R v W

 My personal, humble and unwanted opinion on Roe v Wade is that – while the simple and unavoidable truth will always remain (no matter what side of the debate you’re on) that abortion is literally by definition the termination of human life, and in my personal, humble and unwanted opinion will never constitute a ‘basic human right’ or absolute necessity in large part because of the innocence and defencelessness of those little human lives in question – Americans (indeed all humans) should probably focus more right now on reforming the law to make sure people who find themselves in unwanted pregnancies are actually supported and know that there are other options. That pregnant people and their babies actually have REAL basic rights like paid maternity leave and free quality healthcare and a fair chance at survival, earning a decent living when they grow up, not worrying about unjust incarceration or death by gun violence etc. That all people are actually educated enough to make choices that lead to fewer unwanted pregnancies in the first place.

This is where legislation should focus all of its might and effort. But it won’t. Because it has never taken women’s needs seriously. Because it prefers to debate over our bodies for decades instead of doing things to help us reach our fullest potential now. Because why fix the rot at the root when you could just punish people for feeling like they can’t cope with a mammoth lifechanging situation they do not want to be in. . .


I’ve heard from catholics that you can fight to both make abortion illegal now while supporting all those causes that will eventually lead to the basic safety and empowerment of women. I wholeheartedly disagree. One is far more urgent than the other.  especially in a place like America where the very structures that currently exist are only moving in a direction that puts women between an insurmountable rock and an impossibly hard place and promises no respite or reform whatsoever. 

Fix the foundations and you might find that you don’t need to build gallows and prisons on top to hold the people falling through the cracks.