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Ariana Dideban

Ms. Everett

Honors English 11.4

9 December 2016

The Protection of Reproductive Rights

With the election of Donald Trump, many changes are bound to come, yet one of the

most controversial and dire is the reproductive rights of women. The decision to bear and raise a

child should be a personal, moral, and medical decision; however, politics have influenced this

decision for decades. The right to an abortion is sensitive and important in maintaining the

freedoms of American women. Legislation and government interfering in the decision of this

private matter is a direct breach of the constitution. Americas president-elect Donald Trump

believes in banning abortion and creating some form of punishment for women who manage to

receive abortions (Kristof). As the president of the United States, Trumps rhetoric and words

have the power to shift and change the opinions of legislators, the people, and laws. Trump has

stated that he would leave the regulations and laws regarding abortion to the states (Kristof),

which brings the fear that women in certain states may not have access to abortion. Women

should have control over their reproductive rights, which is a facet of their independence;

legislation that inhibits this right is detrimental to womens health and their abilities to dictate the

courses of their lives.

One of the most influential Supreme Court cases that changed the course of American

politics was the Roe v. Wade case in 1973. Roe v. Wade states that women have a constitutional

right to an abortion. State legislators cannot interfere with a womans access to an abortion in the

first trimester, but can pass regulations against abortions in the second trimester (Medoff 481).
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To make regulations on abortions in the second trimester, the state must prove that the measures

are in the best interests of womens health. In addition, state legislators can regulate abortions in

the third trimester if they can prove they have an interest in potential human life (Medoff 481).

Essentially, the Supreme Court argued that under the constitution there is a right to privacy for

everyone, which includes the right to privately choose an abortion (West, 434). However, this

ruling has been challenged for decades and has the threat of being over turned with the possible

implementation of pro-life justices by Donald Trump. Rulings such as Casey v Planned

Parenthood go against the initial Roe v. Wade ruling. Before Casey v. Planned Parenthood, states

had to make a compelling argument when implementing regulations on abortion, but after this

ruling women had to prove that the restrictions states were creating, placed an undue burden

on their right to choose abortion (Hontz 10). These changes have had significant impacts on the

reproductive rights movement. Additionally, what is truly fearsome is the legislation that is being

enacted at the state level that has targeted abortion providers and limits the access of abortion for

many women.

There is much legislation that has come in the way of reproductive rights and has led to

the closure of many abortion facilities. Some legislation includes the Targeted Regulation

Abortion Provider (TRAP) laws that attempt to limit the access of abortion facilities by going

after abortion providers (Targeted). TRAP laws include forcing facilities to have halls with a

certain width for two stretchers to fit side by side or forcing doctors to receive local admitting

privileges (Targeted). Although these may seem like insignificant measures, these regulations

are unrealistic for most abortion facilities to fulfill and according to the American Medical

Association (AMA) there is no benefit or medical basis to impose these regulations (Federal).

Most established organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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oppose such laws due to their ability to block access to safe abortions. If facilities are unable to

comply with such regulations they are often shut down. Legislation from 2010 has accounted for

the closure of seventy abortion clinics (Crary). These measures lead women to resort to illegal

and dangerous methods or to travel great distance in order to receive the care they need.

Among many states there are various amendments, and regulations that certain politicians

are attempting to pass nationwide; these rules act as mental and physical barriers for women who

seek abortions. One example of this is the Hyde Amendment, which withholds federal funding

from Medicaid for abortions (Federal). This prevents Medicaid from covering the costs of

abortion procedures for millions of low-income women (Federal). These women pay out of

pocket for these expensive procedures that cost anywhere from $400 to $1200 (In-Clinic).

Those who cannot afford these costs often resort to illegal fatal methods, such as at home

abortions.

Another piece of legislation that has the potential to be dangerous is the ban on abortion

after 20 weeks. In 92% of abortion cases, the pregnancy is terminated within the first trimester

(Abortion After). Most women who have abortions later in the pregnancy need to terminate

their pregnancies due to serious medical reasons. There are many fatal conditions that are

diagnosed in the fetus after 20 weeks. Some of these conditions include Anencephaly, which is

when the brain is underdeveloped and the skull is incomplete, or Bilateral Renal Agenesis, which

is when both kidneys are absent (Corrigan). In these cases, the fetus will not be alive upon birth.

This inflicts trauma on the mother and family who is forced to give birth to the fetus. The choice

to have an abortion is not an easy one, especially if the child is diagnosed with a fatal condition.

In addition, in some states the choice to have an abortion is made even more difficult with

the implementation of mandatory ultrasounds, waiting periods, and counseling from unlicensed
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crisis pregnancy centers (Federal). These are called personhood measures and intend to

protect the fetus as a person. These measures make women wait for 72 hours between consulting

with their physician and receiving their abortions (Federal); this makes the process of getting

an abortion emotionally draining. Once they decided to have an abortion, women in some states

are required to have ultrasounds where they look and listen to the fetus (Federal). This is a

guilting tactic that is psychologically detrimental, and designed to change the choice of the

woman. It is important that these measures and amendments do not become passed nationwide

and are eradicated in the states they are currently enacted in.

The lack of facilities has resulted in women undergoing unsafe, illegal abortions, which is

counteractive to the argument used by pro-life advocates who argue their measures are created to

protect womens health. Pro-life supporters state that abortions are dangerous and can lead to

complications such as breast cancer (Should). However, there is no scientific evidence

regarding this statement. According to the CDC Abortion Surveillance Survey in 2012, there is

a .00073% mortality rate when preforming abortions (United), which demonstrates that abortions

are non-life threatening procedures. There are many safe abortion procedures that are available to

women depending on their situation and health. Despite the common conception that abortions

are surgical procedures, there is also the abortion pill that is widely used and that does not have a

risk of death or serious injuries (Abortion Procedures). The health of a woman is not

endangered when she chooses to get an abortion. Instead, the closure of abortion facilities leads

to the increase of illegal at home abortions. The rate of abortions do not decrease due to abortion

laws; the rate of illegal abortions just rise. Many women who seek out dangerous methods of

terminating their pregnancies ultimately end up with serious injuries and problems. The

protection of these facilities is vital in protecting the health of American women.

