Disclaimer: Please consider where you are mentally and emotionally right now. The following article addresses and elaborates on the subject of abortion, sexual assault, and death.
Our campus received a visit from a group of men this past week. They brought with them enlarged photos of fetuses in an attempt to spread their belief that abortion is wrong, and nobody should have access to safe reproductive healthcare.
It is clear to me that they did not come to fight for a woman’s right to choose to see her pregnancy to term. Women already have that right, and nobody has tried to take it away. Instead, they came here to prevent women from ever having that choice.
They must have found nothing wrong with bringing bloody photos to a community college full of young teenagers in Running Start, or had any empathy for students or faculty who have suffered from being bombarded with these images without so much as a warning that they would be here.
And while the first amendment offers them the right to speak their opinion, where is my right to not have to see mutilation and graphic images on the way to class or to get a cup of coffee on my college campus? Where is the right of those who may have had to face hard situations and decisions in their lives to not be triggered on what is supposed to be a safe campus?
They showed off these photos and posters with bible verses as if they were making a difference but I cannot think of a single service that they provided or any real intention to care for the truly vulnerable. Instead of sensitivity, they use exploitation – hoping to distract from the fact that they offer our community nothing of value.
In reality, abortion is healthcare. Banning abortion has harmed, and will harm women across the country, especially women of color. Any person actively trying to prohibit access to healthcare is aggressively dangerous, regardless of intent. Any argument that denies women the right to abortions is ignorant of science, putting their specific religious belief ahead of care and choice for women.
It is not enough for me that some of these activists mean well. I do not care, because intention does not make up for impact, and the impact of this movement is one of violence and misogyny. I am tired of the bad faith arguments that imply a crusade for children.
Of course, these visitors did not also offer assistance with childcare, proper treatment of existing children, or financial aid for vulnerable families. What they did do is expel shame, guilt, and misinformation.
They offer bible verses, expecting that we take a very specific religious text as law, abusing their own chosen religion to try to manipulate others into submission.
They claim that sexual assault victims must bear the consequences of a predator’s choices when the line should not even be drawn at assault. I resent this even being a point of conversation because women having the right to reproductive medical care should not be considered through the example of their own demise.
Women should not have to be assaulted in order to have rights.
I wouldn’t expect our visitors to understand any of this nuance, since their self-awareness has not been as proudly on display as their dogmas. There are numerous reasons a woman can need or want an abortion, and making them feel guilt over it will do nothing but harm them.
While the existence of damaging propaganda and harmful rhetoric will never truly go away, neither will the people who want to help the most vulnerable through the toughest decisions a person can make.
If you feel alone, you’re not. If you feel judged, we’re not judging you.
There are resources available to you and people who will be there for you. Never forget to reach out for help and advocate for yourself.
Though Public Health Seattle and King County don’t provide abortions, their website has information on local Planned Parenthood facilities where you can discuss your needs with medical personnel. For those needing care who don’t have enough money, visit the Northwest Access to Abortion fund or call their helpline at 1-866-692-2310 to apply for assistance.