When President Trump was elected in 2016, I responded with sadness, anger, and hopelessness, as did many of my friends and family. My peers my age who didn't care as much about politics and the election continuously asked me why I cared so much or how this specific election would really impact me. As we approach the halfway mark of the Trump presidency, with Judge Kavanaugh just confirmed to the Supreme Court, it becomes clearer and clearer the risks of being a woman in Trump's America. The Supreme Court now has a conservative majority, putting many landmark cases and controversies at risk.

One of the issues that has weighed heavily on my mind since the election is women's reproductive rights. This not only includes the potential that Roe v. Wade is overturned, but issues such as including birth control in healthcare coverage and access to all birth control options. This is one of the issues that does in fact really impact me and the sect of the American population that I am a part of. Access to safe and affordable birth control options should be a right for every woman. We were far from this reality before the 2016 election, but Trump and those associated with his administration, including Kavanaugh, potentially sets us years behind. Trump has already lightened requirements that employers provide women with contraception through insurance, and it would not be a surprise for actions like this to continue.

Women in America, and around the world, are at such a disadvantage when it comes to work and life opportunities. Women work ridiculously hard with the hope that they can accomplish goals alongside their male peers, but that rarely becomes a reality. The fact is that the lack of control over their reproductive systems and bodies only adds to the challenges women face when pursuing career achievements. With unpredictable pregnancy comes a lack of control over financial stability as well as an obstacle in the way of job opportunities. Not to mention that with lack of parental leave and other provisions for new mothers, many jobs don't allow women to maintain their career while having children, especially unplanned. Women have the right to control whether or not they get pregnant and when they do, allowing them to enjoy family life if they want to but to also have optimal opportunities in their work lives.

In the birth control debate many also fail to recognize the many medical uses that birth control has beyond simply preventing pregnancy. Birth control doesn't just encourage women to have sex and, as many argue, a woman using birth control certainly doesn't indicate her level of sexual activity. Birth control is used to treat a host of female reproductive issues, including irregular or difficult periods. Reproductive health is a fundamental part of female biology and overall health, and contraception is a major part of reproductive health. Women need optimal care and a lack of access to birth control, abortions, and other services indicates a lack of concern for the health and well-being of all women, furthering the gender divide in America.