AboutDanielle Expertise I can answer questions regarding medical and surgical abortion, questions about abortion in general, like moral and religious issues concerning the procedure. I'm happy to answer questions, have discussions, and provide further information, like pro-choice websites and organizations.
Experience I have people close to me who have gotten abortions, I know the current abortion issues, and I have researched abortion in depth for a long time.
Question Hi. My question is do you really think that it is possible that abortion could become illegal again? That is such a scary thought. I was reading that voters in Colorado will be asked to vote on an initiative that would classify a fertilized egg(a fertilized egg!!!) as a "person" which would not only threaten abortion rights but the right to use birth control as well. Isn't it true that certain hormonal methods(the most popular and effective methods) such as the Pill, Depo-Provera and the IUD can work by preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg? If that is indeed true, then those methods could be banned! And barrier methods like condoms are less effective, and also, it puts the control in the man's hands. A lot of women are afraid to insist that their male partners wear a condom, and if a woman were raped it is doubtful that the rapist would use one.
I am not currently in a sexual relationship, but I have been on Depo Provera since I was in my late teens. I use it to regulate my menstrual cycles, which used to be very heavy and painful. I no longer get periods, or the painful and debilitating cramps that used to come with them. If such a law were passed, what about women who used the Pill or Depo for other reasons? Would a woman have to prove she was not sexually active? This is ridiculous! A total invasion of privacy! What right does John McCain or Sarah Palin have to tell me what to do with MY uterus? Maybe she is happy being pregnant every two years, but not every woman has a desire to pop out ten kids! How disgusting!! I am totally outraged by this, and it concerns me that a lot of young women don't seem to care or realize how serious this is. Not only am I angry, but I am scared. Could we really go back to a time when women simply did not have a choice? Haven't we come too far for that?
What surprises me the most is that recent polls have shown that the majority of Americans DO in fact support abortion. I know of people who are pro-choice that are actually voting for McCain/Palin. They say there are more important issues, and they don't believe that abortion will ever be illegal. But it COULD happen! On the other hand, I don't see how they could get away with it seeing as their views(particularly their view that even rape victims should not be able to obtain an abortion) are so out of touch with mainstream. Maybe this sounds silly, but I actually feel panic and dread when I think of the possibility of opening up the paper one day and reading the headlines "Roe V Wade Overturned". Thanks.
Kerrie
Answer Hi Kerrie :)
It's definitely a frightening thought. If McCain gets elected, he has vowed to appoint judges that would overturn Roe v Wade. So he'd appoint that judge, then in some state, a ban would be proposed, taken eventually to the supreme court, where they overturn Roe v Wade. If that didn't make any sense, because I'm certain I didn't do it any justice, just let me know. An article was written a short while back about just how easy it would be to overturn it. If you want the link, just let me know.
It would threaten the use of hormonal birth control, which is just another way of targeting the control women have over their bodies. If a couple relies on condoms, and one breaks, taking emergency contraception would greatly reduce the risk of a pregnancy happening. But with this law, EC could be banned as well. I don't belive it's yet proven that hormonal bc prevents a fertilized egg from implanting, the evidence is not yet sufficient. They mainly work be preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg, and thickening the cervical mucous. But that wouldn't stop these crazies from trying to outlaw bc. And you got it-with condoms only, troubles may arise. If a woman is in a bad relationship and can't insist the man uses them, then she's in a horrible situation. I hadn't actually thought of the rape victim situation, but you're totally right, there'd be no way of trying to prevent a pregnancy from happening, which is terrifying.
It's disgusting how a part of women's anatomy is constantly ON A BALLOT! That gets to me so much. All I can do is sit and say "they're discussing my uterus..." It's infuriating. And I guess that would mean that hormonal bc couldn't be used for medical reasons, and for many women, that's what it's used for. I too started out using it to regulate periods, and it eventually turned into period regulation and birth control. I guess women's health just doesn't matter to them. The proving you're not sexually active thing-in countries where abortions were banned completely, women were subjected to mandatory pelvic exams. And maybe women crossing state borders would be forced to do the same, to prove they weren't crossing to terminate a pregnancy. I too wish more people were outraged by this! Women's reproductive choices are under assault in ALL areas- from outlawing home births to parental consent for abortion. I think living in the post Roe era, many take abortion rights for granted. I really wish they wouldn't-control over one's body is just such a fundamental concept to me. People need to wake up and realize that this isn't something to be looked over, the effects of outlawing abortion and bc would have disastrous effects not only on women, but society as a whole.
35% of American women will have had an abortion by 45 years old. It IS an important issue. If people could just believe that yes, women should have control over their bodies, we could focus on other issues. Most likely, people know at least 1 woman in their lives who has had an abortion, but doesn't talk about it due to the stigma. If these anti-choice people would just focus on something like poverty, hunger, children in the foster care system, so much could be done. But instead, it's about controlling what women do with their bodies. And it's a godforsaken dichotomy with them, too! If you abort, you're an evil murderer, if you parent and need government assistance, you're a leech sucking off the system! The only way to win in their eyes is by not having sex, that dirty, sinful act in their eyes. I mean, just this country's view of sex is horrible. And I too fear the day Roe is in serious jeopardy. Only one generation will have lived with abortion rights guaranteed.
