The U.S. Supreme Court just overturned Roe V. Wade - the landmark decision that legalized abortion access nationwide.This highly controversial decision eliminates the constitutional right to abortions and leaves the decision up to each state. It is expected that about half of U.S. states will ban or restrict access to a women’s reproductive rights.
What does this mean for millions of Americans? Even more so, what does this mean for Black women and Black communities who already disproportionately face challenges accessing health care?
Removing a woman’s fundamental right to autonomy over her body has been fiercely debated in the fifty years since the Roe decision. Abortion restrictions are connected to the oppression that deny women, especially Black women, their constitutional rights, such as: the right to privacy, risks of pregnancy & maternal death, decrease of earning potential, and unequal healthcare access are all valid components of arguments to keep abortion safe and legal.
But broader issues that affect the entire Black community also should be considered.
The Turnaway Study – a ten-year study that tracked more than 1000 women – found the women that were denied abortions were more likely to experience poverty, eviction, and have lower credit scores. Lack of financial security and safety subject children to households that may experience food insecurity, inadequate housing, and domestic violence.
ABFE will host a virtual funder briefing with Women’s Funding Network on July 6th from 2-3pm focused on bringing attention to organizations that are engaged in combatting reproductive inequities and work to tread a collaborative pathway forward to amplify our shared call to action.
The webinar aims to lift-up Black-led reproductive justice organizations and their collective response to Supreme Court and other state court decisions regarding Roe v. Wade. Register now to attend.
|