On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, a court decision that ruled in favor of women being able to have abortions.

Honestly, I didn’t know what all of this meant for me, not until my mom sat me and my sisters down and explained the situation. In her eyes, I could see the anger and the sadness. 

The uncertainty. 

And just like how I didn’t understand what all of this meant, I also didn’t understand that a right could just suddenly be taken from you. My whole life I never looked at a basic female right and thought, “With the snap of a finger that could be taken away from me.” I never knew that I had to worry. That, in the future, the Supreme Court could do this to us.

To women.

The very same women who will raise/have raised the next generation of doctors, lawyers, authors, and politicians. The very same women who quietly care for a household while juggling work and rowdy children. The women who never ask for anything in return except security. Security that their rights, our rights, will always be protected.

But our government can’t even do that. They won’t do that.

I never saw my government as bad. I never thought I had to, but the overturn of Roe V. Wade woke me up to what could happen. Will I wake up tomorrow to see that I can no longer vote? Is this the start of America’s regression? Will men suddenly look at us and say, “Do they really need to inherit land?” “Do they really need to work?” “Do they really deserve our rights?”

I always thought the answer would be YES. But now, I’m not so sure. And isn’t that disappointing? Upsetting? Even unfathomable? That the next generation of women and girls will take a look around them and wonder what will come next?

And how can we call ourselves the “Land of the Free” when women in every state are now questioning when another right will be stolen from us?

Basically, I want to say this: I will not be proud of a country that can take something from us. I will not pretend that I am not upset and disappointed in the Supreme Court. I will not act as though this country is a safe-haven for women. Because it is not.

Not anymore.

I can understand that a child is precious, but aren’t women, too? Aren’t we the ones who should get to decide what to do to our bodies? And what will happen to women in America who are pregnant and get cancer? How will they treat the cancer if they cannot abort the pregnancy in order to get life saving meds? There is no simple answer.

But, I am certain of one thing; this is not an America to be proud of. I am outraged. Disturbed. Horrified. And rightfully so. Women are now crying out, asking, “What about us?”

What. About. Us.

We have done our part. We have helped build America with our bare hands. So, I ask America and the Supreme Court. I ask the government, the president, and everyone in between.

What about us?