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The advocates of banning abortion argue that terminating a pregnancy is the equivalent of

killing a human being; however, embryos and fetuses are not independent sustaining beings.

Many different people have varying views of what constitutes a human. Some argue that

personhood begins from the moment an egg becomes fertilized with a sperm, while others argue

that personhood begins with brain activity. The question of when life begins is not only a

scientific question but can also be a religious and moral question (Hontz 9). This is difficult

territory to navigate, and often leads to disputes between pro-life and pro-choice advocates. The

brain of a fetus rapidly develops in the 27th through the 30th week of a pregnancy (United States

Medicine). Pro-life supporters believe that the fetus feels pain during an abortion; however, there

is no evidence that a fetus experiences pain before the third trimester (Lee and Ralston). The

fetus must first develop a cortex in order to feel pain and will be unable to do so before the third

trimester.

Reproductive choice is a human right for women because it has the power to dictate the

direction of their lives. Women should be able to control the spacing and timing of their children

because the choice to have a child will heavily influence the future of the mother. Raising a child

has many aspects. To a raise a child a parent must provide a safe environment in which a child

can prosper. The average cost to raise a child to the age of 18 is $245,340; expenses include

childcare, food, transportation, shelter, healthcare, education, and clothing (Thomas). Many

women who choose to have an abortion are not in an appropriate financial or situational position

to care for a baby (Should). In order to raise a child, 29% of American women stay at home

(Galley); having a child is a commitment that can completely change the course of a womans

life. Choosing when to reproduce allows a woman to pursue certain education and career paths

(Hontz 8).
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Other women who often seek abortion are survivors of rape and sexual assault and should

be presented with the option to terminate their pregnancy because the situation was out of their

control. There cannot be one rule that applies to a whole population of women. Each abortion

case is different and cannot be regulated under an overarching regulation or piece of legislation.

The role of the government is to create legislation that will protect the liberties and freedoms of

the people, which includes a womans right to control her reproductive rights.

Access to abortion is vital to womens health and safety, but has become limited with the

regulations and legislations being enacted through out America. Abortion is not easily accessible

for many American women who live in states with strict laws. The decision to have a child

should not be affected by politics; the option to have an abortion must be open to all American

women. Abortion can spare a child from a difficult tremulous life in which they were not initially

wanted. Every human has a right to a safe and prosperous environment. It is the time to protect

the choice of a woman whether she chooses to undergo an abortion or not. The political climate

is rapidly changing with Donald Trump in office, and the possible implementation of pro-life

justices may change the course of history. Legislators must put aside their differences and unite

to achieve the common good for Americans, specifically American women. Now is a critical

time in preventing anti-abortion legislation from passing and changing the lives of millions of

women across America.

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Works Cited

Abortion After the First Trimester. Planned Parenthood. Accessed 7 December 2016.

Abortion Procedures During First, Second, and Third Trimester. American Pregnancy

Association. N.p., 2016. http://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/abortion-

procedures/. Accessed 18 November 2016.

Abortion Restrictions in States. The New York Times, n.p., 17 June 2013. Accessed 18

November 2016.

Corrigan, Lisa M.. Fetal Anomalies, Undue Burdens, and 20 Week Abortion Bans. Science

Progress, 23 May 2013. Accessed on 4 December 2016.

Crary, David. Report: Abortions Declined in Nearly All States since 2010.

PBS, Public Broadcasting Services, 7 June 2015. Accessed 29 November 2016.

Federal and State Bans and Restrictions on Abortion. Planned Parenthood. Accessed 20

November 2016.

Galley, Jacob. Stay-at Home Mothers Through the Years. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

September 2014. Accessed 5 December 2016.

Hontz, Jenny, and Estelle Rogers. 25 Years Later: The Impact of Roe v. Wade. Human

Rights, vol. 25, no. 2, 1998, pp. 811

In-Clinic Abortion Procedures. Planned Parenthood. Accessed 22 November 2016.

Kristof, Nicholas. Trump and Abortion. New York Times, 30 March 2016. Accessed 5

December 2016.

Lee, Susan J., and Ralston Henry J. Peter. Fetal Pain A Systematic Multidisciplinary Review of

the Evidence. JAMA, American Medical Association, 24 August 2005. Accessed on 4

December 2016.
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Medoff, H. The Determinants and Impact of State Abortion Restrictions. The American

Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 61, no. 2, 2002, pp. 481493.

Should Abortion be Legal?. ProCon.org Headlines. N.p., 30 June 2016.

http://abortion.procon.org/ Accessed on 20 November 2016.

Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP). Center for Reproductive Rights, Center

For Reproductive Rights. Accessed on 26 November 2016.

Thomas, Emily. This is How Much it Costs to Raise a Child in the US. Huffington Post, 18

August 2014. Accessed on 4 December 2016.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDCs Abortion Surveillance

System FAQs. 16 November 2016. Accessed 25 November 2016.

United States. Medline Plus. Fetal Development. Accessed 5 December 2016.

West, Robin. Reviewed Work: Liberty and Sexuality: The Right to Privacy and the Making of

Roe v. Wade, 1923-1973 by David Garrow. Law and History Review, Vol. 13, No. 2,

1995, pp. 433-437.