he physical wellbeing of girls and women continues to be in jeopardy globally. Concerns in the U.S. over women’s wellbeing—particularly in reproductive decision–making—is just one part of a broader global trend in which women are losing the ability to make their own wellbeing choices. Policies limiting women’s decision–making power are without scientific merit and have led to devastating consequences.
Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28–year–old medical assistant, is a perfect but tragic example. In August 2022, Ms. Thurman was experiencing a severe infection caused by residual fetal tissue following a medication abortion that required urgent removal from her uterus using a routine procedure called a dilatation and curettage (D&C). Unfortunately, Georgia’s recently–enacted abortion law criminalized terminations of pregnancy after six weeks except under life–threatening situations. The medical team waited 20 hours before intervening at which point the single mother of a six–year–old boy fell into septic shock and multiorgan failure. She died later that day.
Doctors are horrified by the preventable death of this young, otherwise healthy woman. In any other clinical scenario, these physicians and nurses would have lost their licenses. The severe restrictions and outright bans on abortion in half of U.S. states is wreaking havoc for women and their families, leading to a public health crisis. Experts expect U.S. maternal and infant mortality to increase following the restrictions on reproductive care, particularly among marginalized communities.
It is difficult not to conclude that elected officials in the U.S., as well as other parts of the world—the Taliban’s alarming oppression of women in Afghanistan as a stark example—view girls and women as second–class citizens. Speaking to a broader issue of human rights violations against girls and women globally, a recent United Nations report revealed that too little progress has been made to fight femicide, the most extreme form of violence against girls and women. We need significant cultural shifts in order to respect, support, and treat girls and women as equals.
Trusting women to make decisions about their own bodies and overall wellbeing is a start. This is not only a human rights issue but an economic one. When a woman accidentally becomes pregnant, is unable to get an abortion, and is forced to carry out a pregnancy, her education and employment become jeopardized. Studies show that motherhood is a major determinant to a woman’s financial decline. But when a man becomes a father, his financial opportunities increase. Data, however, shows that when women have economic freedom, the entire community benefits. Cultural change takes time, but it takes longer when the world’s largest minority continues to be oppressed.
a global affairs media network
Elected officials must trust women to make decisions about their wellbeing
Photo by Eben Kassaye on Unsplash
December 18, 2024
When women’s ability to make decisions about their own wellbeing is undermined, the consequences are both moral and economic. But around the world, a lack of trust toward women to make decisions about their wellbeing is costing communities, writers Dr. Lipi Roy.
T
he physical wellbeing of girls and women continues to be in jeopardy globally. Concerns in the U.S. over women’s wellbeing—particularly in reproductive decision–making—is just one part of a broader global trend in which women are losing the ability to make their own wellbeing choices. Policies limiting women’s decision–making power are without scientific merit and have led to devastating consequences.
Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28–year–old medical assistant, is a perfect but tragic example. In August 2022, Ms. Thurman was experiencing a severe infection caused by residual fetal tissue following a medication abortion that required urgent removal from her uterus using a routine procedure called a dilatation and curettage (D&C). Unfortunately, Georgia’s recently–enacted abortion law criminalized terminations of pregnancy after six weeks except under life–threatening situations. The medical team waited 20 hours before intervening at which point the single mother of a six–year–old boy fell into septic shock and multiorgan failure. She died later that day.
Doctors are horrified by the preventable death of this young, otherwise healthy woman. In any other clinical scenario, these physicians and nurses would have lost their licenses. The severe restrictions and outright bans on abortion in half of U.S. states is wreaking havoc for women and their families, leading to a public health crisis. Experts expect U.S. maternal and infant mortality to increase following the restrictions on reproductive care, particularly among marginalized communities.
It is difficult not to conclude that elected officials in the U.S., as well as other parts of the world—the Taliban’s alarming oppression of women in Afghanistan as a stark example—view girls and women as second–class citizens. Speaking to a broader issue of human rights violations against girls and women globally, a recent United Nations report revealed that too little progress has been made to fight femicide, the most extreme form of violence against girls and women. We need significant cultural shifts in order to respect, support, and treat girls and women as equals.
Trusting women to make decisions about their own bodies and overall wellbeing is a start. This is not only a human rights issue but an economic one. When a woman accidentally becomes pregnant, is unable to get an abortion, and is forced to carry out a pregnancy, her education and employment become jeopardized. Studies show that motherhood is a major determinant to a woman’s financial decline. But when a man becomes a father, his financial opportunities increase. Data, however, shows that when women have economic freedom, the entire community benefits. Cultural change takes time, but it takes longer when the world’s largest minority continues to be oppressed.
