NOW - NEW YORK STATE SUPPORT MEMO
Reproductive Health Act
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March 2009
It is time for New York State to pass the Reproductive Health Act. Although the US Supreme Court's historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision recognized abortion as a Constitutionally-protected right, this ruling hangs by a precarious one-vote margin. In the event of Roe's overturn, it's fairly safe to say that New York's women would retain their right through state protections. However such is not the case for most US women.
Up to thirty states, along with Washington, DC, are poised to strip women of their abortion rights. And anti-choice groups continue to use deceptive tactics to justify total bans, claiming that abortions are detrimental not only to fetuses, but also to women and to society. They are basing these wildly unsubstantiated opinions on the premise that women’s "natural instinct" to have babies is being "stifled" by the right to choose, whether or not the women in question want motherhood. In this view, abortions cause both mental and physical harm because of women's predetermined role as mother and caregiver. In their sexist, absurd, and totally undocumented opinion, women lack the judgment and independence necessary to make responsible decisions.
If Roe falls, many states will legislate against women's rights to abortion and birth control. So now more than ever, in defense against any infiltration of this anti-choice agenda, it is important to keep New York State strong for women’s rights. And the best way to do this is to restate our State Constitutionally-protected reproductive rights in strong, unambiguous legislation. This action will not only preserve reproductive rights for NY women, but will also set an excellent example for other states. In addition, New York will remain a safe haven for women who want full control of their bodies (and whose states have not criminalized crossing state lines for abortions).
Nobody but the individual should decide how to use her body, especially not a group basing its decisions on the belief that women are incapable of brain function beyond getting pregnant and making dinner. Women have proved many times over that they/we are capable of achieving great things, even while breastfeeding and making meatloaf.
If abortion becomes illegal, neither abortions nor the need for abortions go away. Instead abortions will become more difficult, dangerous, and expensive. And of course this will affect poor women and young women more severely, in that scarce resources are one reason woman seek abortions. So in the event that Roe is overturned, the very same reasons that encourage such women to have abortions will prevent them from getting safe ones.
Furthermore, the economic affects on women who are forced to have unwanted children will be detrimental to the health and welfare of whole families. Burdening a stretched-thin family budget with another mouth to feed will hurt everyone involved. Also, young women in school have great difficulty raising children. Not only do they have minimal resources, but juggling education and a child poses a big problem. That woman’s potential for success decreases, which in turn makes it more difficult for her to afford a family. An endless list of personal and societal ills result from inadequately-supported childbirths. Not only is a woman suffering, but her child is brought into a world of stress and poverty that will be highly detrimental to his or her development.
In this context, the availability of birth control to the poor and the young becomes very important. But the same conservatives who oppose abortion also believe that by withholding birth control, sexual education, and other important reproductive resources for women, they will end premarital sexual intercourse. They are delusional if they think these tactics will actually prevent sexual activity. It is proven fact that a result of "abstinence-only" education is more unwanted pregnancies.
The Reproductive Health Act would ensure that every NYS woman has the right to make for herself the decision that is best for her, her family, and her future. It will ensure that New York's women can control their reproductive health and use birth control if they wish to.
Marcia A. Pappas
President
NOW NYS
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