Reproductive Rights are Human Rights.

Alabama. Arkansas. Idaho. Kentucky. Louisiana. Mississippi. Missouri. Oklahoma. South Dakota. Tennessee. Texas. 11 of the 50 states coerce women into going through the agony and hardship of childbirth. Why is the safety of the female not taken into consideration? Females struggling to support themselves financially. Females who no longer have the support of the father of the child. Females who are struggling with their physical health. Females who simply are not ready for a child. Females who did not consent to being impregnated. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the fear in women has been on the uprise. Fearing the impact that an unwanted pregnancy will have on their life. Fearing their mental, physical, and emotional stability after having a child. Fearing for their lives as they have to commit themselves to this sudden change. Why are women not given the choice to make decisions for their own body?

What happened to supporting and caring for mental health? What happened to creating safe resources for those struggling with anxiety and depression? Why is the mental health of women disregarded when addressing abortion rights? The stress and anxiety associated with not being able to decide what is appropriate for your body consume future mothers. Post-partum depression - a real and common mental illness that most mothers are not prepared for.

The individuals of the Supreme Court and the pro-lifers who were in support of overturning Roe v. Wade, in turn taking a giant step back, stripping women of freedom over their own bodies, turned a blind eye towards the mental impact that pregnancy induces upon women. The struggle with body image increases depriving women of confidence and self-love. The lack of emotional and financial support they may receive from their family or the father figure creates anxiety about how they may support their child, while also creating a loving and safe environment.

As a teenager, this is our reality. We have lost the right that was meant to be a human right. This has just proven that our mental health is not validated. To those who are stricken with fear, worrying about what the world has come to; you are not alone. As women, we deserve the right to our own body and we deserve the ability to protect our mental health. No woman should be forced into a state of depression or anxiety. Women are in this together. Below are resources for individuals looking to change the new law that makes abortion illegal. Reproductive rights are human rights.

https://abortionrights.nyc/

https://www.change.org/t/abortion-rights

Vinick, G. (n.d.). Abortion takes center stage in Wisconsin after U.S. Supreme Court revelation. PBS Wisconsin. Retrieved April 2, 2023, from https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/abortion-takes-center-stage-in-wisconsin-after-u-s-supreme-court-revelation/