I can’t say I’m surprised about the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Men have been working to suppress women and their rights for as long as they existed. Society may never reach equity, or even equality, so long as men have the dominating voice in society. Why is that anyways? Women far outnumber men and have, biologically, more capabilities than men, mentally and otherwise. Oh right, because men have always suppressed women and engrained into women that we don’t matter, don’t have a voice, and must submit to men. Can I blame religion for that? The most denigrating and misogynistic households I’ve come across are religious. Albeit a majority of their children nowadays do not follow in their footsteps, thank god.

Perhaps there will be a turn in society once all the older generations die off and the more free-spirited, liberal people can have their proper say without being shut out.

How long would that take? Another 30 years? By then, we’ll be the older generations that hate change. Pray that our minds continue to be open and accepting as we age.

I’m grateful to reside in California, where albeit cost of living costs an arm and a leg, our society is mainly openminded (and usually on the right side) about many modern day controversial topics such as gender expression, polygamy, nontraditional career paths, and women’s rights. I’m not a politic person, but I do recognize the good efforts that Governor Newsom is providing, or attempting to provide, to women regarding abortion. I’m grateful California is part of the “West Coast Offense” against abortion laws.

I was researching what local ways I can help abortion clinics and stumbled upon an article from 1989 where the issue of abortion was a hot topic. 1989. We’ve literally regressed back to 1989 by overturning Roe v. Wade. That’s literally before I was born. It’s disappointing, but what’s more disappointing is that it’s not surprising. Who really had faith that they would uphold Roe v. Wade? Who’s really shocked about the outcome? Outraged, yes, but shocked? Surprised? I don’t think so.

Giving that I’m not surprised by the outcome, I’m not extremely furious nor otherwise emotional about the Court’s ruling. It’s just a constant cycle in America of our basic rights being violated, treated as less than human, outrage, protests, some slight change (or none at all), and then slowly it becomes old news as new issues come about.

I’ll be honest – I’ve never protested because I’ve always been scared of my own physical health in regards to protesting. You see all over the news and social media the violent outcomes of rallies and protests to the extent that peaceful protests are not given media coverage. It also doesn’t make much sense to me to protest against Roe v. Wade in California, where our abortion rights are already protected and will continue to be protected, thanks to Newsom and Biden. It would make more sense to protest in a state which is holding more stringent abortion laws or banning it altogether. It would make more sense to support abortion clinics and health care providers for abortion, to help provide safe spaces for those seeking help or to just tell their story.

One way that I can see a protest helping is the subsequent result of a major disruption in daily business. We run on money. All the nation and politicians care about is money. If we gather enough people to protest across the nation to the extent that it disrupts businesses and the economy, then the federal government may finally make a change. The only way to override the Supreme Court’s decision in overturning Roe v. Wade is for a federal law to be enacted because federal law always trumps state laws. The only way to elicit a change is on a huge scale, statewide for the states that are banning abortion, and possibly even nationwide as we support those states.

I can see how protesting in California shows our support to other states that are under further oppression of their rights, but California is also one of the few states now that provides a safe place for women seeking abortion – meaning abortion clinics will need more help keeping up with the demand. Which circles around to why supporting abortion clinics and health care providers at this time is crucial.

We have literally regressed in time by today’s Supreme Court decision. Hopefully it’s not the beginning of further regression.

Planned Parenthood is currently matching donations $1 for $1. Our abortion clinics and health care providers need our help. In addition to the onslaught of health care provider shortages due to COVID, they need our help more now.

ACLU.org also provides information on how to fight against anti-abortion laws.

The main concept here isn’t even if you’re anti-abortion or pro-abortion. The concept here is that you don’t have a say on what someone else does with their own body, regardless of your own ideals and beliefs. You cannot tell someone else what to do with their own body. Just like how rape and sexual assault are illegal because someone is forcing another person to engage in an act against their will – anti-abortion laws should be illegal as well. We have the right to body autonomy, safety, and security of our bodies.

Stop telling us what to do with our bodies.

Stop forcing us to do what men want us to do.