In one form or another, International Women’s Day (IWD) has been highlighting women’s issues for more than 100 years, raising awareness about inequalities women face. At first, women marched for fairness in the workplace, better wages, and even the right to vote. But over time, abortion advocates have often hijacked many women’s organizations with their own agenda. This year’s IWD events are especially significant as the United States Supreme Court may reverse Roe v. Wade and send the issue of abortion back to the states, which doesn’t fit the agenda of some of thoseengaged with the IWD. But in taking inventory of all the major issues facing women in the U.S. today, the violence of abortion and the predatory practices of the abortion industry contain glaring abuses that should be opposed by women everywhere.
Legalized abortion has isolated women and allows men and society to cop out of the responsibility of supporting women in their vital role of raising the next generation. According to a recent study, 76% of women with abortion experiences stated that they would have chosen to parent if their life circumstances were different. Worldwide, abortion is used aggressively against precious preborn baby girls. A five-year study reported in 2019 found “(n)early 23.1 million females are missing due to sex-selective abortions in 12 Asian and European countries.”
This is a failure on the part of our global society and something that this year’s International Women’s Day theme of “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” could highlight, given America’s track record.
In 1973, seven male Supreme Court Justices made abortion legal in all nine months making the United States among the most extreme countries on abortion, but we are not alone. Our position on abortion is so egregious in fact, that is places on the same level as major women’s rights abusers like China and North Korea. Since Roe, more than 63 million pre-born lives have been lost to abortion. At least half of these little ones were women.
Our permissive laws have also allowed the abortion industry to decrease health and safety standards and cut corners on women’s health care. For example, in Washington State, abortion facilities inspect themselves and in New York tanning salons are more inspected than abortion facilities.
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In Pennsylvania, negligent conditions in an uninspected abortion vendor’s office led to multiple deaths, and among them was Karnamaya Monger, a refugee who survived work camps in her home country of Bhutan. After being the United States, for about three months, she died in abortionist, Kermit Gosnell’s, “house of horrors.” Regardless of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, the abortion industry has no excuse for risking women’s lives by shoddy conditions and medical hacks.
We also know that the abortion industry has decreased authentic medical services for women. According to their own annual report, Planned Parenthood cut health services such as pap smears and STD/STI testing while increasing abortion numbers.
This past year, the abortion industry has fought to deregulate Chemical Abortion. They pushed the FDA to remove Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies on Chemical Abortions that protect women from medical injury. From 2000 to 2018, at least 24 women have died and over 2,700 experienced complications due to taking Chemical Abortion. Regardless of the risks, the abortion industry is pushing Death by Mail. Women are now able to order Chemical Abortion online and perform their own at home abortions. These efforts only further isolate women, leaving them without support.
The abortion industry’s push for more abortion starkly contrasts with the Pro-Life Movement’s plan for women now and after Roe, as we work to protect life in law and with services.
Students for Life of America is bringing our No Woman Stands Alone…In A Post-Roe America Spring Tour to over 160 campuses across the country to raise awareness about local support for struggling mothers. The Pro-Life Movement has advanced the cause of female empowerment, by protecting pregnant and parenting rights on campus, offering free resources, and providing empowering opportunities that help women see their children as a part of their futures. In addition, the Pro-Life Movement is fighting for Foster Care and Adoption reforms, equal opportunity in the workplace, and paid family leave.
Consider that last year, the Pro-Life Movement offered women over $266 million dollars’ worth of support for free. This Valentine’s Day, Students for Life of America relaunched our Standing With You Initiative focused on walking with women to provide practical aid and highlighting champions from groups across the country who are working today to help women and and young families.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.” Justice Ginsburg was correct in asserting this, however, her attachment to abortion contradicted her sentiment and ignored that lots people are actively working to help young families. Abortion, instead of empowering women, places the sole responsibility of “choice” on women, allowing gender inequality to flourish.
If the women's movement wants “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” it should stop advocating for the injustice of abortion violence and return to working for economic, educational, and legal protection. Equipping women with all they need to prosper at both home and work is a goal we all can work towards.
Sarah Michalak is Field Staff Writer with Students for Life of America/SFLAction, with more than 1,250 groups in all 50 states.
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