Warning: political.
A friend recently sent me information on the Peace Corps Equity Act of 2013, which would end the complete ban on abortion coverage for Peace Corps volunteers and grant Peace Corps women the same rape, incest, and health exceptions granted to all other women who receive their healthcare from the federal government. Thank you Senator Lautenberg for sponsoring this.
Peace Corps volunteers work in areas with inherent risks of sexual assault, and regardless of your feelings on abortion, if you oppose abortion in cases of health threats to the mother, you are a terrible person. We also work in areas of the world in which there is a complete ban on abortions and medical care isn't that great anyway.
Currently, in cases of unwanted pregnancy, while Peace Corps will fund a round trip ticket back to the states; they will not fund the termination procedure itself. Or the medically unnecessary and incredibly expensive ultrasound and condescending and inaccurate counseling information some states mandate to make sure women aren't just having an invasive, expensive, and stigmatized medical procedure for funsies. Peace Corps women have to make all those arrangements themselves out of their generous ~$200/month salary. No other federal employee is subject to a complete ban on abortion coverage. Going back to the US for an abortion isn't necessarily that great an option, since thanks to the ironically labeled pro-life polices, the US has one of the highest maternal death rates of any developed nation, and that maternal death rate disproportionately affects low-income women, e.g. Peace Corps volunteers. Nonetheless, some abortion exceptions are better than nothing, and it's a case of equality.
"...if you oppose abortion in cases of health threats to the mother, you are a terrible person..."
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister!