Those who value women's rights had best pay attention to recent state and national developments. The anti-choice movement is engaged in a dangerous campaign to overthrow the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, returning us to the days of back-alley abortions when the poor turned to coat hangers, drinking bleach and jumping off ledges, while the rich purchased abortions in foreign countries.
Few if any states are more hostile than Arkansas to a woman's right to choose. Forty-three states prohibit most abortions after a certain point in pregnancy; 17 of these ban abortions after 24-28 weeks (when the fetus is potentially viable outside the womb), 24 ban abortions after 20-24 weeks, and just two ban abortions after 18 weeks. These two are Arkansas and Utah. Regarding access, hundreds of U.S. clinics provide surgical abortions. Most states have five or more, California has 152, New York has 95, but Arkansas and five other states have only one.
The national picture is grim and getting worse. The Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health. They state that in 2000, four states were "hostile" and 46 were "supportive" or "middle-ground" concerning abortion rights. By 2010, 10 states were hostile and 40 were supportive or middle-ground. In 2019, seven states are "very hostile" (a new category), 14 are hostile, and 29 are supportive or middle-ground. Arkansas is among the seven very hostile states, along with Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, South Dakota and Indiana.
It appears, by almost any measure, Arkansas is among the most extreme anti-choice states.
A great irony characterizes these figures: Anti-choice forces advocate policies that demonstrably increase the incidence of abortion.
Adolescent pregnancy provides a good window on this question because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 percent of adolescent pregnancies are unintended, 30 percent end in abortion, and 15 percent end in miscarriage.
The U.S. 2010 adolescent annual pregnancy rate of 57 per 1,000 females aged 15-19 was the highest among the developed nations. Among 20 developed nations with more liberal policies toward sex and abortion, rates were far lower. Most northern European nations achieved rates under 25 per 1,000, less than half of America's rate.
Despite being one of the most extreme anti-choice states, Arkansas has the nation's highest adolescent birth rate: 33 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Such high rates (20-33 births per thousand adolescent females) are typical of anti-choice midwestern and southern states, while lower rates (8-16 births per thousand) are typical of the less restrictive west coast and upper east coast states. Adolescent pregnancy rates are more difficult to find, but the Guttmacher Institute reported that, in 2010, Arkansas had the second-highest rate (59 per thousand) in the nation, following New Mexico (another "very hostile" anti-choice state).
Thus, the anti-choice paradox: Efforts to ban abortions result in increased abortion and other sex-related tragedies such as teen pregnancy. Everybody surely wants to reduce abortions. Why don't anti-choice forces try the proven methods: sex education, birth control and access to abortion? Or (dare I suggest it?) is their real aim to punish women for their sexual activity?
It's no coincidence that religious fundamentalists drive the anti-choice movement. Faith-based absolutes lead to absurd beliefs such as the notion that destruction of an early human embryo is murder. If this were true, then nature or God would have to be the world's greatest executioner because half of the fertilized eggs never implant, and 30 percent of the implanted eggs miscarry.
The distinguishing feature of humans is their frontal brain lobes. These appear in the seventh month of pregnancy, a date that suggests Roe vs. Wade's permission of free choice during the first trimester and, with restrictions, the second trimester, while generally forbidding it during the third trimester. It's a good rule.
The latest threat to women's right to choose comes from the "heartbeat movement" that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. This can happen as early as five weeks into pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant, and clearly violates Roe vs. Wade. Nevertheless, four states have passed such bills, but three of these have been blocked by state courts. Bills are pending in several other states. These bills' backers hope such legislation will eventually find approval in a state court, provoking a direct federal challenge to Roe vs. Wade.
An extremist win on this will return American women to a darker age.
Commentary on 05/21/2019