What does Roe mean to you?
To commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Roe decision, PPNNE supporters told us how this landmark court case has affected them personally.
“The Roe decision came down when I was 13, so I’ve lived most of my reproductive life under its protections. The Court acknowledged that the life and choices of a woman have primacy over the potential that is her pregnancy. Roe heralded my emancipation not merely from socially constructed roles of femininity, but from biologically imposed roles as well. It opened up a world of possibilities, for Roe was a leveling of the playing field that has led inexorably to women taking their rightful place as the fully participating members of society that we are today. I grew up not as a hostage to luck and anatomy. I choose, in the most fundamental ways I can imagine, how to conduct my life. One roulette wheel was removed from the lives of women, including, I thought, from the life of my beloved daughter. I am fearful that the backlash against Roe is the leading edge of a movement that may roll back the hard-won gains of women in the 20th century. Having a child should be one of the biggest decisions of a woman’s life. Having sex should not be.” – Virginia, 52
“As I reflect on what the Roe decision means to me, and women in our society today, the first thing that I think about is what women activists went through to ensure that women have the right to choose. I think this is especially important today when women’s rights are being attacked in such a way that has been virtually unseen since before the Roe decision. Reproductive rights have become a political pawn, and conservative politicians are striving to be as radical as they can in their opposition to these rights. This reminds me of how vitally important the work of Planned Parenthood is, and especially how important it is for women to come together again and protect their right to health, and their right to choose. As a member of a Voices for Planned Parenthood college campus group I think it is essential that young women remember what rights their mothers and grandmothers fought for, and realize that these rights are again being threatened. We cannot forget the work that these women did, and we cannot let it be in vain. Thank you Planned Parenthood, and thank you Roe!” – Emily, 21
“January 22 marks the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe V. Wade. The highest court in the country ruled that the right to privacy enshrined within the Constitution protected a woman’s right to choose for herself whether to continue a pregnancy to term or whether to have a safe and legal abortion. It is amazing that after almost forty years, a woman’s right to choose still remains controversial and under nearly continual assault by anti-choice activists seeking to turn back the clock to a time before Roe. Roe remains so important to me because it respects my intelligence as a human being, trusts me to make my own decisions about my own body, and allows me, as a young woman, to take control of my future. Roe has given me innumerable opportunities and I will not ever forget that; Roe will always be the most important court decision to impact my life.” – Lydia, 21
“When I think about Roe v. Wade I think of my mom and her stories. Whenever we talk about women’s issues she reminds me of what it was like for teens, women, and girls my age who had to get backroom and “coat-hanger” abortions. She talks about this time like it was so recent whereas to me it seems like this terrible, far-away past. I would never want to live at that time and it makes me so anxious to think about with all of the personhood amendments being proposed; some women could be in a worse place, without access to basic rights like birth control.” – Ellen, 21
“In January of 1973 the Supreme Court, in light of the Roe v. Wade hearing, declared that all women in our country have the constitutional freedom to choose what happens with their own bodies in terms of abortion. Women were finally granted the chance to make a safe choice for themselves with the help of their doctors. Now, 39 years later, anti-choice activists are making a full court press to roll back the protections of Roe. This has been a battle between state, federal government, and society. Generations behind Gen-Y have grown up with the debate, and some like Gen-X and Baby Boomers, have even experienced both sides of the fence. What our generations all have in common is looking out for our fellow man, or in this case woman. If we make abortions illegal, we know they will still be performed. The unsafe practice of back-ally abortions will resurface placing women in dangerous situations that can result in death. Will we really want to take this risk? We want support and safety from our community in our decisions regarding our own bodies and lives.” – Caitlin, 20
“With all the politicians who are trying to oppress women’s rights and progress, I am so grateful that there are people who still stand up for us. It’s so hard for me to believe that my reproductive rights are even up for debate in politics because I believe that it is a greatly personal issue. However, I’m glad that the decision is still being upheld and my rights are still being fought for.” – Jacqueline, University of Vermont Student
“Roe means that we are that much closer to achieving a global standard where all women will have the right to choose if and when they will have a child—a universal right.” – Erica, 21
“For me, Roe v. Wade represents a freedom that women have had to fight for. I feel proud and fortunate that I have freedoms in this age that many before me did not have. Though there is still progress to be made, this case is something to be grateful for. It not only means that I have more personal freedoms, but that I have more power as a woman. Roe v. Wade is important. My mother fought for this case and was affected by it, just as I am. If Roe v. Wade were to be overturned, I would feel that I was living in a country that does not consider me an equal citizen.” – Maddy H., Freshman, University of Vermont
“To me, Roe means the right to choose. It means the right to make decisions about my own life, my own body, with my health and safety in mind. Roe represents the protection of women’s rights and the importance of advocating for these rights. Thank you Roe.” – Dorie, 21
“Roe v Wade is one of the most monumental decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court for a very distinct reason-it made a bold statement about the value we put on a woman’s control over her body. Despite the constant struggle by anti-choice politicians and “advocacy” groups to cut back or repeal Roe, the Supreme Court has refused to overturn its ruling. A woman’s ability to make choices regarding pregnancy and reproduction was a huge statement about women’s rights; one that we should not allow the backlash of the far right to take a step backward.” – Mary, Senior, University of Vermont
“Because of Roe, I am ensured the right to privacy and am given full natural rights to choose what I do with my body to be a decision between myself and my doctor. America has had a history of treating those that are not white men like second-class citizens, however no other group has had the inalienable right to control their health taken from them. With Roe, women are seen as full citizens and human beings with the capability to handle the grave choice whether to have an abortion or not. Because of Roe, women are thinking, responsible beings, not vehicles for reproductive services.” -Jess, 18
“It astounds me that given the place of our country in the developed world, and all the progress that has been made in the past few decades concerning women’s reproductive rights that women’s right to control their own bodies is being threatened. In my opinion, it is absolutely no one’s right but our own to make choices that affect our bodies. It seems like a complete regression in our society to even consider overturning the Roe v. Wade decision.” -Maija, University of Vermont
“Roe v. Wade means to me having freedom to choose what I do with my body and my life. No matter what decisions I make, with the outcome to that court decision, I won’t have any other person forcing their beliefs on me or controlling what I do. Whether you think having an abortion is killing someone or not, I feel that it is each person’s own right to choose to believe what they want. This Supreme Court decision gives more power to women’s rights; it allows us to express our ideas and live how we want. Politicians who don’t know me at all should not be able to decide what is right for me.”
-Karen, Freshman, University of Vermont
“Roe V Wade means something to all Americans, and has highly polarized our country since it has been decided by the Supreme Court. What is often overlooked in the oppositional views of Roe is how it was justified by the Supreme Court in order to be passed. The court decided the case under the premise that the right to privacy is granted to all Americans under the constitution, which is something that opponents seem to forget. Roe is so powerful because, at its core, is so simple. A woman, any woman, has the right to privately choose what to do for her own reproductive health and well-being. Law makers use Roe as a political platform and within legislative agendas in order to gain votes and persuade people that our democracy is headed toward a downward spiral. Politicians forget the simplicity of these rulings, and make large claims and sweeping statements to send signals to their bases. The true basis of the case stands for the muddled mess we make of reproductive rights in America today. It is all seemingly so simple-a woman’s constitutional right to choose, the right to privacy-and yet still so difficult for many to grasp.” - Juliet, UVM Senior