Forced Motherhood
I was originally planning to write a wholesome handmade gift guide for Mother’s Day, but at this moment of a politically tumultuous attack against reproductive rights, it seems much more appropriate to talk about the gift - the right - of choosing not to become a Mother, of deciding when one wants to do so if at all, the right of CHOICE.
One would like to think that in the year 2022, roughly 49 years after the precedent-setting decision of Roe v. Wade, this kind of human rights backslide would not even be considered, let alone possible. But it is being considered, and it is possible. According to various news outlets from NBC, the NYT, and NPR, if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court, nearly two dozen states are likely to ban abortions or severely restrict access to the procedure. “Thirteen have ‘trigger laws’ that would ban abortion almost immediately.”
So the question is, how likely is this to officially go into effect? Well, there are 9 Supreme court justices, meaning 5 makes a majority vote, which is how many judges have voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in the drafted majority opinion. The ruling, however it officially lands, will be “final” when it is published sometime in June or July.
So now we wait.
I hope that the roughly 70% of Americans that acknowledge that reproductive choice is a human right will speak out about this without fear, continually educate themselves and others, and support legislators that advocate and fight for a better future, one that does not backslide on progress. It can be extremely defeating, to feel as though our voices, our votes, don’t matter, that we are not honestly being represented. We have to keep speaking out, demonstrating, supporting nonprofit organizations, and protesting, especially for those who cannot do so themselves, for those who will be disproportionately affected by this kind of decision. It is our responsibility to keep fighting, for those that paved the way and for future generations.
Thank you for reading, and on a lighter note, if you want my drafted list of Mother’s day gift ideas so that it may not go to waste, here it is!
Handmade Mothers Day Gift Ideas:
Draw a photo you like of yourself with your mom, or your family. It doesn’t have to be realistic or perfect either. It can just be abstract linework!
Handwrite a letter or card, maybe list the reasons you’re grateful for your Mom or things that remind you of her fondly.
Flowers, especially if you pick a bundle at Trader Joes or Publix and put it together yourself, or gather some wildflowers if you find some!
Propagate one of your plants and pot it. You can even put a little toothpick note inside the soil with something sweet on it, or paint a rock and place it in with the plant.
Make her baked goods! I typically lean toward baking things that aren’t desserts but instead breakfast or snack items such as banana bread or muffins.
If you don’t celebrate Mother’s Day, for whatever personal reason it may be, I encourage you to maybe do one of these things for any loved one instead! These are all fairly universally appreciated gestures, and anyone would be grateful to receive a gift from you.
