What is happening in Alabama?
Start writing a post
Politics

The Alabama Abortion Ban Is Not Rewarding Life, It Simply Punishes Women

A complete slap in the face.

45
The Alabama Abortion Ban Is Not Rewarding Life, It Simply Punishes Women

If your Twitter feed looks anything like mine, you are alternating between tweets about YouTube drama, and you guessed it, new abortion laws. States such as Ohio, Georgia, and Alabama (famously GOP states) have all written new laws limiting abortions in different ways.

In Ohio, a heartbeat bill was passed in April that outlaws abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. This is an extremely limiting law because fetal heartbeats are detected as early as five weeks, with six weeks being the norm. This bill provides no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. There is also a fetal heartbeat law in Georgia scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2020.

In Alabama, a law was passed on May 14 criminalizing abortion in all stages of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The only exceptions to this rule are when the life of the mother is jeopardized, if the mother has a mental illness that would result in the death of her or her future child, or if the child has defects that will ultimately result in stillbirth or death immediately after birth.

Additionally, some states are proposing the idea that insurance shouldn't cover birth control. There have also been rumors of criminalizing birth control, but that will most likely not occur based on precedents set by Griswold v Connecticut in 1965.

We have a concept called "body autonomy." This is basically the belief that no one can force us to make decisions about our own bodies; we get to decide if we want tattoos, if we want to donate blood, or if we want to donate organs. No one can force you to donate blood or donate organs. Laws like the ones in Ohio, Georgia, and Alabama are limiting body autonomy. They do not allow women to make their own decisions about their lives, their futures, and their health.

At the moment, there are approximately 443,000 children in foster care in the United States. If these politicians were truly pro-life, wouldn't they be targeting the children that need help? Or advocate for more funding for education so that these children have access to better education and resources? Or try to achieve reform for the penitentiary system?

These laws are forcing women to go through nine months of pregnancy, push their bodies to their physical limits during childbirth, and deal with the financial responsibilities that accompany a child.

These laws are a way of taking away a women's right to her own body and this is not acceptable.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

91673
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

68840
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments