A New Age for Roe v. Wade in America

On May 3, 2022, for the first time in United States history, a leaked draft was sent into POLITICO, exposing the Supreme Court's intentions for restricting abortions. The draft that was recently leaked overturned Roe v. Wade that was first established in 1973. The Roe v. Wade lawsuit was originally provoked by Jane Roe, a 22-year-old unmarried, unemployed, and pregnant woman who sought to have an abortion in opposition of the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas. Roe sued Henry Wade, the district attorney, with the determination to legalize abortions for women. With a 7-2 majority vote in support of Roe v. Wade from the Supreme Court, the power of abortion rights was no longer in the hands of individual states.

The recently leaked draft provided the public with information that threatens the futures of women in the United States. Justice Alito drafted the outline with the intention to give states back the ability to decide abortion laws themselves. Democratically aligned states have stipulated their prioritization for allowing abortion, while others have passed bills in anticipation of completely banning abortion. This draft is not an outright ban on abortion but a redistribution of power.

According to Statista in 2021 47% of people were pro-life, 49% were pro-choice and the other 2% were neither. Considering these circumstances different perspectives on abortions come into play. A strong driving factor for the pro-life people is the Catholic church. Catholics believe that having abortions goes against their religion. When a pregnancy is terminated, a human's life is disrespected. Both religious and non-religious people must find a compromise that factors in individual beliefs without pressuring ideals onto each other. Should religion take part in a women’s right to choose? The separation of church and state is pertinent to an inclusive and democratic society.

Currently, there is a 6 to 3 ratio of men to women in the Supreme Court, with men taking the majority. Men’s opinions are overpowering the women’s views, automatically conducing a pro-life, right-leaning political climate. Abortions are a human right that is more crucial for people with a female reproductive system. The Supreme Court majority does not have the experiences of the people's lives they are affecting.

Economic disparity in the United States has always been prevalent and persistent; repealing Roe v. Wade would only offer a more extensive amount of financial setbacks. If a state decides to ban abortion, many wealthy individuals will be able to travel to a neighboring state to receive the procedure. Low-income women will find this option implausible and are more likely to give birth. Forbes states that the average cost of raising a child through the age of 17 is $233,610. These low-income women and families will only fall further into poverty simply because they could not afford airfare in the first place. Another factor is that Caucasian people in the United States only have a 10% poverty rate, whereas Native Americans, black and Hispanic ethnicities each have a poverty rate of 20% or higher. Redistributing the power of abortion to states will only create more economic and racial inequality.

Students may have developed dismissive and passive attitudes toward abortion rights, especially if they believe pregnancy would never be a concern, or rather, their concern. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 1,000 men, 10 start fatherhood as a teenager. This ratio is factored in after 28% of teen pregnancies are aborted. Whether it's motherhood, fatherhood, or parenthood in general, banning abortion will increase the number of teen parents. Pregnancy affects all genders, not just the pregnant individual.

The leaked draft is taking the direction toward states having the full autonomy of abortion rights, it becomes crucial in our progressive community to get out and vote. No matter what gender you identify as your voice is a key factor in the optimistic growth of our society. If you are a student eligible to vote at East be aware of the impact you can make in today's society.