A Trump presidency could mean a rollback of hard-won reproductive rights, and perhaps even an end to Roe vs. Wade. For this to occur, President-Elect Trump needs just two Supreme Court nominees. The right abortion rights case—something anti-choice advocates are constantly seeking—could then sound the death knell for nationwide abortion rights. In a world without Roe vs. Wade, states could ban and even criminalize abortion, making a dystopian future in which women are jailed for seeking abortions a grim present reality.
Schemes to get Electoral College electors to change their votes will not change the pending reality of a Trump presidency. Democracies are not magic, and there is no “little-known law” that will make Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton president.
That doesn't mean all is hopeless. Reproductive rights advocates can fight back against encroachments on bodily autonomy. Forget about protests and Facebook posts that feel good but do nothing. Here are five strategies that could actually work.
Learn to Dispel Anti-Abortion Myths
Anti-choice zealots love to share horrifying stories about selfish women “killing” fetuses near birth or ripping half-born babies limb from limb. When this is our national understanding of abortion, reproductive rights are doomed. Learn about abortion so you can dispel anti-choice lies and rhetoric. When you see these lies on social media, at family dinners, and in inflammatory emails, gently correct them with the facts.
By humanizing women who seek abortions and clarifying that an abortion is a medical procedure, not a barbaric crime, you can begin changing minds—or at least prevent conservatives from becoming more entrenched. The Guttmacher Institute is an excellent source for reliable data and health information about abortion. The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy has debunked a number of so-called “partial birth abortion” myths here.
Donate Your Time
Turn your fear and anger into something that benefits women facing abortion in an uncertain political climate. Consider volunteering as a clinic escort. In so doing, you can reassure women that their bodies are their own, offer a shoulder to cry on, and protect women seeking abortions from the cruelty of anti-choice protesters. Some other ways to defend women and reproductive rights include:
Volunteering at your local rape crisis center. Some women seek abortions after a sexual assault.
Donating clothing or time to your local domestic violence shelter. Many women choose abortions to avoid being trapped in an abusive relationship.
Lobbying for your local Planned Parenthood.
Volunteering for “tabling” events on behalf of local reproductive rights organizations. This gives you the chance to dispel anti-abortion myths and put a friendly face on the abortion rights movement.
Donate Your Money
Anti-choice activists are right about one thing: reproductive rights organizations are effective, thoughtful advocates. If you're not sure how to help, donate your money to the organizations that already know what works. Some options include:
Appeal to Elected Officials
It's unlikely you'll convince anti-choice legislators to support reproductive freedom. You can, however, encourage them to see nuance in the abortion debate. You may even be able to convince them that rolling back abortion rights will spark a massive political backlash.
Write your state and federal legislators to share why you support abortion rights. Be friendly, respectful, and open to difference. If you've had an abortion, consider sharing your story. This strategy makes you more difficult to ignore, and puts a human face on the abortion rights movement.
To find your elected officials, click here.
Educate Yourself About Other Reproductive Rights Issues
Abortion rights are just one piece of the reproductive rights puzzle. If you're invested in women's bodily autonomy and equality, learn about other reproductive issues. Our Bodies, Our Crimes is an excellent resource.
Courts routinely rule on a host of reproductive issues, including forced surgeries of pregnant women. Some of the many constraints on reproductive freedom that some women have faced include:
Forced interventions during childbirth, including forced episiotomy—a usually unnecessary cutting of the vagina.
“Fetal personhood” laws that criminalize conduct during pregnancy. Women may lose custody of their children for smoking marijuana or using other drugs even before they know they are pregnant. These laws mean that many pregnant women with substance use disorders are reluctant to seek treatment.
The abuse of pregnant jail and prison inmates. Women may be shackled during labor and birth, receive inadequate prenatal and postpartum care, and even face physical abuse from guards while pregnant.
Criminalizing miscarriages. States that restrict abortion are increasingly targeting women who have miscarriages. Indiana, for example, recently attempted to force women to report their miscarriages and bury the fetal remains. If courts reverse Roe, every miscarriage survivor could become a suspect.
Forced surgeries. Courts have ordered pregnant women to undergo C-sections. In at least once case, the C-section killed both the woman and her baby..
To learn more about the full spectrum of reproductive rights, visit National Advocates for Pregnant Women.