Last month, France enshrined access to abortion in its constitution, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Global abortion rights activists celebrated the French Parliament’s decision to protect bodily autonomy and assert abortion as a fundamental right. However, for many in the United States, news of this amendment came as a sharp contrast to abortion legislation in our own country. Nearly two years ago, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that established abortion as a constitutional right. That decision has dramatically impacted the healthcare landscape in the U.S. and will continue to exacerbate existing social pressures and systemic injustices.
When Roe v. Wade was first decided, it placed the United States far ahead in terms of global abortion legislation. Not only was the U.S. at the beginning of a trend of expanded access to abortion, but the U.S. also protected abortion through a later point than many other countries. The outcome of Roe v. Wade protected abortion nationwide until the second trimester of pregnancy. Currently, most nations that allow abortion do so until the point of viability, at around 24 weeks. This global lead on abortion access changed when Roe v. Wade fell. In overturning Roe, the U.S. joined just one other country, Nicaragua, in restricting abortion access since 2000. Thirty-seven other countries have liberalized their policies on abortion in that time. In the U.S., twenty-one states have banned or heavily restricted abortion since the overturning of Roe, and others continue to follow.
When Roe v. Wade was overturned, amid an outcry on social media and in person, one statement continued to circulate: “This court will not stop at abortion.” This message referred to the other cases that, like Roe v. Wade, were decided under the right to privacy that has been established as a constitutional right. Although this right is not explicitly laid out in the Constitution, several cases have set a legal precedent for protecting the right to privacy. At a time when the future of abortion in this country is so uncertain, it is difficult not to worry about the other rights that have been established on the same legal reasoning as Roe v. Wade. However, although fears of losing additional rights are not without justification, their protection is not the only issue that Roe v. Wade’s removal awakened us to. Less discussed is how abortion legislation trends in the United States reveal a much less socially advanced country than many of us would like to believe we live in.
With attention turned to abortion, the broader need for equal reproductive healthcare has been at the forefront of many minds. Time and time again, American policy and legislation have sent a clear message: pregnant people and new parents don’t matter. Our lack of universal postpartum care, nationwide paid parental leave, and affordable childcare is not normal. Paid parental leave has been shown to improve physical and mental health, and increase the likelihood of parents returning to work after their leave. This is a stark contrast to the U.S., where only 23% of workers had access to paid parental leave as of 2021. Furthermore, the maternal mortality rate in the United States is staggering. Compared to other high-income nations, deaths during childbirth happen at a ten times higher rate in the U.S.
Make no mistake—America’s exceptionally high maternal mortality rate is systemically intertwined with our outdated abortion legislation trends. Throughout the U.S., attention, and therefore funding, is directed toward unborn life, rather than the lives of those carrying them. Regions of the country that are most impacted by abortion regulations, limited access to maternal care, and inequitable healthcare are overwhelmingly made up of low-income communities and Black and Brown communities.
Americans spend roughly twice as much on healthcare than citizens in many of our peer nations do. Still, however, we fail to ensure equitable access to healthcare. According to the 2024 Social Progress Index report, the U.S. lagged behind our peer nations regarding equitable access to healthcare, coming in at 89th place globally. Systemic racism and classism, among other social issues, have created a healthcare landscape in which marginalized citizens are paying more money for inadequate care.
The fall of Roe v. Wade served as a powerful reminder of how necessary it is that we protect our current rights. It would be an enormous disservice to all citizens of the United States if we ignored the ongoing healthcare crisis that is inextricably linked to the systemic injustices our nation was founded on. As other countries continue to expand reproductive health and improve societal inequalities, it is my sincere hope that the U.S. will follow. Until then, supporters of reproductive freedom and a truly equal future cannot stop fighting until everyone has achieved justice.