We need to step up our game a bit in terms of how we are talking about reproductive justice.
1. Remember not everyone with a uterus or who can get pregnant identifies as a woman or as a binary gender.
2. This isn't just about abortion, its about all the health and reproductive choices folks who can get pregnant will have to make with this medical option off the table. When is the last time you had to make a medical decision based on the political climate of the country you live in? It's scary. I got an IUD last year, BECAUSE of this administration and my concern access to contraception and abortion might be threatened, so I chose a method of birth control that removes "access" from the conversation, at least for a few years.
3. Remember plenty of women CAN and DO vote against the interests of their fellow women, so saying "women should decide this" entirely erases the role of women in oppressive policy. The Alabama Gov herself is evidence. Many conservatives also, in fact, only care about restricting abortion access for the masses, not for themselves. Because when they need one, its different. See all the conservative men asking their mistresses to get one. See "Fundamental attribution error."
4. People who are posting "Being pro choice doesn't mean I am pro-abortion" and sentiments like that, are falling backward into a bullshit framework and conservative ideology. There is no such thing as being "pro-abortion." Its a meaningless term. There are no people proselytizing abortion, asking everyone who is pregnant "Hey, why not abort?", etc. It is and always has been about civil rights.
5. Saying you support choice because "Its none of my business what people do" is just...not great. It centers the person rather than the marginalized group in question. It also again ignores this is a discussion about rights, not what you personally care about. Its the equivalent of, in the gay marriage debate, saying "I don't care what people do in their bedroom" or in an anti-racism discussion, saying "I don't care what skin color you are". That isn't the question. The question is, do you agree my rights are being violated, and if so, what are you going to do about it?
6. A lot of men and folks whose bodily autonomy is not affected by this legislation are suspiciously absent from public comment and debate. Y'all need to start speaking up and NOW. You can start in this comment section.
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