Possible overturn of Roe V. Wade leaves America in divide

Roe v. Wade is the landmark Supreme Court decision that protects a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion. Public opinion on abortion is strongly divided, and recently Roe v. Wade has come back into the spotlight. 

Politico leaked a draft outlining the plan to overturn abortion rights to individual states, and the news was quick to cause an uproar on both sides. Some praised the idea of abortion becoming illegal while many others were fearful of the future. 

Although the draft opinion was real, it is not a confirmed final position. The question of whether the possible overturn will affect rights such as obtaining birth control or gay marriage is still unknown. These vulnerable rights are affiliated with Roe but did not seem to be of concern as far as the leaked information went. 

Regarding the effects that this possible overturn would have on women, sophomore Bella Longanecker stated, “Forcing a woman to have a child that she cannot take care of is wrong. Cases such as sexual assault are just one reason why this decision could be harmful, and even if this is made to be an exception, only allowing a woman their rights to her own body after someone else violates it is unfair and wrong.”

Many women have expressed their fear of being stripped of the rights to their body. State to state, the consensus ranges. There are multiple trigger states including, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Utah and Wyoming who would immediately place a ban on abortion following a court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

The goal behind banning abortion is just that — to completely eliminate abortions, but the reality is not as simple. At home abortion remedies have been around for years, but the risk to the mother is high, and it is possible that they will be unsuccessful.

Junior Siena Roethler stated, “Banning abortion is unsafe. It won’t stop abortion completely it will only put an end to safe abortion and threaten the lives of women nationwide.” The push to ban abortion in an attempt to save lives could have a backwards effect when concerning the safety of women. 

Longanecker also brings up the case of pregnancies that may risk the mother or fetuses’ health. “Taking away the option of a medical abortion for a mother who may risk their life giving birth, or will have a stillbirth is not only traumatizing for the woman, but can be fatal,” she said.

The nationwide argument over abortion has been persistent for years, and even if a consensus is landed on, the difference in opinions will remain. The Supreme Court decision is still up in the air as they receive pressure from both sides. As far as Iowa goes, the supreme court ruling would not immediately cause a downfall of legal abortions as Iowa has a separate court ruled decision to safeguard abortion.