Six weeks and three days after being raped by a 27-year-old man, a 9-year-old girl was denied an abortion in Columbus, Ohio. She was forced to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, just to receive the necessary, lifesaving health care she needed. If this sounds like a bad dream—it’s not. This is the reality of the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe. v. Wade.
Despite the countless tragedies that have occurred because of this decision, the question of whether abortion is murder or not is a controversial, polarizing debate that’s gone back-and-forth for generations. Roe v. Wade (1973), was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that the Constitution’s 14th amendment protects a pregnant woman’s liberty over whether to have an abortion. This ruling not only legalized abortion nationwide, but, for many, served as a huge milestone for women’s rights. However, in June of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, ending nearly 50 glorious years of federal protection for abortion rights.
Even though the laws have changed, the heart of the argument is still about the definition of life. Those that argue abortion is murder believe that life begins at contraception, and that terminating a pregnancy is equivalent to murdering a human being. On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, advocates for abortion rights argue that life begins at birth—not contraception—and that abortions are simply a form of healthcare all women should be entitled to.
Despite what either end of the argument may say, here are the facts: Nearly 93% of all abortions in the U.S. are performed before three and a half months of pregnancy.
This is considered the first trimester of pregnancy, with the fetus still being in its early stages of development. Measuring roughly around the size of a strawberry, the fetus’s major organs have barely begun forming, its eyelids are fused shut, and its fingers and toes remain webbed. Additionally, a “baby bump” is likely not visible on the pregnant woman at this stage either.
Furthermore, if a fetus were to be born at this point in the pregnancy, it would die almost immediately. This is largely due to the fact that the fetus’s lungs and other vital organs haven’t formed to function outside the womb yet. It’s important to note that a fetus isn’t scientifically classified as a “baby,” because they lack the necessary brain structures to be considered a conscious human being.
Despite these facts, many argue that pregnancy is simply the natural consequence of having unprotected sex. While this may be justifiable in some cases, the reality simply isn’t that black and white. It’s estimated that around 124,500 of nationwide abortions are performed on victims of rape, incest, risk of fetal anomaly, or poor maternal health. Not only that, but roughly 3,700 abortions in Texas are performed on girls that are too young to legally adopt a child. If a female isn’t old enough to adopt a child, in what world should she be forced to birth one?
All in all, Roe V. Wade. allows individuals to control their reproductive lives, protect themselves from fatal health problems, and provides victims of rape and incest the healthcare they need. Denying abortion access, no matter the reason, is a violation of human rights and a fatal form of discrimination.
