When Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022, a political earthquake shook the nation. Not only was it the revocation of a U.S. Supreme Court case that broadly protected access to abortion, but it signaled that that right to exercise that our freedom to choose was under siege.
And now? We have the results on what this has meant for bodily autonomy.
In the two years since Roe v Wade was overturned, access to abortion has been continually under attack in every corner of the nation, and with it, the decisive effort to undermine the right to choose. In the most egregious instance, access altogether was revoked, when Arizona’s assembly upheld an 1864 law that banned abortion across the board. Despite the law being narrowly repealed after two failed attempts, the writing is on the wall. This is beyond ‘reasonable restrictions’ now. We are now in a new, dangerous phase of hostile and punitive anti-abortion legislation.
California, while actively seeking to help those from neighboring states, can only do so much. It is imperative that women’s choices are upheld nationally. Leaving it to the states has created not just an uneven distribution of access to healthcare, but sets the precedent that civil liberties can be tossed at the whims of a polarized state legislature.
Does our society not value freedom of choice or does it simply feel attacked by the idea of allowing abortion? And, if that’s the case then what’s stopping other freedoms to be challenged as well?
Although it may seem so, the battle for bodily autonomy is not yet over. And it’s certainly not a lost cause.
In Michigan, 55% voted to codify reproductive rights. And in Kansas, a bastion of conservatism, 60% voted in favor of keeping abortion as a right, despite an attempt to amend the state constitution that would declare there is no inherent right to abortion in-state. To further advocate for this issue, Americans must continue to engage in political affairs. With enough power, and the support of millions, we can defend the rights of women and their right to choice.
To guarantee abortion access, individuals should seek to empower through national action to fight this national issue.
We encourage students to directly take action in keeping abortion a priority issue. It doesn’t have to be just sending an email or writing a letter. Donating and showing up in support of organizations like Women’s March, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Planned Parenthood, remains instrumental in keeping the fight alive. And backing student initiatives; both here in California and nationally; plays an important role in putting our generation at the forefront of this struggle.
We all have a stake in this matter. Paly graduates preparing themselves to go to college face a possible inevitability of being in a state where abortion is heavily restricted, or flat out criminalized in its entirety.
And let’s not forget the duty of our representatives. While we can take to the streets, only they can actually vote to pass the legislation necessary for bodily dignity. Biden and the Democratic Party, who have repeatedly promised to defend abortion, have to uphold their part of the deal to the American people. As election season fast approaches, the passage of new abortion protections remains urgent. We cannot hold off any longer.
We still have time to choose. There is time to create a future where such rights are a given. And our quest to strive for the better must start now, without delay.