Image - Mobile

Texas’ War on Women

In light of the latest attack on women’s reproductive rights, we want to say unequivocally: The Basement support a woman’s right to choose.

A country long since at war with itself, the US’ latest controversy has gone beyond national in-fighting to declare an all-out war on women. Make no mistake: the recent blanket ban on abortion access in Texas is not about protecting the unborn; it’s about male dominance over women and an attack on female agency and her right to make choices about her own body. 

Manipulatively monikered ’The Heartbeat Act’ the new legislation makes voluntary termination illegal after the 6-week mark in the southern state. Overturning the landmark Roe v Wade ruling, which permitted for termination at any point before the foetus is deemed viable (able to survive independently from the womb, usually between 24 and 28 weeks), this new law drastically reduces this window to the inception of a foetal heartbeat at 6 weeks. Many women and girls do not know they are pregnant by 6 weeks; a figure which drastically rises in cases of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. 

The defence of ‘unborn human life’ is nothing more than a smokescreen to veil the reality that these new laws are just a continuation of the centuries-long obsession male lawmakers have with women’s reproductive health. If the unborn were truly the priority, these pretend Samaritans would instead invest time and resources in a comprehensive social care system that includes provisions for access to better reproductive education, contraception, and family planning. Besides, the data is clear: abortion bans don’t prevent abortions, they simply push them underground putting women and girls at extreme risk.

And worse? These new laws directly target and criminalise women and healthcare professionals; conveniently side-stepping any repercussions for men whose involvement in the pregnancies goes without explanation and who directly benefit from access to abortion without the risk of stigma and – now – potential jail time. There is a man who shares responsibility for every single abortion. Men’s abject exclusion from these laws is further testament that this is not about reproductive rights; this is about subjugating women. Ask yourself, how many men do you know who have benefitted from abortion access?

Deferring to wiser words, Methodist Pastor David Barnhart said:

The ‘unborn’ are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands on you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they don’t resent your condescension or complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows they don’t ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans they don’t need money education or healthcare; unlike aliens they don’t bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when the are born you can forget about them because they cease to be unborn. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without reimagining social structures, apologizing, making reparations to anyone.

David Barnhart

If you don’t agree with abortion, don’t have one.
The Basement stands with women. We support your right to choose.