Girls Just Want to Have Fun-demental Human Rights
Written by: Amber Baldwin
“The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her wellbeing, and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When government controls that decision for her, she is being treated less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices.”
-Ruth Bader Ginsburg
On October 2, 2021, over 120,000 women marched and protested in all 50 states for women’s rights, more specifically, the right to legal and safe abortions.
This happened due to a law passed on September 1, 2021, in Texas and the almost 600 new restrictions in 47 states on abortion that have happened this year.
The one in Texas, however, is very restrictive. It stated that after a cardiac activity is found in a fetus, which is around six weeks of being pregnant, an abortion cannot happen. There are also no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Also, with this law, people can now sue other people if they participate in any part of an illegal abortion in Texas. For example, if an Uber driver is found driving someone to get an abortion, that Uber driver can then be sued. People who successfully report a person who gets an abortion or helps with an abortion may receive $10,000 in damages. It is not just doctors and their patients that can be sued.
A DC student said about the new trend in restrictive abortion laws, “These new laws make it really hard for women to get the healthcare they need and want.”
“I used to be against abortion until I became older and realized that most people are not for abortion. They just wanted the chance to chose what happens in their life. Abortions are not just a simple decision that is made without a lot of consideration but something that a person thinks a lot about before doing it,” another student said.
On October 4, 2021, the Supreme Court will reconvene for its next term. The judges will face a case that could challenge the current status of the Roe v. Wade case. Roe v. Wade has been giving people the right to choose since 1973.
For more information on past women’s marches, maybe future women’s marches, and how to support women’s rights, check out the Women’s March website at https://womensmarch.com
