How abortion bans make inequality worse
TLDRThe script details the 'Turnaway Study,' a significant natural experiment examining the impact of denied abortions on women's lives. It reveals the financial hardships and increased poverty faced by women forced into parenthood, highlighting the disproportionate burden on those already marginalized. The study underscores the importance of considering the long-term economic and social effects of abortion restrictions, particularly on women of color and those living in poverty.
Takeaways
- 🤰 The script discusses a study on the impact of abortion access, focusing on women who were either just before or after a clinic's gestational limit.
- 📊 A large-scale natural experiment was conducted in the US, tracking women's lives over five years to understand the consequences of being denied an abortion.
- 💰 The study revealed significant financial impacts of forced parenthood, highlighting the economic burden placed on women who are denied abortions.
- 👶 The demographic of women seeking abortions in the study included a higher percentage of people of color and those living in poverty compared to the general population.
- 🏥 The 'Turnaway Study', led by demographer Diana Greene Foster, categorized women into three groups: those who received early abortions, those who had later-term abortions, and those denied abortions.
- 🔎 The study compared outcomes between women who received abortions and those who were denied, finding stark differences in their subsequent financial situations.
- 💔 A common theme among the women was the lack of support from partners, with a significant decline in relationship stability over the five-year period.
- 🏘️ Women denied abortions were more likely to be living alone with their children, receiving minimal child support, and facing increased financial distress.
- 📈 Financial distress indicators, such as debt and evictions, spiked for women in the 'turnaway group' after giving birth, compared to similar trajectories before the event.
- 👨👧 The children of women denied abortions were more likely to live in poverty, emphasizing the intergenerational impact of denied abortion access.
- 🚫 The study underscores the importance of considering the long-term economic and social consequences of abortion denial on women and their families.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the 'Turnaway Study'?
-The main purpose of the 'Turnaway Study' is to track and compare the life outcomes of women who were either granted or denied abortions, particularly focusing on the financial impact and the consequences of forced parenthood.
How often did researchers contact the women in the study?
-Researchers contacted the women in the study every six months for five years to monitor their life progression.
What was one significant finding from the study regarding the financial impact of forced parenthood?
-The study found that women who were denied abortions experienced a significant spike in financial distress, including higher levels of debt and increased likelihood of bankruptcies, liens, or evictions.
What percentage of women in the study were living under the poverty line before the study began?
-40% of the first-trimester group and 57% of the later-term abortion group were living under the poverty line before the study began.
How did the likelihood of a relationship working out differ between women who received or were denied an abortion?
-Regardless of whether women received or were denied an abortion, the likelihood of the relationship working out was low, with only about 27% of relationships lasting by the fifth year.
What was the most common reason women in the study wanted an abortion?
-The most common reason women in the study wanted an abortion was 'Not financially prepared', indicating concerns about their economic circumstances.
How did the study categorize the three groups of women it focused on?
-The study categorized the women into three groups: those who got an abortion in the first trimester, those who got an abortion within two weeks of the clinic's gestational limit, and those who were denied an abortion because they just missed the gestational limit (the 'turnaway group').
What was the average gestational limit for the abortion clinics included in the study?
-The average gestational limit for the abortion clinics in the study was at the 20-week mark.
How did the study measure the financial distress of the women after giving birth?
-The study measured financial distress by linking participants to ten years of credit reporting agency data and examining indicators such as debt, bankruptcies, liens, or evictions.
What was the increase in financial distress indicators for the 'turnaway group' after giving birth?
-The 'turnaway group' experienced a nearly 80% higher amount of debt that was 30 days or more past due and a 78% increase in bankruptcies, liens, or evictions.
How did the study address the issue of child support payments?
-The study found that on average, child support payments were only about $20 a month, with many people reporting receiving $0 in child support.
What was the impact of an unwanted pregnancy on the children born to women who were denied abortions?
-The study showed that 72% of children born to women who were denied abortions were living in poverty, compared to 55% of children of women who were able to get an abortion.
Outlines
📊 Economic Impact of Abortion Denial
The first paragraph introduces a study examining the effects of abortion denial on women's lives, focusing on the financial consequences of forced parenthood. It outlines the methodology of a five-year naturalized experiment in the US, where researchers contacted women every six months to track their progress. The study revealed that women denied abortions are more likely to experience economic hardship, with a significant increase in debt and financial distress, compared to those who received abortions. The paragraph also highlights the demographic profile of the study participants, noting that the majority were already parents and lived in poverty.
💔 Relationship and Support Dynamics Post-Abortion
The second paragraph delves into the relationship and support dynamics of the women involved in the study. It discusses the decline in relationship stability over the years, with a significant drop in the number of women who remained in the relationship that led to the pregnancy. The paragraph also touches on the lack of support these women received, both from their partners and immediate family, as evidenced by the low levels of child support payments. The study's findings are linked to the participants' financial distress, showing a stark contrast in the economic outcomes for women who had children after an abortion denial versus those who had wanted children.
🚫 The Broader Implications of Abortion Denial
The final paragraph explores the broader implications of abortion denial, emphasizing the personal stories of women who were denied abortions and the impact on their lives. It discusses the challenges these women faced in terms of career, education, and personal freedom, as well as the emotional toll of having to carry a pregnancy to term when they were not ready. The paragraph underscores the importance of believing women when they express their readiness or lack thereof for parenthood, and the consequences of ignoring their autonomy.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Abortion
💡Gestational Limit
💡Naturalized Experiment
💡Financial Impact
💡Forced Parenthood
💡Turnaway Study
💡Debt
💡Economic Trajectory
💡Poverty
💡Contraception
💡Sex Education
💡Support
Highlights
A naturalized experiment tracked the impact of being denied an abortion on hundreds of women over five years.
Researchers called women every six months to assess the progression of their lives after seeking an abortion.
The study revealed the financial impact of forced parenthood and the high economic cost of an abortion ban.
60% of women in the study were already parents, highlighting the complexity of their decisions.
Abortion seekers in the study were more likely to be people of color and almost four times as likely to live in poverty.
The study, known as The Turnaway Study, was led by demographer Diana Greene Foster.
Three groups were focused on: first-trimester abortions, later-term abortions, and women denied abortions (turnaway group).
40% of the first-trimester group lived under the poverty line, compared to 57% of the later-term group.
Wealthier women were more likely to get an abortion due to their ability to afford travel and procedure costs.
The most common reason for wanting an abortion was 'not financially prepared'.
80% of study participants were in a relationship at the time of the abortion clinic visit, but only 27% by the fifth year.
Women denied abortions were more likely to be living alone with their children, receiving minimal child support.
Financial distress indicators for women denied an abortion spiked post-birth, with nearly 80% higher debt.
The Turnaway Study compared financial outcomes of women who had children after abortion denial versus those who had wanted children.
55% of children of women who got an abortion lived in poverty, compared to 72% of those denied an abortion.
The study shows that women's fears about the financial and personal impact of unwanted pregnancy were well-founded.
Women who were denied abortions faced significant challenges in achieving their educational and career goals.
Transcripts
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