Trump presidency is a threat to women’s health
If there was ever a time for women to protect their p*ssies, it’s now.
It’s OK if you’re still processing the fact that Donald Trump will be your next president. In all fairness, President Obama spent eight years making millions of Americans feel safe regarding certain key issues, specifically health care. Obama passed the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, and fiercely protected programs like Planned Parenthood in order to expand Americans’ access to necessary and affordable health insurance.
But despite the safeguards Obama has installed to protect women’s reproductive rights, women’s God-given privileges to decide what happens with their bodies may become severely limited in President-elect Donald Trump’s and Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s America.
The proof’s in Trump’s egregious statements and Pence’s legislative acts over the last year. According to Trump’s statements along the campaign trail, his stance on abortion is crystal clear: He’s aggressively pro-life, except in cases of incest, rape and if the pregnancy poses a threat to the mother’s health. However, this is the same guy who once advocated that in the event that a woman does have an abortion, she should face legal punishment for her actions.
–No, we won’t ‘move on’ from the racism that led Trump to the White House–
And that’s not even the worst of it. While Trump is a threat to women’s reproductive rights, his right-hand man may be the A-bomb that could obliterate them.
Earlier this year, Pence signed an anti-abortion law that criminalized abortions under an any circumstance and mandated that women have funerals for the deceased fetus. Thankfully, the law was blocked, but his aggressive attitude toward abortion is a strong indicator that given his newfound position of power, a woman’s right to choose will be as solid as Phaedra and Kandi’s friendship when the conservative duo take the White House.
Then let’s take a look at Trump’s very publicized plan for his first 100 days in office, shall we? Trump has been adamant about trying to repeal Obamacare, which will leave over 20 million Americans without health insurance coverage, which already disproportionately affects women of color. Translation? Millions of women won’t have access to HIV testing, birth control and other preventative health care measures.
To further shut out women from basic medical attention, both leaders have publicly stated that they will attempt to defund Planned Parenthood because of the non-profit organization’s pregnancy-terminating practices. That also means low-income and underserved communities who rely on Planned Parenthood’s low-cost and free services outside of abortions won’t stand a chance in gaining health resources.
Thankfully, most of what Trump proposes will take an act of Congress to get passed, but with Republicans maintaining control of Congress, it looks as if women’s hope in preserving their health care access is getting dimmer as we inch closer to January.
Here’s the reality of this whole thing: If there was ever a time for women to protect their p*ssies, it’s now. Trump is appointing extremely conservative Supreme Court justices to his cabinet that could result in far-reaching implications, including the complete reversal of Roe v. Wade. So, as women brace themselves for the everyday misogynists emboldened under this new leadership, women must also become painfully aware that the next four years may become an all-out health care war. What’s great is women have a few defenses in the event that we’re stripped of our rights.
Look, if babies aren’t in your immediate life plan, get long-lasting, reversible birth control such as the IUD, which are currently covered under many health insurance plans. Frankly, it will allow you to sidestep future abortion restrictions and avoid the uncertainty of health coverage regarding cost of family planning. Also, take care of surgical and medical needs ASAP. Lastly, research other plans in the event your coverage could change.
Let’s face it, most of us were genuinely shocked by the stunning upset on election night, but don’t be blindsided if we wake up one morning to find that women’s health care has gone to sh*t.
Niki McGloster is a Maryland-based writer and co-founder of her sweat. She has written for ESSENCE, Genius, Billboard, VIBE and Teen Vogue. Follow her on Twitter at @missjournalism.Â
