Oh, Meg. Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story. Your writing always makes me stop and think, and sometimes it makes me sad, but this essay punched me in the gut. I'm 62 and long past the age when I might need an abortion, but my heart breaks for my daughter and her friends and all those women who won't be able to safely make the choice that is right for them. These are dark days.
"who won't be able to safely make the choice that is right for them" - this is exactly it. So many people will still get the abortions they need, but in circumstances that are unsafe. People will die because of this. Mostly people who cannot afford to travel to places where it is safe. Thank you so much for being here.
Thank you for sharing this, Meg. I don’t think this will result in fewer abortions, it will certainly result in more women dying because of botched ones. I am just appalled - I am surprised at how appalled, since I did think this would happen. Hoping against hope, maybe? It is so hard as a Canadian to watch what is happening in the US (I know it’s infinitesimally worse for most Americans!!) I really hope this will mobilize people to vote in the midterms…
I thought this would happen too but also felt shocked. I am not sure how those two things live together, but they do so often. I must admit, I am not sure what voting will do. Democrats are in power and they still are not able to pass the legislation that would codify Roe and so protect it from the Supreme Court. So, we must vote, always! But I am also not sure it will help. A hard place to be. Thank you so much for your words here.
I think that voting at least will help ensure that the Republicans don’t take over the House and Senate. I realize the Democrats have not been able to get much done - but they did get one Supreme Court Justice confirmed, and with the Republicans in charge things certainly won’t get better and in all probability will get worse.
I think one thing we forget is that overturning Roe has been in the works for 40 years. It’s not a case of “the democrats are in power today and should do something.” There has been planned, systematic action since the 80s by people wanting to change this law. And they stuck to their plan and it worked. Voting in one or two or five elections isn’t going to change an outcome right now. Maybe if we focus and have a game plan it will change things in future generations. I really liked Jill Lepore’s book These Truths because it gives a concise history of the US and plainly explains what happened in the 70s and 80s that led to this point. Also Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez helps add another layer to this whole thing. It’s just a mess and it’s going to be a rough summer.
I love both those books. Yes, this has been a very long game. It could be stopped but currently a couple Democrats stand in the way of codifying Roe. The Democratic Party can't seem to unite for this or pretty much anything else. (sigh Biden BuildsBack Better bill.) You're right, it is such a mess.
Lots of grassroots organizations led by Black, Indigenous and Latinx activists have been so focused on generational work for so long. But white feminism, racism, and and every other -ism has meant they've been left to work alone much of the time. It's so dizzying it's hard to know where to start.
Have you read Caste by Isabel Wilkerson? I’m reading it now and it adds a whole other layer to the “-isms” in our society. I think it contributes to the fragmentation of the Democratic Party, as well as why the tireless work of grassroots organizations of minorities goes unnoticed or unrewarded in our society.
Not that reading it solves any problems. I think it shows how complicated the real world is. And that alone is overwhelming and almost debilitating.
Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story. It is the story of many women, and we need to hear all the stories. By the way, your post pushed me into subscribing. :-)
Oh, thank you so much for reading. And thank you so much for subscribing. I hope I continue to make this space somewhere that feels worth your time and hard earned money!
I read this last night and it prompted me to share my history with abortion. I was terrified of sharing it on my private IG but decided that I would rather be someone who said something. I turned off comments to feel safer. I have been so relieved to see that people who follow me liked and responded (privately) to what I said. Thank you for helping me feel a little braver.
Oh, Meg. Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story. Your writing always makes me stop and think, and sometimes it makes me sad, but this essay punched me in the gut. I'm 62 and long past the age when I might need an abortion, but my heart breaks for my daughter and her friends and all those women who won't be able to safely make the choice that is right for them. These are dark days.
"who won't be able to safely make the choice that is right for them" - this is exactly it. So many people will still get the abortions they need, but in circumstances that are unsafe. People will die because of this. Mostly people who cannot afford to travel to places where it is safe. Thank you so much for being here.
Yes, as with so many things, the burden will fall unevenly.
Thank you for sharing this, Meg. I don’t think this will result in fewer abortions, it will certainly result in more women dying because of botched ones. I am just appalled - I am surprised at how appalled, since I did think this would happen. Hoping against hope, maybe? It is so hard as a Canadian to watch what is happening in the US (I know it’s infinitesimally worse for most Americans!!) I really hope this will mobilize people to vote in the midterms…
I thought this would happen too but also felt shocked. I am not sure how those two things live together, but they do so often. I must admit, I am not sure what voting will do. Democrats are in power and they still are not able to pass the legislation that would codify Roe and so protect it from the Supreme Court. So, we must vote, always! But I am also not sure it will help. A hard place to be. Thank you so much for your words here.
I think that voting at least will help ensure that the Republicans don’t take over the House and Senate. I realize the Democrats have not been able to get much done - but they did get one Supreme Court Justice confirmed, and with the Republicans in charge things certainly won’t get better and in all probability will get worse.
Yes, absolutely voting is still key. Or I hope it is. I hope it can be.
I think one thing we forget is that overturning Roe has been in the works for 40 years. It’s not a case of “the democrats are in power today and should do something.” There has been planned, systematic action since the 80s by people wanting to change this law. And they stuck to their plan and it worked. Voting in one or two or five elections isn’t going to change an outcome right now. Maybe if we focus and have a game plan it will change things in future generations. I really liked Jill Lepore’s book These Truths because it gives a concise history of the US and plainly explains what happened in the 70s and 80s that led to this point. Also Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez helps add another layer to this whole thing. It’s just a mess and it’s going to be a rough summer.
I love both those books. Yes, this has been a very long game. It could be stopped but currently a couple Democrats stand in the way of codifying Roe. The Democratic Party can't seem to unite for this or pretty much anything else. (sigh Biden BuildsBack Better bill.) You're right, it is such a mess.
Lots of grassroots organizations led by Black, Indigenous and Latinx activists have been so focused on generational work for so long. But white feminism, racism, and and every other -ism has meant they've been left to work alone much of the time. It's so dizzying it's hard to know where to start.
You know this, I am sure, but sharing for everyone else reading the thread : donating money to abortion funds is a place to start. Today on Culture Study, Anne Helen Petersen shared this spreadsheet of abortion funds in every state. https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1T-aDTsZXnKhMcrDmtcD35aWs00gw5piocDhaFy5LKDY/edit
Have you read Caste by Isabel Wilkerson? I’m reading it now and it adds a whole other layer to the “-isms” in our society. I think it contributes to the fragmentation of the Democratic Party, as well as why the tireless work of grassroots organizations of minorities goes unnoticed or unrewarded in our society.
Not that reading it solves any problems. I think it shows how complicated the real world is. And that alone is overwhelming and almost debilitating.
That's a truly great book. And yes, it really helped me understand so much. I also loved her book The Warmth of Other Suns. https://bookshop.org/books/the-warmth-of-other-suns-the-epic-story-of-america-s-great-migration/9780679763888
Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story. It is the story of many women, and we need to hear all the stories. By the way, your post pushed me into subscribing. :-)
Oh, thank you so much for reading. And thank you so much for subscribing. I hope I continue to make this space somewhere that feels worth your time and hard earned money!
I read this last night and it prompted me to share my history with abortion. I was terrified of sharing it on my private IG but decided that I would rather be someone who said something. I turned off comments to feel safer. I have been so relieved to see that people who follow me liked and responded (privately) to what I said. Thank you for helping me feel a little braver.