Written by Nathan Nguyen
Edited by Danny Nguyen
The overturn of Roe v. Wade was infamous for taking away the reproductive rights of many, which will have an imminent effect on students in the U.S. There are three main forms of harm that students will face in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s reversal.
The first way it negatively impacts students would be physical harm. The physical implications of pregnancy are the most direct issue. This is “simply because staying pregnant is more dangerous than having an abortion” (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health). Moreover, it has been observed that abortion laws do not lead to fewer abortions. According to Ana Lager, professor of the practice of public health and coordinator of the Women and Health Initiative at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “We’ve seen that these laws do not result in fewer abortions. Instead, they compel women to risk their lives and health by seeking out unsafe abortion care” (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health). A study presented by Duke University Press concluded that banning abortion in the U.S. would result in a 21% increase in pregnancy-related deaths. College students could experience these consequences.
However, younger students would also be in danger because the teen pregnancy situation would worsen. Although the majority of teens do not get abortions, the removal of abortion access would continue to increase teen pregnancy rates. This would “put new demands on schools in a system that some experts argue already fails to support teen parents in academic success and graduation” (Education Week).
The second way students will be affected is in the form of academic harm. While someone is pregnant, they cannot spend as much time and money on academics. Additionally, the stress added from pregnancy can worsen academic performance. It can also be a factor in dropping out of high school. According to a 2015 study, 16% of pregnant teens had to drop out of high school due to conceiving (K-12 Dive).
The third way students would be harmed is emotional, as stress and a lack of bodily autonomy—having control over what happens to your body—can take their toll on a student’s wellbeing (Best Colleges). The overturn can also cause emotional harm as it worsens the effect of disparities in healthcare. Disparities in healthcare exist among minoritized populations, and reproductive health disparities impact access to many services that aid them, such as contraception and access to abortion services. This causes some victims’ well-being and livelihood to be harmed, especially minorities who experience reproductive disparities at higher levels compared to other groups. Additionally, students experience emotional harm as people who are denied abortions are shown to have more anxiety, lower self-esteem, and lower life satisfaction (JED).
However, an equally severe problem arises. It has been documented by economists that access to abortion “tends to lower poverty rates and reduce cases of childhood neglect and abuse” (Education Week). With the overturn of Roe v. Wade removing abortion access, many young students would be plagued with poverty and its impact on development and mental/emotional wellness. For one, children who live in poverty are more likely to experience low academic achievement, obesity, behavioral problems, and social and emotional development difficulties (Malhomes, 2012). It should also be noted that poverty inflicts children with increased stress, hindering the development of bodily systems like the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the neuroendocrine and cortical systems. This, in turn, complicates their learning and decision-making (Aber, Morris & Raver, 2012). Poverty is also associated with low family housing resources and stability, low enrichment opportunities, higher levels of danger in a child’s environment, and reduced social control—all factors that have been shown to have a major influence over a child’s development (Brooks-Gunn, Duncan & Aber, 1997; Sampson, Raudenbush & Earls, 1997). The consequences brought on by poverty can have long-lasting effects in the future, such as delinquency in adolescence and reduced opportunities in the future (American Psychological Association). Children who experience neglect show “cognitive impairments, language deficits, academic problems, withdrawn behavior, and problems interacting with peers” (American Bar Association). The American Bar Association states that the severity of these symptoms is actually worse than those found in child victims of physical abuse. Additionally, without intervention such as therapy and supportive care, these children will continue to suffer the aforementioned problems (American Bar Association).
Therefore, it can safely be said that the overturn of Roe v. Wade will have long-lasting effects on U.S. students due to the removal of abortion access in many states and the inevitable rise of poverty.
Sources
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McGee, Vanesha M.Ed. “What the Overturn of Roe v. Wade Could Mean for College
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