Pregnancy & Abortion Legal News: A Look at Abortion Restrictions 42 Years After Roe v. Wade

More than four decades after the monumental court decision that legalized abortion, the same dialogues about access and healthcare are still being exchanged. The same hand-written, bobbing signage is still being hoisted, demanding that women be granted basic reproductive rights and safe, affordable abortion care.

More than half (53 percent) of reproductive care clinics, doctors and clinical workers faced threats in 2014, according to recent studies. And conservative forces continue to push aggressive and restrictive antiabortion legislation that leaves women without safe access.

According to statistics, 1 in 3 women will have an abortion in her lifetime. And 7 of 10 individuals in the U.S. are in support of Roe v. Wade, yet restrictive laws continue to impede the rights of women, particularly women who are low-income earners, women of color, and immigrant women.

Yesterday, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that strengthened restrictions and weakened access. The law asked for a permanent ban on federal funding for abortion costs, including tax credits provided by ACA. The bill that was passed was amended to exclude a proposition to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape -- whereby women would have to report to law enforcement.

"I'm surprised that this is still a conversation in 2015, but I would also say that this is not something that has happened over night," Lindsay Rodriguez, 
Communications Manager at National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), said to Latin Post. "Our opponents have been working on this for decades and decades... targeting school boards and city councils. Ultimately, this is a culmination of decades and decades of work."

"Too often, women's experiences and voices are silenced and pushed to the sideline, and the focus is on political rhetoric and ideology, instead of women's lives. It's not focused on where we are," Kate Stewart, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Advocates for Youth, said to Latin Post. "Because we don't focus on real women and their experiences ... and that's really disappointing. And I hope moving forward, we really must focus on the impact all these restrictions have on the lives of all of these women and their families."

Nationwide, women are still organizing and fighting back against legislative restrictions, which often target certain demographics, said Rodriguez. Abortion care is apart of greater reproductive health and well-being. Abortion regulations often go hand-in-hand with hostile legislation against sex education, contraception and increasing living wages (that would allow people to raise their children in safe conditions). An attack on abortion is potentially an attack on an entire structure of care, and even if a woman never chooses to receive an abortion, her right to choices are invaluable.

"We can guess that there are going to be abortions no matter what. Whether its through clinics, which are supported by trained health care professionals ... or if it's at home, when a woman will punch herself in the stomach, or throw herself down the stairs," stated Rodriguez. "People don't just give up their right to abortions. It's something that they need and it's critical. People will fight to get the abortions that they need, even if it's not legally possible."

Women don't need more restrictions -- they need more resources. These laws discriminate against women of color, women with questionable immigration status, and those with financial barriers and/or language barriers. Being forced to take several days off of work to venture to a faraway clinic is impossible for some, signifying that the laws discriminate against some women, but not others.

Knowing that 1/3 women have an abortion in one's lifetime is to recognize that these are sisters, co-workers and friends. In that case, it's harder to demonize them. Waiting periods, limitations and lack of funds encourage poverty.

"Abortion has been and always will be a part of women's lives. And the question is, are we going to make sure women have affordable, safe easy access with dignity, or not?" said Stewart. "Any time we make it more difficult for a woman, and put restrictions in her way, it delays her getting access, which is not a good thing for her or her family. It increases stress and it increases cost. The more restrictions we put in place, the harder it is to access safe abortion care. And again, ultimately what that does is to add to the stigma and shame women are made to feel around this type of care ... as well as a lack of security and dignity. "

Stewart continued, "Those who want to restrict abortion care, and don't want to make it possible for women to access it, are putting in one-by-one restrictions. The restricted access is deceptive, shrouded in claims of protecting women and their health and safety. That's something that should raise a red flag for everyone. What they're trying to do is put in place one restriction after another, after another... in the name of protecting women, when in fact, you add up all of these restrictions and they're roadblocks. They're doing more to harm women's health, and the safety and security of their families."

Abortion is a safe procedure and it's very important for people to know, particularly those who want to advocate on the behalf of young women who face unintended pregnancies. These women seek advice from those who care for them. They don't need laws to forces women into situations where they can face anger, violence or disappointment from their parents. There are countless myths surrounding women's communication with their parents when seeking abortions, and judicial bypass abortions.

Break through stigma and shame surrounding abortion by speaking with state legislators and communicating that it's not okay to shame a woman for her reproductive choices. Legal affordable and safe abortions are the only way to guarantee that women won't die attempting to visit back alley abortions or practicing at-home remedies. NAFF offers funds and advocacy to women who need abortion access, and Advocates for Youth encourage the sharing of information and resources.