Women and girls have gone back and may stay there for a long time.
27 June 2025
Despite the outpouring of support from women’s rights advocates, it was not enough. In one of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history, the Dobbs court ended 50 years of abortion rights for women and girls. It may take decades to restore these rights, and even then, the situation will likely remain much worse than it once was.
This is the present and future state of reproductive rights for women and girls:
Your rights depend on where you live. In Republican controlled states, women typically have far fewer rights than in Democratic controlled states (see also here).
The Trump administration and Republicans nationwide are working to weaken these rights everywhere, including in blue states. To keep up with the latest developments, I recommend Jessica Valenti’s blog, Abortion Every Day, though be warned, it can be quite depressing.
Trump and Republican leaders want women to return to the status they had in the 1960s or earlier (i.e. “in their place”). Back then, women were often treated as the property of men and lacked many independent rights. Every week, Trump, his appointees and Republican officials make statements reinforcing this view, despite strong public support for abortion rights.
How important are the rights of women and girls to you? To reverse these losses, women, girls and their supporters will need to work hard and for a long time. Here are some concrete actions to consider:
Vote Democratic in every state and federal election. Today, there are few, if any, Republicans who reliably support women’s reproductive rights, no matter what they claim. In 2025, many fear Trump’s retaliation if they don’t act as his loyal followers.
Remember, many key decisions are made at the state level, so votes for Governor, State Representative, State Senator and Attorney General matter greatly.
Be public about your support. Let people know where you stand (except where inappropriate, such as some workplaces). Talk with the men in your life and ask them to stand with you.
Support Democratic candidates and these issues through donations, volunteering and spreading awareness. Opponents of women’s rights will keep fighting for decades, even when they lose. We must be prepared to do the same and more.
Reconsider who gets your money. Many billionaires fund Republicans and anti-abortion efforts. Instead, support small businesses that don’t have the power to tilt the political system so much. Here are some changes I’ve made and suggest:
Move your money from large banks to smaller banks or credit unions.
Shop at local small businesses instead of national chains.
Pay with cash when possible instead of credit cards from big banks.
Avoid Amazon; buy directly from manufacturers.
Periodically review your spending to see if there are local alternatives.
It seems unfair that we now have to work so hard to get close to where we used to be. But this is the reality we face.
What do you think? Reply below or email me at Nat@PathologyOutlines.com.
The index to my prior essays (mostly post 5 November 2024) is here.
I have another blog on Cancer and Medicine.
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Email me at Nat@PathologyOutlines.com.
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