believe everyone should have the choice to do with their own bodies as they judge best. In this read, we hope to offer some resources and actions you can take to support women and advocate for change.
We only need look to the many countries where abortion is less accessible or illegal to be reminded of how imperative this issue is, like in Central and South America. Women across the globe struggle with financial, legal and social burdens when in need of an abortion.
You can visit Planned Parenthood Global to educate yourself about the difficulties many young Latin American women face and support in any way you can.
TAKE ACTION
Pro-Choice America is a collective of more than 2.5 million members fighting for reproductive freedom for all. Since 1969 they have been working to propel political and cultural change through education, activism and state-level work. Visit their site to donate and sign the pledge petitioning the proposal to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Find your local abortion fund to donate to.
Youth Abortion Collective is a “nationwide network of young people committed to becoming expert resources on abortion and to making sure folks in our communities understand all the options and have the support they need.” Visit their website to explore their resources, join and donate.
The Latina Institute fights for equal access to reproductive health for Latina/x communities. They build bases for activists in states like New York and Florida and work to shape policy and provide resources and cultural exchange nationwide.
Rachael Lorenzo started Indigenous Women Rising in 2014 as a campaign in response to indigenous women and people being denied access to Plan B, a form of emergency contraception. “This was a huge issue considering the disproportionately high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault on reservations and the limited capability of tribes to prosecute non-Native offenders,” says Rachael Lorenzo (Mescalero Apache/Laguna Pueblo/Xicana).
You can donate to their abortion fund to help support these women in need that our government neglects.
The Northwest Abortion Access Fund serves women in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Visit their site to find a local clinic, donate and access their hotline for help.
TALK ABOUT IT
Talking with your peers and family members about your thoughts on abortion and female reproductive rights is valuable. It’s critical to let others know how you feel and facilitate open conversation about the subject, especially if they have different opinions.
While you don’t need to do this, if you find yourself with the energy and the right time and space to do so, you might be able to help someone in your close circle change their mind for the better.
SHARE ON SOCIALS
Sharing on social media is a healthy way to use your platform to push for change.
Planned Parenthood suggests: “Make a simple statement like “Abortion is health care,” share content from other advocates, or use the hashtag #BansOffOurBodies.”
Or, if you’ve experienced going through an abortion, sharing your story—only if you’re willing and feel safe to do so—can help make other women feel seen and help shed light on the importance of having the freedom to choose what happens to your body.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
As with all activism, it’s crucial to take care of yourself and not get too overwhelmed or anxious about what you’re aiming to change. Remember to take time to breathe and talk about how you're feeling with others if it helps.
The world needs people pushing for change, and taking care of yourself will allow you to better show up for it. ;-)
NEED HELP?
If you find yourself in a situation where you are considering an abortion, we invite you to check out these resources for financial and emotional support.
https://endingawantedpregnancy.com/
If you are in the U.S. and need immediate help, please turn to these resources and hotlines:
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673.
Online Hotline: http://apps.rainn.org/ohl-bridge/
Safe Horizon: Sexual assault and abuse
For help with domestic violence, please call our domestic violence hotline: 800-621–HOPE (4673).
For help with rape and sexual assault, please call: 212-227-3000.
If you are in Mexico, you can visit this local directory for the hotlines to the Center of Justice for Women in every city.
For everyone else in Latin America and the Caribbean, you can visit the UN Women website to find your local office and support your community. Their mission is to dedicate resources, education and programs to the empowerment and gender equality of all women.
All humans should have the right to choose what happens to their bodies. This is bodily autonomy 101, and we stand by it!
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