Wenyan Li, Period 7, 5/10/22

Wenyan Li

Period 7

May 10, 2022



Blog #4 Socio Political Consciousness

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

Currently one of the most prevalent and concerning issues is the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As someone who is pro choice the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a direct attack on women’s bodies. It takes away our rights to make decisions concerning our own bodies. Roe v. Wade was meant to protect women in the scenario of unwanted pregnancy. Unwanted pregnancy from situations such as sexual assault or contraceptive failure. There are also cases where the victims of sexual assault aren’t even at the age of consent. They can be as young as 10 years old. How can you expect a ten year old to carry and care for a child when they can’t even care for themselves. There's also medical situations where the women cannot physically carry the child without harming themselves or financial situations where the child cannot be supported. By overturning Roe v. Wade abortion rates aren’t going to go down. The government is simply removing women’s access to safe abortion which in itself is worse. If women aren’t given the option to make decisions regarding their own bodies, they are forced upon with a child that they do not want or a child that they cannot financially support.

Pro lifers argue that abortion takes away the lives of unborn children. If that was truly the case, the government should provide financial assistance to those who want children but can’t financially support it or provide better healthcare. It is a luxury to be able to have children as it can cost thousands to give birth alone. It’s a direct attack not only on women’s bodies but the lower class. Not only can the government provide better financial and medical assistance but they can look to reform the foster care system. As children born from unwanted pregnancies that result from rape can grow up in environements filled with trauama and hatred. Not only is the victim reminded of their trauma but they’re also placed with the burden of raising a child they did not want because they did not have access to abortion. The child will most likely be placed in the foster care system and be in and out of the system.

Women should be able to make decisions concerning their bodies as at the end of the day it’s their decision to make as they know their body the best. Carrying a child for nine months is a lot. They should be the ones to make the decision, not the government. The government should have no say in our bodies.