I graduated high school in 1962, 13 years before the landmark Supreme Court decision on Roe V Wade making abortion legal thru the first trimester in all 50 states. That is not to say there were no legal abortions prior to Roe. Starting in the early 60's a handful of states allowed abortion for rape, incest, mother's health and defect, but in ordinary circumstances you were on your own unless you had $300 and could get to the co-operative doctor in Storm Lake Iowa.
Life tends to be messy, in 1962 it was a fact exacerbated by a lack of reliable birth control. In my state women couldn't get a diaphragm without her husbands permission and condoms are probably responsible for as many surprise pregnancies as the rhythm method. If you were a sexually active single woman you couldn't get a diaphragm, it was illegal. Unwed motherhood was not a position anyone wanted find themselves or their daughters and yet there they were.
I got angry when the Republicans jumped on their way back machine and decided exactly what women could and more importantly could not have as reproductive rights. No abortions, not ever, never (what an inflexible word) no exceptions, not for rape or incest or defects or the health of the mother, never. In their overweening need to deny access to abortions they want to defund Planned Parenthood. Abortions represent less than 3% of all services offered by Planned Parenthood. Of those abortions 88% are preformed in the first trimester and of those the majority within the first 9 weeks. Women seeking abortions are 7 times more likely to be abused. SEVEN times, what a wonderful situation to bring a child.
Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of reproductive health services seeing nearly 3 million women a year. In addition to cancer, HIV and STD screening they provide birth control and family planning. They serve the poor and working poor without healthcare and often without options. 76% of the women who rely on Planned Parenthood live at or below 150% of the poverty level.
So these "men" who are clueless how the female reproductive system works are suddenly qualified to quantitate not only our health care but our rights regarding that care. They want to do away with most birth control. They want us to be breeders. they have no respect for women, they do not value us as human beings, clearly we are good for making babies and little else.
I feel dirty and violated reading their platform, I suspect a great many women regardless of political affiliation do to. They are betting they can slip us a Mitt and have their way with us. Somehow I don't think that is going to happen because this is more than just a war on women, it is a war on children and the family. Pro life? I ask you pro what kind of life.