For some time I have seen the writing on the wall concerning abortion access. I tend to look at policy through a socio-economic lens and I have expressed concern to my family and friends that we may actually see a real Handmade's Tale scenario. Poor women then become an unwilling source of adoptable children for wealthier women who put off childbearing in order to earn graduate degrees that will lead to jobs with living wages. For women, this is a real choice - stay in school and put off marriage until your thirties or lose career opportunities. Wealthier women of the middle/upper middle class will continue to have access to legal, safe abortion as long as they have access to a Gold Visa card and can hop on a plane to Canada.
More below the fold.
My family and friends poo-pooed this nightmare scenario but today we have it in black and white.
In today's
WashingtonPost
Missouri, for example, has set aside $1 million to encourage low-income pregnant women to carry a pregnancy to full term and potentially give the infant up for adoption.
In a society such as ours, a society that that is becoming more and more a "winner take all" society, will we face a scenario whereby poor women are forced to produce adoptable babies for an elite who have put off childbearing and marriage in favor of education and career?
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not bashing women who have put off childbearing for any reason. Indeed, as an academic, I have devoted years to my profession. But I don't expect the government to force poor women to have babies so I can extend my opportunities for motherhood.
So, instead of forcing poor women to supply adoptable children, how about fighting for better childcare, parental leave, universal health care, and other benefits that wouldn't put women in the position of choosing motherhood or career. Increasingly, only wealthier women or women lucky enough to have relatives to pitch in with childcare services/support often have these choices today.
Restriction on abortion, with the purpose of specifically restricting access by the poor, may lead to a true nightmare scenario. This is the real Handmade's Tale.