Jessica Milford
Submitted Article
One in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime. This of course means that it is highly likely that you, the person reading this right now, know someone who has had an abortion, will get an abortion or is contemplating abortion right this minute. Now, take some time to let this realization sink in before reading further.
Today marks the 41st anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court case that confirms a person’s right to have an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Even though having an abortion is legal, there are still many restrictions here in Idaho. First, Idaho law restricts private insurance from covering abortions unless it is in the case of rape, incest or when the life of the person carrying the pregnancy is in danger. Furthermore, this person has to provide legal documentation of their sexual assault or incest, meaning that this person is required to go through the emotionally traumatizing process of reporting their assault or abuse.
Idaho also has a parental consent law which requires the young person carrying the pregnancy to obtain permission from at least one parent to get the abortion procedure. A minor may get judicial bypass from this parental consent law or a letter from their doctor declaring the abortion to be medically necessary, but Idaho law requires that the doctor informs the parents of the young person about the procedure after it happens.
On top of all of this, Idaho mandates that persons seeking out abortion procedures must wait 24 hours before they are able to obtain the procedure. During this 24 hour period the person carrying the pregnancy is required to go though state-directed counseling in which they must view photographs of a fetus and descriptions of its characteristics in 2 week intervals, take information about services for women who carry pregnancies to full term and descriptions of abortion procedures used at various stages of pregnancy, even those procedures that would not pertain to their situation.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 95% of Idaho Counties have no abortion provider and 69% of Idaho women live in these counties. Currently, just two Planned Parenthood clinics serve in Idaho, one in the Northwest and one in the Southeast, which means many women must go through great lengths to even find out correct information about abortion procedures, let alone obtain a procedure. Because of the lack of resources and strict regulations on abortion procedures in Idaho there is a heavy, negative stigma that follows the topic and act of abortion.
This year I am a 1in3 Campaign Campus Organizer. The 1in3 Campaign is a grassroots movement that acts as a catalyst for changing the way we talk and think about abortion. The campaign encourages people who have had abortions to share their story, on their own terms to help alleviate the negative social stigma that comes with having an abortion.
Want to help create a strong, compassionate, supportive community for the 1 in 3 women who have abortions in their lifetime? It’s our campus’ time to make change! Look out for tables and events around campus throughout the Spring 2014 semester and sign my petition declaring that you are in solidarity with the 1in3 Campaign and in support of abortion access. Another way to help further abortion access is by joining me in spreading the message of the 1in3 Campaign to end abortion stigma.
Contact me, Jessica Milford, at ude.usinull@ssejflim. The silence and stigma ends here.
