In a debate that took place from 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16 until well past midnight, the majority of members of the Florida House of Representatives passed HB 5, which will be voted on in the Senate shortly. Sponsored by Representative Erin Grall, of Florida’s 54th district, this bill defines a 15-week period of time to terminate a pregnancy, without any exceptions for rape or incest. Currently, in the state of Florida, the limit to have an abortion is 24 weeks, unless there is a threat to the mother or baby’s life. However, under this bill, that will no longer be the case and mothers will have less time to make this life changing decision.
Specifically on the third reading of the bill, when most of the representatives present narrated their experiences regarding abortion, either their own or somebody else’s they knew, they all gave very thought-provoking accounts that made the arguments very compelling to understand. All of them being very heart-wrenching and heartfelt, and explanations of a reality that a lot of women go through in their lifetimes. Nevertheless, these were nothing more than their personal experiences and their opinions based on these. No expert opinion was consulted other than a variety of studies, which were then subject to be interpreted in a way that complied with each representative’s side of the argument. This is a concerning matter because this translates the bill to be based on personal assessments and beliefs rather than objective science and efficiency for members of society.
The argument was compelling and passionate on both sides; this is undeniable. However, based on what went on throughout the debates, this idea seems disguised under the premise of “reducing infant and fetal mortality” and saving lives, without considering the life of the living, breathing woman who is now forced to carry on with an unwanted pregnancy.
As I watched the debates that went on during the second and third readings of this bill, I couldn’t stop thinking about the 15-week cutoff that they were dictating on this bill. This concept seems arbitrary in a way, given that the fetus still cannot feel pain then. However, for Rep. Grall and those supporting her stance, this provides a woman with more than enough time to decide and seek access to an abortion. This is not always the case, and could lead to more abortions, which what they are trying to prevent. This in turn, will make “illegal” ones more prompt to take place.
This then becomes an issue of healthcare. If birth control options and sexual education were more easily available to everyone, unwanted pregnancies would be a lesser issue. Moreover, this has a concerning effect on women of color and of low-income background.These are the women who are typically lacking the access to resources to first, find out that they are pregnant and, second, to support and care for that baby, as well as being more susceptible to die during childbirth.
Representative Geraldine Thompson of District 44 went on to explain that constituents voted for members of the House of Representatives to solve real issues such as those of affordable housing and transportation, instead of essentially, sovereignty regarding women’s bodies.
With all this in mind, I wonder, what happened to the concept of the rights of the individual? Where do those go when it comes to women? It seems that when it comes to women, those are not extended to us the way they were originally meant. In which case, demonstrates that the country is still based on the patriarchal and misogynistic standards that it has always been based upon, one in which women are not considered full individuals with full autonomy over their life and their decisions.
More than anything, the ability to choose should be granted to each and every one of us as free individuals that we are. The constitution must uphold values of equality and fairness to all, and while this is not perfect today nor has it been in its over 200 year history, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are ensured by it, and we must protect that. Therefore, if you, dear reader, are pro choice, I am not asking you to change your mind, I am simply asking to protect my right to make up my mind based on the options that science and the advancements of the world offers me.
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