With the current appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, many women are fearful of losing their rights to both abortion and birth control.
It has long been said that a Donald Trump presidency would overturn Roe v. Wade, which is a landmark court case that protects a woman’s right to abortion. With the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the appointment of conservative Coney Barrett, those feelings of terror that abortion could become illegal are alive and well. It has gotten to the point where on social media some women are advocating for other women to get an IUD, a long-lasting contraceptive, in case access to birth control is hindered in the coming years.
In a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, it showed that women sought long-lasting contraceptives in the first 30 days after Trump’s 2016 election. That fervor is making a comeback with the appointment of Coney Barrett. Some women say IUDs are not for everyone and to stop pressuring women to get something without thinking of possible side effects or consequences. This division does everything but assist a woman living in 2020 America. Personally, it is really smart to think long-term, but at the same time, women pressuring other women on social media is not what we need right now. Trump winning the election and having a second term in office will only increase the likelihood that these measures will be taken in case access to birth control is obstructed.
I hear a lot of people say that they could have never imagined something like this happening in this country and that we are living through a crucial time in history. And, that is the reality.
Major cities are boarding up ahead of the upcoming election, and what is so terrifying to comprehend is that people plan to stay inside and avoid going out for the entirety of the week. As I previously mentioned, major cities are boarding up most likely to prepare for any riots that may break out after the election. What I have not seen, though, is any preparations from colleges with the election right around the corner. Typically, it is university students and the younger masses who want their voices to be heard. I know some professors are easing their workloads on Tuesday because of the election, but I think it is interesting and maybe a little unsettling that colleges are not preparing for the election. For example, schools should have canceled both hybrid and synchronous classes for Tuesday, and any students who work on campus outside of necessary jobs like dining hall employees should have had the day off. University Police should have policed the campus more vigilantly, and the town and school could have worked together to set up check points on the main roads. With daylight savings, it gets darker earlier, and with election results coming in at night the safety of students should have been a priority. Because of COVID-19, students could not protest, demonstrate or participate in any other legal forms of protests, so I think it would be smart for college campuses to create an outlet for students. We are living through such an important time in history and 2020 has not stopped throwing curveballs at American citizens.
Photo from Flickr
