In the realm of USA politics, the past year has witnessed a significant shift in women’s reproductive rights. Stories of women compelled to endure pregnancies with non-viable fetuses, those left unattended in hospitals during severe complications, and those forced to travel vast distances for an abortion have dominated the media.
This surge in distressing narratives emerged after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which had safeguarded abortion rights since 1973.
The Conservative Majority Influence
This political move, largely attributed to a conservative majority in the Court, was facilitated after former President Trump appointed three aligned justices during his term. The politics surrounding this decision have deeply affected public sentiment.
President Joe Biden, currently without a House majority, highlighted the political agenda of Republican lawmakers aiming to ban abortion nationwide and restrict access to various contraceptive methods.
States Implementing Restrictions
In the wake of these political changes, 15 out of 50 states have enacted laws outlawing abortion in nearly all circumstances. Five others have restricted the right to the early stages of pregnancy. Florida’s political stance is particularly stringent, prohibiting abortions after just 6 weeks, often before many women realize they’re pregnant.
As a result, over 28 million women now live in areas where their reproductive rights are either limited or non-existent. This restriction has led to increased travel times to legal clinics, especially for racial minorities.
Public Sentiment, Media Spotlight, and the Impact on Healthcare
Despite the politics driving institutional sexism, public sentiment remains misaligned with these restrictions. A Gallup poll indicates that 61% of Americans view the revocation of this constitutional right as detrimental. Furthermore, 69% believe that abortion should remain legal up to the third month of pregnancy.
This political rollback not only underscores the enduring influence of Trumpism but also highlights the injustices that arise when other fundamental rights, such as healthcare, are jeopardized.
Media Exposes Disturbing Accounts
Several media outlets, in their exploration of rights and politics, have spotlighted harrowing tales. One such story is of Hollis, a Tennessee woman burdened with medical bills after giving birth to a severely premature baby.
Another recounts an Oklahoma woman with a non-viable pregnancy, instructed to wait in a hospital parking lot until her condition became critical.
Challenges Faced by Medical Professionals
The politics of criminalizing medical professionals offering abortion services have led to these dire situations. Even in states with abortion bans that permit interventions if the mother’s life is endangered, the criteria remain ambiguous.
This vagueness leaves medical professionals in a quandary, uncertain if they’re violating the law. The president of the American Medical Association expressed his dismay at this political climate, noting the challenges doctors face in urgent abortion scenarios.
Concerning Maternal Mortality Rates
The political decisions surrounding reproductive rights become even more alarming considering the USA’s high maternal mortality rate in 2021. With 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, the nation contrasts sharply with countries like Japan, Australia, and Spain, which report 2-3 deaths per 100,000 births.
The politics of banning abortions in certain states have also led to a decline in gynecology specialists, with many voicing concerns about inadequate training.
Reflection on Women’s Rights
The revocation of abortion rights has obliterated women’s rights to bodily autonomy, desired motherhood, and dignified medical treatment. In a landscape where 80,000 women grapple with accessing abortion, and states with legal provisions struggle to counterbalance bans elsewhere, we’re left pondering: What untold stories of pain remain hidden?
How do mothers, coerced by politics and stripped of rights, navigate a system devoid of federal parental leave or public daycare? How is the next generation treated once born?
First published in Spanish by La Marea, licensed under CC BY 4.0
