Fifty years ago, Norma McCorvey wanted to terminate her pregnancy.
McCorvey, a lower-class woman in her early 20s, had previously given birth twice, putting both children up for adoption.
Olivia Heersink | Argonaut
At the time of her 1969 pregnancy, abortion was legal in McCorvey’s home state of Texas, but only to save a woman’s life. She attempted to obtain an illegal abortion. However, the clinics willing to do so had been closed down by authorities. Eventually, McCorvey turned to attorneys Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington for help.
The pair of lawyers were looking for pregnant women seeking abortions in order to create a case challenging the Texas statute, and McCorvey was their candidate — thus, Jane Roe was born.
For three years, the case was heard in various lower courts before it reached the United States Supreme Court. In the meantime, McCorvey had given birth to the baby in question, who was eventually adopted.
Coffee and Weddington argued a woman’s right to an abortion was supported by the U.S. Constitution through the 14th Amendment, which reads, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.”
The Supreme Court agreed, voting seven-to-two in favor of McCorvey. The landmark decision established a person’s right to privacy, legalizing abortion and giving women autonomy over their bodies during the first trimester — the latter half of the pregnancy would be left up to the individual states to decide.
Prior to Roe v. Wade, women wanting an abortion had to travel to another state to do so or resort to various unsafe methods that cost many their lives. If they were lucky to survive, they often suffered health problems, such as infertility.
And in the time since abortion has been at the forefront of countless arguments by political parties and various social or health organizations.
Many have threatened to overturn the ruling with little success, choosing to instead make state law stricter for those trying to get an abortion, like in West Virginia and Alabama.
“At least 424 anti-abortion bills have been passed at the state level since 2010,” according to a New York Times article.
However, several other states — New York being the most recent — have done the opposite, believing that women deserve complete authority over their bodies, especially when their health is on the line, and I agree.
I do not want any government, religious or medical official to dictate what I can and cannot do with my body — more importantly, I shouldn’t have to when it means life or death.
Even if a woman may never need abortion services, it’s important they know the options exist.
The decision to terminate a pregnancy is difficult and complicated, it shouldn’t be made even more challenging by lack of appropriate access.
The Roe v. Wade decision is just as important now as it was in 1973 — it’s time we realize that.
Olivia Heersink can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @heersinkolivia