Our Bodies. Our Choices.

Given the current debate over a woman’s right to choose in America, we asked 7 women between the ages of 21-26 these two questions:

What would a world where women across America lose their right to choose look like?
What gives you hope about this issue?

What would a world where women across America lose their right to choose look like?

“A world where women in America lose their right to choose would look like equality set back fifty years. Women would exist in a constant state of fear, lose access to the critical opportunities afforded to them by choice, and live as second class citizens.” -Talia Rosenberg, 24

“As more and more babies will be born into homes and unstable family structures that are not equipped to raise a child, the cycle of poverty is further exacerbated. Women will seek unsafe procedures out of desperation, leading to unnecessary disability or death.” -Natalie Perlov, 25

“I’m imagining a dystopian society similar to the one portrayed in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” except instead of being fiction, the story is rapidly morphing into a reality . . . we’d be losing our autonomy, our voices, the progress we have made towards striving to be acknowledged as equals in this patriarchal society. It’s really sad and frightening.” -Kenia Torres, 21 (Girls Write Now Alumni)

What gives you hope about this issue?

“What gives me hope are the brave people who are still fighting to find ways to provide reproductive care to women in need despite new and horrifying constraints. What also gives me hope is knowing that a majority of citizens do not want this and if we truly live in a democracy, then it cannot continue.” -Talia Rosenberg, 24

“As a medical student, I am inspired by my teachers who advocate for a full medical curriculum that includes perinatal and prenatal care across the spectrum. Regardless of where my classmates and I stand on this issue, we are being taught about abortion medicine because every physician should know how to do this procedure safely.” -Natalie Perlov, 25

“It’s sometimes hard to find a source of hope but I think I find it in those who refuse to be silenced. In those people who advocate for change in all the multiple ways one can advocate for it these days, and who refuse to give up.” -Kenia Torres, 21 (Girls Write Now Alumni)

If we truly live in a democracy, then it cannot continue.

“A world where women across America lose their right to choose is a barbaric and inhumane world. No one should be able to tell a woman what to do with her body. Part of humanity is freedom and everyone should have the freedom to decide what they want to do with their body.” -Aissata Fofana, 26

“A world where women were denied access to abortion would lead to women having to seek out illegal and dangerous alternatives. Not only would it affect women who do not want to become mothers but it would also affect women who have atopic pregnancies and various health issues.” -J., 21

“A world in which a womxn’s or a person with a baby carrying body does not have the ability to choose means no equal access to healthcare, and not banning abortions, it means cutting off access to safe abortions. Having the right to choose is a human right, and makes dangerous options that much more accessible to people who no longer have safe options.” -Natalia Flores, 21

“Without a legal way to get an abortion women in America would revert back to more dangerous forms of abortion. Not to mention the women who medically could not survive a pregnancy . . . If these mothers choose to put their children up for adoption I think the amount of kids in foster care would increase, and I wouldn’t consider the American foster care system the safest place for a child considering the amount of abuse and neglect that has been reported.” -Brianna Montes, 22

“One thing that gives me hope about this issue is the many people that are speaking up about it and trying to make a difference by protesting or raising awareness to the issue on social media.” -Aissata Fofana, 26

“That I live in a state that is so liberal and almost always goes blue so chances that abortion gets banned in New York are slim. Also, I have the option of practicing safe sex, with multiple different forms of contraception.” -J., 21

“This zine is important because it gives womxn access to be more politically involved and a platform to organize and communicate more and more opportunities for government and political involvement.” -Natalia Flores, 21

“I do gain a sense of hope when I see people trying to educate younger generations about birth control in order to prevent women having to make a choice and practicing safe sex.” -Brianna Montes, 22

Talking about reproductive rights these days can feel depressing and utterly demoralizing. It’s hard to maintain a sense of hope when we see the devastating impact of Roe v. Wade’s overturning. While we need to honor our despair and outrage, we also need to look to the people who will not stop fighting, no matter what obstacles are put in their way. We are inspired by the women we spoke to—their hope gives us hope. May all people—men and women alike—continue to fight for a future where women are guaranteed the right to decide what happens to their body. Our bodies. Our choices.

Process

We are inspired by the women who advocated for reproductive rights. We wanted this piece to weave the memories of women over fifty years ago into our current moment, and encourage readers to understand this issue requires the same urgency it did then. The women who died, suffered, forced into doing things they did not want to, those tireless advocates—they did not fight for nothing.