Guest opinion: Supreme Court's abortion ruling overturns an era
What era did you grow up in? The AIDS crisis? The birth of the Internet? I grew up in a reasonably unique era: the era of the science fiction film’s introductory exposition.
Special police units — BLADE RUNNER UNITS — had orders to shoot to kill, upon detection, any trespassing replicant.
This was not called execution.
It was called retirement.
Many science fiction films use introductory exposition for contextualization. They prepare the audience for the harrowing societal consequences of specific actions or inactions. In Blade Runner, it was the corporatist takeover of humanity. In Children of Men, it was the sudden loss of fertility across the entire population.
I’m not saying I am growing up in an era described explicitly by either of these two films. However, we live in a time of actions that conjointly point to societal consequence like those of science fiction films. We are defining the introductory exposition right now.
June 24, 2022. The overturning of Roe v. Wade. With this decision, 22 states will ban or heavily restrict abortion. These 22 had trigger laws, meaning they’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Women have lost their right to privacy in a doctor’s office.
The message sent by this is appalling, but what’s worse is the effect: there will be deaths. Not a 4-week-old fetus. A 35-year-old wife, mother of two, poor factory worker with an ectopic pregnancy. An adolescent rape victim. A recent college graduate with a septic miscarriage.
The deaths of these women are terrible and avoidable. Moreover, a grim, cyclical process is about to begin. Should no deterrents to this decision be developed in the next couple of decades, the science fiction film comes to fruition.
Economic research tells us plenty about the future. Most importantly, research states that abortion access profoundly affects “whether, when, and under what circumstances” women become mothers. Consequently, this improves “marriage patterns, educational attainment, labor force participation, and earnings” (Brookings).
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A critical study to note is one conducted in 2021 regarding abortion legalization disparity. When abortion was legalized, women of color saw a 30-40% decline in maternal mortality (Pesko). White women, on the other hand, saw a minimal decrease. Women of color having less access to healthcare or financial stability to travel state borders is the direct reason for this.
Four studies-conducted in 1996, 2004, 2020, and 2021-all shared results regarding legalized abortion’s effect on education and financial success. It increased the level of education, labor force participation, and occupational prestige. Most importantly, this increase was most notable among women of color. (Angris and Evans, Kalist, Pineda-Torres et al., Jones).
In these studies, the difference in wealth is apparent. People of color have the highest poverty rate, and White Americans have the lowest poverty rate. Roe v. Wade was a time in our history that the government worked to bridge the gap. Abortion legalization allowed people of all financial statuses equal access to safe abortions. Which, as a result, led to long-term changes such as better jobs, safer children, and stronger marriages. Roe v. Wade was a step in the right direction. Without any doubt, it was strong, necessary assistance to the poor. All this progress has been reversed.
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For those worried about unborn babies, it’s time to start worrying about born babies. Legalized abortion has reduced cases of child abuse and neglect (Bitler and Zavodny), reduced child poverty (Gruber et al.), and improved the educational and financial outcomes of an entire generation (Ananat). In states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, child poverty rates are already some of the country’s highest. What do these states have in common? Trigger laws. Their poverty rates will only increase. Children in these states will succumb to the cycles of poverty incited by decisions like the overturning of Roe.
And what won’t happen? The poor will not receive aid. The needy will not get healthcare. The foster care homes will not get help. There is nothing in place to bolster the people affected by this decision. This will completely bifurcate our country; the wealth and class gaps will never be so great. There will be rigid lines between first- and second-class citizens. The rich and the poor. Those who can afford an abortion and those who cannot. The onset of American dystopia.
The government has control of reproductive decisions.
Is this the first line of our introductory exposition? Is this the basis for society’s path towards Kafka?
Do not let this go any farther. Do not let us see this future. Do not make my generation grow up to live in a society like that of a science fiction film.
Vote.
Vote for the politician aspiring to help the poor. Vote for the politician who has experience with healthcare research. Vote for the politician that ran an education non-profit for children in poverty.
Nick Diamond was born and raised in Southwest Florida, attending Community School of Naples from K-12. He is studying Finance and Public Policy through the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Supreme Court's abortion ruling overturns an era for women's rites
