Surviving in Trump's America: 10 things women can do to protect their rights

[moonshaz]

After the shock of Donald Trump’s presidential win wore off, it didn’t surprise me that one of the first things I saw women doing online was advising others to get IUDs as soon as possible. Anticipating the end of Obamacare, coverage for birth control, perhaps even abortion, a lot of women started to think about long-term contraception and talking

Comments

[exercise]

Do morning after pills expire? I'd assume they do, since most medications do.
As a woman who has very little to no interest in baring children, talk of this legitimately scares me.

[shahar]

You can consider getting an IUD.

[exercise]

I'm not really sure how I feel about that. :/

[lightbird777]

Exactly. There are risks with IUDs.

[maynardsong]

I hate that reproductive justice issues aren't thought of as bread and butter issues. It's definitely not an elitist issue. It won't be the "elitists of liberal bubbles" who get hit hard when anti-choice laws sink roots. Rich ladies will always be able to cross the border into Canada. My mom always said, "Maynardsong, if you get pregnant and they've overturned Roe, I can take you to India." Me and the rest of the bougie women can safely find ways around anti-choice laws without taking a major hit in our livelihood. But those who work three jobs just to make ends meet and already have children to deal with? Those who worry about putting food on the table? THEY'RE the ones that get the most affected by this "cultural" issue.

[thelilyqueen]

Exactly. My grandmother, who led a very traditional life in a lot of ways (married at 18, raised four kids, don't think she ever worked outside the home, etc.) nevertheless had some radicalizing experiences/contacts and would talk frankly about the pre-Roe days and girls she knew who somewhat suddenly developed a yen to go to Europe, others who went to live with a previously unmentioned 'aunt' for a few months, still others who died... guess what socioeconomic group each of those tended to fall into.

[cherriesarered]

Yes, this. Anti-abortion laws scare me on a personal level (I have a uterus), but I, a wealthy white woman, am not going to be the one hit the hardest by these new restrictions.

[amyura]

Totally this. I live in Massachusetts-- if Roe is overturned, odds are abortion would still be legal here, and we have an excellent Planned Parenthood less than an hour from my home. If it did end up becoming illegal, I'm six hours from Montreal-- close enough so that if I got up early enough, an abortion could be a day trip. Most of the red states where abortion is more likely to be outlawed are further away from places where abortion will remain safe and legal. Women who live in poverty or even women who are lower-middle-class won't be able to just take a weekday off to jet up to Canada for an abortion.

And like thelilyqueen, I had a Nana who was staunchly Catholic (and of the old-school, holy pictures in every room, rosary every night, variety) and just as staunchly pro-choice, because a cousin of hers died of a botched illegal abortion.

[ladycyndra]

Thank you for posting this. Its helpful.

[moonshaz]

'Twas my pleasure! :-)

[lightframes]

This is a good list! I probably would not have even thought of #6.