Meghan Markle has been pictured looking reflective and concerned following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last week.
In a picture made public by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nonprofit, Archewell, the Duchess is seated, clutching her phone to her mouth.
Following the seismic event, she was on the phone with feminist activist Gloria Steinem and journalist Jessica Yellin. Later, Jessica moderated a discussion between the two advocates about the decision and their own reproductive rights for Vogue.
What does this tell women? Meghan asked in reference to the women who will be impacted by the trigger laws in some states. It implies that we don’t matter because our physical safety is unimportant. Though we do. Women have value.
And this is one of the reasons I made an urgent call to Gloria. She constantly reminds me that when you’re angry, you need to direct your energy toward something that changes things. Activism is what it is. It’s about how we present ourselves.
The Duchess responded when asked what advice she would give to men who support reproductive rights: “Men need to be vocal in this moment and beyond because these are decisions that affect relationships, families, and communities as a whole. Although they may target women, the effects affect us all. The past few days, my husband and I have had numerous conversations about that. He is a feminist as well.
Photo: Getty Images
“Yes, I can attest to that since I met him before I met you,” Gloria continued. He was speaking up for people’s rights at a significant meeting I went to.
And, like mine last week, his response was guttural, Meghan continued. I am aware that despair is a feeling that many women are currently experiencing. But once more, we must unite and stop moping. We must put in the effort.
The former actress, who is married to Harry and has two children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, also discussed how crucial it is to normalize discussions about abortion and women’s health. She said, “I reflect on how fortunate I felt to be able to have both of my children. “I am familiar with how it feels to be connected to what is developing inside your body.
“What happens to our bodies is so deeply personal, which even though so many of us deal with personal health crises, can also result in silence and stigma. I’ve spoken openly about my experience of miscarrying, so I understand how it feels.
“More people will understand how important it is to have protections in place as we normalize conversation about the things that affect our lives and bodies,”
I know that members of the Royal family (and future members) are not supposed to have opinions on political matters but I want to give my opinion on this topic. While I could never kill my baby and I understand the notion that fetuses should be protected because of the argument of when life actually begins has not been settled, I do not think it’s the government’s place to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with HER body. I don’t think that abortion should be used as birth control, though, because the woman should have handled her business if she knew she didn’t want to get pregnant. That’s why I don’t believe in the concept of an “ooops” baby. If a woman doesn’t want to get pregnant, she’ll make damn sure that she doesn’t. I know I made sure I didn’t, so this is another matter where I’ve already put my money where my mouth is. I do support access to abortion in instances of rape, incest, and if the fetus has a birth defect/chromosomal anomaly/condition that is such that the baby would suffer immensely if born. I’m not talking about Trisomy 21, Cystic Fibrosis, omphalocele, gastroschesis or even Hypoplastic Left Heart. I’m on the fence about Diaphragmatic Hernia. I’m talking about conditions such as Tay Sacs or when I was a new graduate nurse working in the NICU @ Chop there was a baby who had a cranio-maxillary facial cleft that was so massive and involved that the baby’s meninges (the three layers of tissue that surround the brain and spinal cord which serve as protection and keeps cerebrospinal fluid within the central nervous system as it circulates around the brain and spinal cord) were coming out of the baby’s nostrils. There were actual droplets of cerebrospinal fluid on the baby’s face. The baby would spend a lifetime of massive brain infections and would also be susceptible to developing hydrocephalus if the doctors were even able to surgically restore the patency of the central nervous system, to any degree. There was no way the baby would have any quality of life…other than constant suffering. The baby’s mouth was also malformed, therefore, it would have issues feeding which would prompt the need for a nasograstric tube (short term), and eventually a g-tube (long term) for feedings. I actually questioned the futility of medical care when I saw this baby. In my opinion, I think the baby’s parents should have considered termination of the pregnancy if they were aware of this deformity before the baby was born, if they had an ultrasound done. I know that abortion and having access to it are heated topics and people from both sides have passionate, strong opinions about it. I’m kind of sitting on the fence, per se, but lean more towards being pro-choice because I just don’t think it’s the government’s place to dictate what a woman can and cannot do with HER body and HER life. It’s a private matter, therefore, a personal decision. I do think that the father of the baby should be made aware in situations that don’t involve incest or rape.
I DO NOT support late term abortions under any circumstance, however. I also DO NOT think that any minor (under the age of 18) should be able to seek or receive abortion services WITHOUT parental knowledge and consent under any circumstance.