March 15 marked yet another turning point in the fight for women’s rights. On Mar. 15, a judge in Texas heard a case regarding the potential banning of a pill called “Mifepristone,” which is a pill that causes an abortion to occur. This pill is widely recognized as a way to safely perform an abortion at home when recommended by their doctor. It is used to do this for the safety of the mother or just in general when medication abortion is the desired method of treatment for the patient. Moreover, medication abortion according to the New York Times is one of the most widely used methods of abortions. This case, which was heard by judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, is against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their approval of this drug in 2000 for up to seven weeks into pregnancy and then in 2016 extended it to ten weeks. Moreover, this case is questioning the legality and the safety of this pill which could have resonating effects nationwide. This case is the result of many doctors, Christian and anti-abortion organizations suing the FDA for the approval of this drug 23 years ago. 

On April 14 the Supreme Court announced that it would be postponing the ruling on this case for a week, until April 21, while the case gets further appealed in Texas. This postponement results in temporary access to the pill in Texas and in some states throughout the country and I do believe full access to this pill in Illinois. Now, this case has made certain companies like Walgreens pull things like PlanB off the shelves because of pressure from states’ attorney generals and many more contraceptives and medications that may be considered medical abortions if a woman did not “take the necessary precautions.” 

Simply put, these legalities and court cases are the result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. They are a method of controlling women and taking away the most basic bodily autonomy by many Republicans in governments all over the country. No matter your opinion on this issue, women should have and deserve the right to have autonomy over their own bodies. Whether that be to choose to have a child or to abort because of safety or financial concerns. We just plainly deserve the right to make decisions about our own bodies and not have them called into question by politicians who want to make private matters a public concern. Enough is enough and I’m tired of having to write about these things as a 20 year old woman just about to start her life.