My wife is on a Teen Mom 2 kick.
It happens once or twice a year, and I tolerate the show because hey, happy wife, happy life, right?
In her latest binge session over last weekend, I heard through my peripherals that one of the stars of the show, Jenelle Evans, recently had an abortion.
It surprised me the show would be so public about that decision, and for the first time in a while, I actually stopped what I was doing and started watching the show to hear her explanation.
Evans has a young son already, and her mother has custody of the child due to what I’d call repeated poor decisions on Evans’ part. In the show, she rationalizes the decision to abort her pregnancy in a few ways. On top of saying she regretted the father not wearing a condom, she felt it would not be fair to her son now for her to have another child without custody of him first. Furthermore, she did not have a job or a home of her own at the time.
Evans’ mother supported her decision, taking her to the clinic for the procedure and assuring her daughter she would be able to cope mentally with the decision because she made it on her own.
Evans has a history of drug use and admitted to losing track of her priorities. The abortion seemingly focused her back on her goals, to go back to school, get a job and get on birth control, exemplifying to her son that no matter one’s hangups, you can turn your life around.
Soon, the route Evans took may no longer be a legal one.
A recently leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v Wade, opening the door for states to unilaterally ban abortion, or for U.S. Congress to do the same.
Missouri and 23 other states have a “trigger law.” If Roe v Wade is overturned, abortions in Missouri would automatically be banned, including in cases of rape and incest. The only allowable abortions would be for medical emergencies that immediately threaten a person’s life or will create “irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”
My point for writing this column is not to debate abortion. You are for it or against it, and not many people up and change their minds when it comes to such sensitive topics.
Instead, the reversal of Roe v Wade has wider reaching implications.
This is a pivotal point in our society and how we define individual rights going forward.
The Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution many times in ways that protect personal autonomy, spanning from marriage to procreation to homosexual activity or medical treatment, and yes, abortion.
Such a ruling opens the door for restrictions in other areas. Should unmarried couples be allowed to use contraceptives? Does a person still have the right to refuse life-saving medical treatment, or does pro-life mean we save all lives if possible, regardless of the individual’s wishes? If a man’s sperm can be saved and stored for later fertilization of an egg in a woman, could ejaculating without the goal of pregnancy be considered murder?
Sure, that last one may seem far-fetched, but the precedent will be set.
Equally as concerning as the legal ramifications are the effects an abortion ban would have on women.
A Duke University study in 2021 estimated banning abortion in the U.S. would create a 21 percent increase in pregnancy-related deaths, mainly because staying pregnant is more dangerous than having an abortion. And, the “back alley” abortions that will undoubtedly occur will become a major cause of death and severe health complications for women in difficult situations.
This will save no more babies than died previously — and it will kill many more women.
Personally, women’s access to healthcare and ability to make their own decisions hits home.
My wife has her tubes cut, and although it’s rare, she could develop an ectopic pregnancy, which is never viable and would put my wife’s life at risk. Missouri’s “trigger law” seems to have an allowance should that occur, but what’s to say a doctor wouldn’t rule another way and force us to live with the risk or possibly go a more dangerous route? Would my wife truly get to make the best decision for herself and our family?
These and many others are the questions we will have to answer if the draft decision becomes final. I hope in the quest to save more babies, we don’t lose sight of the mothers who carry and birth them.
Whether you agree with her decision or not, Evans’ on Teen Mom 2, had the ability to make that decision for herself. If it was the right decision or not is something she has to live with, and that personal autonomy is something we had better hold dear.
Kyle Troutman has served as the editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014. In 2017, he was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or editor@ cassville-democrat.com.
