Abortion laws in Texas have been changing for years. The latest law prevents abortions after six weeks in the state of Texas. The Republican leaders of Texas, similar to other Republican-led states, have the general reputation to be advocates for making abortions illegal into law. Abortion, however, is a difficult topic for both political parties to decide their stances on because this topic impacts so many on a personal level, especially when it comes to controversy around religion and abortion. The fact is, that without access to safe and reasonably priced abortions, women will die and people will suffer in ways they never should have to.
Women make the difficult decision to abort for many reasons. A few examples are domestic violence, rape and forced over-birthing by their partners. There are 11.3 abortions per one thousand women per year. That is a lot of women and a lot of danger if not done right. Women must have access, safe and equal access to abortion. Without access to safe and equal abortions, women are treated unequally, disrespectfully and feel like their lives are unimportant.
Abortion, according to Medline Plus, is “a procedure to end a pregnancy.” Only in the last fifty years have medical abortions been considered safe and acceptable. These procedures, although have been going on since as far back as five thousand years ago, are only just now being considered safe. Maternal mortality rates are proved to be higher when access to safe abortions is not there, according to the US National Library of Medicine.
In-clinic abortions are safe and approved by various medical journals. In 2018, a study came out in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine called “The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States.” This new study proved abortions to be safe procedures with minimal complications when done professionally in a clinic. Abortions clearly are safe procedures that, if done professionally, will cause little harm. Technology is advanced, medicine is provided and safe and sterile equipment is present–all of which make clinical abortions safer.
By Texas’s choice to ban abortion after six weeks, inequality is being permitted. Abortions are not accessible safely to all before the six-week mark. People in low-income and minority communities find out about pregnancy later, often much after the six-week mark. The state is essentially saying that the lives of women in low-income and minority communities do not matter and their safety isn’t important enough. Texas needs to understand that this ban will not decrease abortions like they want, it will only decrease safe abortions.
It has always been and will always be easier to judge someone’s decision and their choice when they are at arm’s length. Choosing to stand in their shoes will likely change that point of view and potentially lead people to help advocate for abortion to be exactly that: their choice.
Due to all of this, abortions need to be legalized. Despite the political, social and religious divisions that abortion brings into communities, the reality is that abortions will happen inevitably. Abortion is a divisive topic in communities but not one that should ever risk the lives and safety of women. The question is simply will they be safe, or will more women die?
