*There are a lot of Black women out there who can definitely pay for abortions but are still denied the opportunity. Why is this the case even though there is no abortion ban? In the first half of 2019, we were introduced to a deluge of laws that restricted and banned abortion. In the past 3 months alone, the legislatures of Missouri and Alabama had moved in to ban abortion while some other states can be seen following their example.

Black Women Feel the Impact of Such Bans

As per recent studies, women of color have accounted for more than half of the yearly abortion procedures in the country. Black women, specifically, were found to account for about 25% of all these abortions.

Reproductive Justice

Why does it seem that Black women are barred from getting access to reproductive care? Well, as you may have pieced together, this has nothing to do with money. Everything is different for Black women because of the simple case of Intersectionality. It is all about gender, class, and race. All of these factors intertwine to make reproductive justice and abortion access a hassle for Black women as opposed to White women.

How Does this Inequality Happen?

Not only does society reduce access to abortion for Black women but they have also produced an environment where the medical community harshly judges them for their actions. When it comes to reproductive health, there is a lot of cultural bias and leads to a tension that is known as ‘Black Conservatism’.

“We’re religious, we’re faithful, and we live as best we can by the word — but we’re also human beings.” This statement is the closest example of how Black women explain their way out of judgments that are based on Black Conservatism.

What Gets the Best of These Black Women?

While religion may be the biggest factor that would mess with the minds of Black women looking for an abortion, the guilt is what really gets the best of them. Other than this, some patriarchal factors also play a big role.

The women on the lowest economic rungs are quite simply denied access. Those who may stand at socioeconomic levels are urged against ever considering this option. Now, because of the historical environment, culture, and politics, White men have gained control of Black women’s bodies all over again through abortion access.

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