Focus the abortion-rights fight on the vulnerable
A patient is escorted into the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic compound by security officers and clinic escorts, in Jackson, Mississippi, Tuesday. The clinic is the only facility that performs abortions in the state. Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
The overturning of Roe v. Wade is devastating for women across the country — particularly for those who live in states that don’t adequately protect their reproductive rights, and who lack the wherewithal to go elsewhere.
That said, all is not lost. By focusing on those places where they can make the most difference for the most vulnerable, activists can still improve on the horrible new status quo.
About 44% of women of childbearing age are fortunate enough to live in the 20 states (and the District of Columbia) that have laws explicitly safeguarding access to abortions. But a breakdown by race and ethnicity shows that some are much less protected than others: Only 32% of Indigenous, 36% of Black and 40% of white women reside in these states, compared with 52% of Hispanic and 67% of Asian women, according to the 2020 American Community Survey. By this measure, the Supreme Court’s decision presents the greatest threat to Indigenous, Black and white women.
What’s the best way to mitigate this threat? Consider four states — New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia — where abortion is allowed, but not expressly protected by state law. If those states adopted legislation to ensure access, they would cover an added 7% of childbearing-age women, bringing the total to 51%. Protection of Indigenous, Black and white women would increase to 42%, 43% and 48%, respectively.
Other vulnerable populations would benefit, too. About one in four women of childbearing age is poor — meaning their income is less than 150% of the poverty level, and they probably lack the financial resources to travel for an abortion. If the states in question moved to guarantee rights, coverage of such women would increase from 40% to 47%. Similarly, coverage of girls under the age of 15 would increase from 43% to 50%.
It’s completely understandable that activists want to wage battle in the 26 states that have banned or are expected to ban abortion. The data suggest, however, that getting other states to better protect access might be a more effective use of resources. Doing so could help guarantee 4.7 million women, and 2.1 million girls, the bodily autonomy and the full scope of health care options that everyone deserves.
Rhonda Vonshay Sharpe is the founder and president of the Women’s Institute for Science, Equity and Race, and co-editor of the Review of Black Political Economy. Her research focuses on gender and racial inequality, diversity in science and the demography of higher education. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
