Post-Roe America

Post-Roe America

2022, Politics  -   9 Comments
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In June 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States of America overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that proclaimed that abortion is a constitutional right.

"Post-Roe America" is the result of a seven-month investigation by Vice news on how right-wing Christian and anti-abortion groups successfully maneuvered and manipulated the system to overturn the law and what this means for American women in the future.

In the early 1970s, Roe vs Wade was a Supreme Court ruling that stated that abortion is a constitutional right under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gives a woman a fundamental "right to privacy", including protecting her rights to an abortion. Roe vs Wade was considered a major victory for many women across America who, at the time, were fighting for equal civil rights but also better sexual and reproductive health care.

Instead of accepting their loss, the anti-abortion rights movement became even more motivated to fight back and reverse the 1973 ruling. Over the last five decades, they have been tirelessly working, planning and strategizing, until they finally overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion is now only legal in about 20 states, and it is illegal or about to become illegal in almost all of the others.

Reporter Gianna Toboni speaks to a cross-section of women in the middle of this social crisis. We meet 18-year-old Kaya, who has recently decided to have an abortion, as well as doctors who perform safe abortions. She also met with those who run safe houses for pregnant and disenfranchised women and even Denise Harley, the senior counsel for the ADF or the "Alliance Defending Freedom", a Christian legal advocacy group that had an active role in the overturning of the bill.

The ADF has been writing anti-abortion legislation and sharing that template across states, as well as offering free legal services to defend these legislations in court. State lawmakers, who are supposed to represent their constituents, are not the ones writing these laws. It is this well-funded and organized Christian legal organization who are, and in doing so, technically dictating how people should live. It's not part of the democratic process and shows that these special interest groups have more influence than actual voters.

Toboni also interviewed politicians and government workers. She asked about their budgets and plans for when there is an eventual increase in new mothers and newborns in the coming months. No one could give concrete answers, not even knowing how much it costs to raise a child. They also claimed that the private sector will always support mothers in need anyway.

While the shock of overturning Roe vs Wade will soon pass, American women's health will be affected forever. Denying them access to safe abortions will lead to increased infant mortality rates, maternal disability and death, more unhealthy premature births, and higher rates of domestic violence and family poverty. Here's hoping the pro-life movement will extend its support beyond birth.

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CCRIDER
CCRIDER
1 year ago

I am so glad I'm past the age of child bearing. However, I still care deeply that the women younger than me do not have the same access to abortion that I did. I never needed one, but if I had, it would have been a life saver, my life, and I would have used that option. Thankfully, I didn't have to make that decision. I totally believe in abortion rights, and women's rights, and I think that all the holy rollers need to shut up, and mind their own business. Don't you ever wonder why "the church" is always interfering in everyday American lives? If they want to interfer in the lives of their church folks, hey, no problem. Clearly the church folks signed up to be controlled. The rest of us, did not. I will do everything I can to help women, in whatever way necessary.

Pat Thompson
Pat Thompson
1 year ago

On ABORTION: Life begins at oogenesis and spermatogenesis when ova and sperm are created. Mature females "abort" an ovum every month; and mature males "abort" thousands of sperm every day.

mario
mario
1 year ago

we should tackle climate problems, yet we still cant come to terms with some middle age issues... well done usa, you are really the beacon!!!