Pro-choice, pro-freedom

 Feminism and the abortion debate are intertwined. Just to clarify, feminism is the advocacy for women's rights based on equality for the sexes (Google).  I found that when I was researching the pro-choice movement I found that feminist ideals could not be separated from the pro-choice movement. People that claim that they are pro-choice, are in support of a women's choice on whether or not she wants to have an abortion. This freedom of choice is a major component in believing in the taking part in the pro-choice movement.


Think of it like this:  Since women should be equal to men, and men have the right to choose when they want to have children. Then, women should have the right to choose when they want to have children.

Women's Rights Associations such as a NOW( National Organization for Women) have been supporting a woman's right to choose since 1967 (around the time of the Roe v. Wade case). NOW was the first national organization that supports legalized abortion (Pelt, 2020). The current President of the organization, Toni Van Pelt claims that the right to an abortion is important to securing the "health, safety, and autonomy of women across the country." The autonomy of women important in being a feminist and being pro-choice.




NARAL Pro-Choice America is another national organization in support of abortion. For them, taking away the right to an abortion is robbing women of their equality. NARAL supports the decision of all women regardless of whether or not they choose to have an abortion.
The pro-life movement supporters commonly called "murders" or "baby killers".  NARAL Pro-Choice America argues that abortion is not the difference between life and death. Instead, it is the difference between freedom and inequality.

 Abortion is protected under the 14th amendment's right to privacy. This amendment reserves the right to choose for women. Despite this, states like Alabama and Georgia have legislation banning or placing restrictions on abortion.


Some states have made it difficult for women to have an abortion by having a limited number of clinics available.

Alabama has the strictest laws against abortion. Women cannot have an abortion in the state of Alabama. There are no exceptions. Not for rape, or incest, not even if the mother's life is in danger.
Alabama is in the Deep South, where traditional values are an unspoken law. Some representatives have a different approach to addressing this issue. A bill was proposed by Representative Rolanda Hollis. If this bill is passed it will make vasectomies mandatory for all men over fifty (The New York Post, 2019).  No joke. This proposed legislation emphasizes the importance of equality between men and women.

In 1982, Alabama had 45 abortion clinics. Currently, they have three. This drastic decrease has become a major concern for pro-choice supporters. The supremacy clause holds that national law is superior to federal law. The national government can force states to legalize abortion. This is unlikely to happen given Donald Trump's belief in state's rights. Abortion restrictions have grown under this administration.

Another concern is the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This concern is valid since Trump has confirmed three Supreme Court Justices since taking office. Supreme Court Justices such as Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas have are not opposed to overturning precedent (USA Today).

If the majority of citizens agree that abortion should be legal, why are there increasing restrictions on abortion? Voting is the main reason. Mobilizing your constituents is key to increasing access to abortions. A pro-choice activist should consider what creates a motivated constituency to succeed in protecting the right to an abortion.