RIP, Roe V Wade
posted by bitchphd
With Alito set to be confirmed because enough of the Democrats are fucking lapdogs, I note the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade with a sense of sadness. It was nice, coming to sexual maturity in a time when I knew I had autonomy over my body. It's frightening, looking towards a future when my students and nieces won't.
Not that Roe v. Wade itself will be overturned any time soon. I don't think it will. I do think, however, that it'll end up being a hollow law. Oh sure, you'll theoretically still have the right to an abortion--but the letter of the law means nothing if the spirit isn't followed, and Alito has made it clear that he thinks that while overturning Roe might be a bit much, practially speaking, making it completely meaningless is a worthy goal.
Having a right doesn't mean crap if you can't exercise it. Roe might stick around a while, but the actual rights that Roe ensured are on their way out the door. And guess what? Lawmakers know this, and are deliberately writing laws that violate Roe v. Wade now, knowing that next month's Supreme Court will be quite happy to expand the concept of what doesn't constitute an undue burden beyond all reason. Alito's made it clear that he sees the "undue burden" clause as the all-purpose loophole (scroll down to item #10). Pregnancy will kill you? Well, most pregnancies aren't fatal, so it's not an undue burden on women *as a class.* Sorry. Can't afford another baby? Sorry, this pregnancy *in and of itself* isn't your problem; your poverty is. So the pregnancy's not an undue burden. Sorry. Husband likely to beat the crap out of you if he finds out you're pregnant? Well, most husbands don't do that, and since you're in the minority there, it's not an undue burden on women as a group. Sorry.
But hey, isn't it nice to know that, in theory, if you had the good health and the money and the time and the support to travel to get an abortion somewhere, you'd be allowed to?
Happy birthday, Roe v. Wade. I'm sorry to hear you're ailing, and that your prognosis isn't good. You're much too young to be suffering so much.
Don't forget that today is Blog for Choice day. Click on the "Blog for Choice" ad over in the sidebar to see who else is participating.
Not that Roe v. Wade itself will be overturned any time soon. I don't think it will. I do think, however, that it'll end up being a hollow law. Oh sure, you'll theoretically still have the right to an abortion--but the letter of the law means nothing if the spirit isn't followed, and Alito has made it clear that he thinks that while overturning Roe might be a bit much, practially speaking, making it completely meaningless is a worthy goal.
Having a right doesn't mean crap if you can't exercise it. Roe might stick around a while, but the actual rights that Roe ensured are on their way out the door. And guess what? Lawmakers know this, and are deliberately writing laws that violate Roe v. Wade now, knowing that next month's Supreme Court will be quite happy to expand the concept of what doesn't constitute an undue burden beyond all reason. Alito's made it clear that he sees the "undue burden" clause as the all-purpose loophole (scroll down to item #10). Pregnancy will kill you? Well, most pregnancies aren't fatal, so it's not an undue burden on women *as a class.* Sorry. Can't afford another baby? Sorry, this pregnancy *in and of itself* isn't your problem; your poverty is. So the pregnancy's not an undue burden. Sorry. Husband likely to beat the crap out of you if he finds out you're pregnant? Well, most husbands don't do that, and since you're in the minority there, it's not an undue burden on women as a group. Sorry.
But hey, isn't it nice to know that, in theory, if you had the good health and the money and the time and the support to travel to get an abortion somewhere, you'd be allowed to?
Happy birthday, Roe v. Wade. I'm sorry to hear you're ailing, and that your prognosis isn't good. You're much too young to be suffering so much.
Don't forget that today is Blog for Choice day. Click on the "Blog for Choice" ad over in the sidebar to see who else is participating.
Posted at 1:33 PM
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