Sydney Sasser: Protecting choice, why NC's Abortion Bill undermines Women's Rights
The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal and complicated, it is important that women have the freedom to make choices about their bodies without interference. However, the North Carolina General Assembly has decided that it is their duty to regulate women’s bodies. The General Assembly has recently overridden Governor Roy Cooper's veto on S.B. 20, also known as the Care for Women, Children, and Families Act. This bill completely undermines a woman’s right to choose what is best for herself and her body. It is a direct attack on women's right to personal autonomy and privacy. The bill makes the statement to women that they are not able to make decisions about their own bodies without the state’s interference.
This new abortion bill follows other restrictive bans on abortion that other southern states such as Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Texas, and others have passed since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. After the overturning of Roe, North Carolina became a safe haven state for those seeking abortion in the South since many of the surrounding states had restrictive bans. When the new bill takes effect, North Carolina will soon lose that title.
The bill will begin taking effect on July 1. It will repeal the current law which allows for a woman to access abortion until 20 weeks of gestation. The new provisions of the bill will now only allow a woman to access abortion up until 12 weeks of gestation. The bill does have a few, but strict, exceptions. A woman can access abortion until 20 weeks of gestation but only in the case of rape or incest, up to 24 weeks for “life-limiting” fetal anomalies, and without limit if a physician determines the mother’s life is at risk due to a medical emergency.
The bill also will provide physicians with new requirements when performing abortions. One of these requirements is that physicians that provide abortion-inducing drugs must verify that the gestational age of the fetus is no more than 10 weeks, determine the woman’s blood type, and schedule 2 new in-person appointments. One which would be held 72 hours before taking the pill and another appointment 1 to 2 weeks afterward. There will also be a $5,000 fine for any person or organization that advertises or provides abortion-inducing drugs in violation of the law.
The provisions that are stated are a slap in the face to women. It states that our legislative leaders do not trust women’s ability to make decisions about their body with their healthcare providers. The state should not play doctor when it comes to these issues. Abortion should be considered a private matter between a woman and her healthcare provider. The state is intruding on the privacy of women. Allowing a woman the right to choose does not promote abortion, it simply grants her options about what is best for her.
The new bill will also provide provisions on funding. It will include $7 million to increase access to reversible contraception. It will also include $20 million in state funds for maternity and paternity leave for state employees. There will also be funding for services such as child care and foster care. However, the state could have allocated funds for these projects without the need to restrict abortions. It is an insult that the state would only allocate funds for crucial projects after deciding to place strict restrictions on abortion.
Without the security blanket of Roe, states have been able to pass restrictive bans on abortions. However, abortion is one of the most personal decisions a woman will make for herself, it is ridiculous for state legislators to interfere with this decision. It is crucial to recognize that no one can fully understand the circumstances and challenges a woman may face in her life. Therefore, society should allow the decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy should ultimately rest with the woman herself, based on her own circumstances and beliefs.
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