Fifty years ago today, in 1973, the Supreme Court handed down two massive rulings: Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Together, they basically said, “Hey, maybe the government shouldn’t be deciding what women do with their uteruses.” Groundbreaking, right? Women could finally breathe a little easier knowing that their right to choose wasn’t just a personal decision but a constitutional one. You know, privacy, autonomy, and all that fun stuff.
In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court told Texas to take several seats because banning abortions except to save the mother’s life wasn’t just outdated—it was unconstitutional. They invoked the Fourteenth Amendment, specifically the part about “due process,” which basically translates to “mind your own business.” And if that wasn’t enough, the same day, Doe v. Bolton took it a step further and said, “Health isn’t just about not dying.” It’s about mental health, emotional well-being, and, let’s face it, not ruining your entire life over something you’re not ready for.
For nearly 50 years, those decisions were like the bedrock of reproductive freedom in this country. Until 2022, when the Supreme Court woke up and chose chaos with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This ruling essentially said, “Actually, we’re going to let individual states decide what women can do with their bodies. Good luck!” And just like that, America turned into a patchwork quilt of abortion laws—except instead of cozy and warm, it’s cold and infuriating.
Now, some states are like, “Come here; we’ll help you!” And others are like, “Even thinking about abortion could get you arrested.” South Carolina, for example, has a six-week ban—because apparently, they expect women to know they’re pregnant before they even miss their first period. Poor Emma Giglio, who had to travel all the way to Maryland for a procedure, is living proof of how absurd this has become. Imagine telling your boss, “I can’t come to work—I have to drive across three states because my state doesn’t think I deserve basic healthcare.” That’s not a road trip; that’s a dystopian novel.
And here we are today, staring down the barrel of a new administration that’s already rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives like they’re cleaning out a garage. “Who needs protections for marginalized communities?” they seem to say. Women, people of color, LGBTQ folks—we’re all just supposed to figure it out on our own now. Cool, cool, cool.
For women, it’s especially chilling. Workplace protections, equal pay, access to healthcare—these are not “nice-to-haves.” They’re essential. And yet, every time we get a step closer to equality, there’s a group of dudes in power yelling, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down! Let’s not get crazy.”
So, what’s the message here? If you’re feeling like you’ve time-traveled back to the 1950s, you’re not alone. And if you’re thinking, “Gee, maybe it’s time to organize, protest, and make some noise,” you’re absolutely right. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that these fights aren’t over when the law changes—they’re over when we say they are. And that day is definitely not today.
