This letter is in response to: Breaking the Bedroom Door

Dear Chronicle Gods,

This is crazy.

Every time I read anything about the government and their incredible thoughts on women’s reproductive rights I am absolutely flabbergasted. I already thought it was crazy enough to be stopping abortions. Just for the record, I am no reproductive professional, so if there is any take I have that is stupid, please correct me.First of all, I understand abortion is a hard topic. Conception to birth takes around 9 months. I would say most people believe that an abortion should not be happening at 8 months and 27 days, but that is not where the problem lies. For me, the problem lies in certain people in the government who decide it is their choice if and when abortions should be legal. I am not one to say until what time period they should be allowed, but I am fairly certain that is better left with some neutral scientists. Even then, however, it is difficult; people will say why not one day after or one day before? To be fair, that is a good question.

In addition to the time frame in which abortions should be allowed, many of the rules about abortion are now up to individual states. I have heard many government leaders argue for why abortion should not be legal, and I have repeatedly heard something that just does not feel right—religious connotations. I am all for religion, but religion cannot continue to be brought up in political contexts in a supposedly secular nation.

While abortion in itself has already created so much tension, I cannot believe what this article mentions about contraceptives. First off, not everyone wants to or can be pregnant at any time. Lots of women use contraceptives to stabalise the constant hormone imbalances that they experience. Most women are on birth control because they are having sex, that’s the point, but how could preventing the release of an egg be considered terminating a pregnancy? For context, many developing countries in Africa are INTRODUCING and promoting contraceptives as opposed to taking them away.

I hope for the future that these rights are properly established and maintained. But for now, I hope that everyone continues to advocate for the reproductive rights women deserve. And boys, no glove, no love.

Thank you,

Charlie Cowan

P.S. Great job caroline. I’ll put that as a comment because it doesn’t fit the same vibe as the letter.