Roe v Wade: The Supreme Court Overturns Landmark Abortion Ruling

In this op-ed, the staff of Teen Vogue responds to the end of Roe.
Silhouette of pregnant woman
nelic

A day has come that we hoped we’d never see in our lifetimes. The United States Supreme Court has officially overturned Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that ensured the constitutional right to abortion. Today represents the crowning achievement of a decades-long campaign by the anti-abortion movement and the broad unraveling of hard-won progress earned by generations of Americans who fought for the right to safe, legal abortion. Now, in four states (Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota) abortion is immediately illegal, thanks to trigger laws, which anti-abortion legislators had prepared for just this day. Nine other states have trigger laws that will take effect in the coming weeks, according to the New York Times. The Times reports that as many as 28 states are likely to outlaw or severely restrict abortion access.

It’s impossible to overstate the horror and cruelty of this decision for any person who can get pregnant but does not want to have children; for teens and young people who aren’t ready to have kids, abortion affords them the right to a future of their choosing; for trans and nonbinary pregnant people, who are already facing other kinds of state-sanctioned violence in many parts of the country; for mothers and families, who cannot afford or do not want to have more children; for people who have miscarriages or challenging or ectopic pregnancies that make them unable to safely carry their pregnancies to term, who may not be able to access necessary care because clinicians fear repercussions under abortion restrictions; and for anyone, anywhere, who deserves autonomy over their body, their health care choices, their finances, and the shape of their lives.

Today marks the end of nearly 50 years of Roe, but it isn't the end of the story, of course. “People have been willfully terminating their pregnancies for as long as they have been able to get pregnant,” Teen Vogue contributor Danielle Campoamor wrote in 2020. They will continue to do so. States where abortion will remain legal are expanding funding for and access to care, anticipating an influx of pregnant people from states that crack down on the procedure. Some states likely will allow abortion only up until a certain point early in pregnancy, leaving a small window for care. In states where abortion access is protected, self-managed medical abortion remains a safe, effective means of ending a pregnancy. (Read more about the details and possible legal risks of this method here.) Those who can afford to do so may travel to Canada or Mexico to access abortions or to the nearest state where it’s legal.

The reality is that abortion will now be wholly inaccessible for many. Whether it’s the cost of travel, the cost of the abortion itself, the time it would take, or the inability to take time off from work or to find child care — many people will lose this right. It’s hard to know what comes next, but those who want to support abortion care can donate to or volunteer for an abortion fund. You can stand up against this attack on all of our rights and protest. You can stay informed about what’s happening. (And can always step away from the news when you need that space.)

As we enter this new chapter in American history, we want our readers to know that no matter what comes, we will always be here for you. We’ll continue to publish resources with guidance from health care professionals. We will keep you up to date on the latest moves by lawmakers and the courts. And we’ll share the stories about how access to reproductive justice is affecting the daily reality, dreams, and future of young people. These are scary times, but we’ll move forward together. See you in the streets.

With love,

The Teen Vogue Staff

Versha Sharma, Editor in Chief

Danielle Kwateng, Executive Editor

Brittney McNamara, Features Director

Fortesa Latifi, Contributing Identity Features Writer

Aiyana Ishmael, Editorial Assistant

Allegra Kirkland, Politics Director

Lexi McMenamin, News + Politics Editor

P. Claire Dodson, Senior Culture Editor

Kaitlyn McNab, Entertainment News Editor

Chantal Waldholz, Audience Development Director

Rebecca O’Haeri, Analytics Manager

Jacqui Germain, Economic Security Project Fellow

Juan Velasquez, Senior Business Manager

Eugene Shevertalov, Senior Entertainment Editor

Donya Momenian, Associate Fashion & Beauty Editor

Ysenia Valdez, Social Media Manager

Honestine Fraser, Senior Social Media Manager

Ashley Wolfgang, Associate Manager of Audience Development

Emily Zirimis, Art Director

Liz Coulbourn, Designer

Louisiana Gelpi, Visual Editor

Mi-Anne Chan, Senior Director of Programming and Creative

Sara Delgado, Contributing Style Editor + Culture Writer

Logan Tsugita, Manager of Creative Development

Mia Conway, Manager of Creative Development

Dawn Rebecky, Senior Copy Manager

Leslie Lipton, Senior Copy Manager

Yulia Khabinsky, Research Director

Karissa Mitchell, Senior Fashion + Beauty Editor

Tchesmeni Leonard, Senior Fashion Editor

Kat Thomas, Assistant Fashion Editor

Lauren Rearick, Weekend Editor

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take