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The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will undoubtedly impact victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The Violence Prevention Center believes that reproductive justice and bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right and is an integral part of fostering a community which cultivates healthy relationships and does not tolerate violence. Bodily autonomy encompasses not only the right to live free from violence, but the ability to make one’s own medical decisions.
Unfortunately, it is all too often that violence and pregnancy go hand in hand. Unplanned pregnancies increase the risk for violence, and violence increases the risk for unplanned pregnancies. In the United States, homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant people and about five percent of rapes lead to pregnancy. Violence during pregnancy harms both parent and infant health and has long lasting negative health effects. Pregnancy can make it more difficult for a victim/ survivor to leave a dangerous relationship while simultaneously increasing their risk for further abuse. Many victims/survivors report that abuse started or intensified when they became pregnant. There are a variety of factors that create an increased risk of violence during pregnancy, some of which include financial abuse and forced dependence on the abuser, which is exacerbated by pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time when people may need additional support – money, transportation, health insurance, access to a phone to make medical appointments, and more. A common tactic used by abusers to keep victims/ survivors in the relationship is to remove access to these basic means of support, thereby forcing the victims/survivor to be dependent on the abuser for their basic needs. Some abusers prevent victims/ survivors from accessing any healthcare at all, including prenatal care, which results in negative health outcomes for both parents and infants.
The realities of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault make it even more vital that safe and accessible healthcare exists for victims/ survivors and people everywhere. Intimate partner violence is common among people having abortions, with between six percent and 22 percent reporting recent violence from an intimate partner. An additional risk factor for increased abuse is shared parenthood between a victim/survivor and an abuser, which often has legal ramifications, such as child support and custody, which may force a victim/survivor to remain in contact with the person abusing them and increase the risk of violence for both the victim/survivor and child(ren).
In the United States rape results in about 32,000 pregnancies each year. Survivors of rape often experience significant impacts to their physical and mental health. Children conceived by rape are more likely to suffer from severe psychological disorders and face many challenges both before and after birth, with research showing that parental stress severely affects embryological development. Children conceived by rape may develop poor parent-child relationships, as rape can affect a parent’s capacity to care for their child and to form a healthy bond. Researchers report that such circumstances may even lead to abusive parenting or neglect.
Reproductive coercion is a form of abuse by which an abuser maintains power and control over a victim/ survivor’s reproductive health and choices. This can include coercing or forcing someone into pregnancy through violence, threats, rape, birth control sabotage, and/or preventing someone from obtaining birth control measures. Stealthing, the covert, nonconsensual removal of a condom during sex, is one type of birth control sabotage, and is also a form of sexual assault. Reproductive coercion is a common experience among victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Abusers often use reproductive coercion to keep their partners dependent and unable to leave the relationship. This type of abuse greatly hinders victim/survivors’ reproductive autonomy and increases the need for safe and accessible reproductive healthcare.
Reproductive coercion is present not only in individual relationships, but on a wider scale in our society and culture. Throughout the history of the United States, the government has used abusive tactics such as force and coercion to control the reproductive outcomes of vulnerable people. Black and Indigenous people were forcibly sterilized through government policies and immigrants were coercively sterilized or forced to have abortions while detained at ICE facilities. Additionally, LGBTQ+ communities are often left out of conversations and policies surrounding reproductive justice. This history informs current lawmaking. The Supreme Court’s removal of reproductive healthcare rights is retraumatizing and disempowering for many victims/ survivors, marginalized communities, and the general population.
It is already difficult for people in rural communities to access reproductive healthcare, which often involves hours of driving, hotel stays, coordinating childcare, and taking time off work, which creates a financial burden. For Cook County residents, the nearest clinic that offers abortion care is the WE Health Clinic in Duluth. As a result of the repeal of Roe v Wade, Minnesotan abortion providers are preparing for an influx of patients from states that have banned abortion, which will make it even more difficult for Minnesotans to access care themselves. This restriction of access has a widespread negative impact on health outcomes, especially for victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, who may have an increased need to access such care.
Ensuring that victims/ survivors – and all people – have access to safe, accessible, and necessary healthcare is critical. Domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking is rooted in power and control and disempowers victims/survivors by removing agency, autonomy, and choice. It is vital for the health, safety, and wellbeing of victims/ survivors that the ability to make their own decisions about their lives and healthcare is protected.
If you or someone you know has been subjected to violence, the VPC is here to support you. We can support victims/survivors who are pregnant and looking for healthcare, resources, support, and options. In a peaceful and just world all people would have control over their own bodies, free from coercion or fear. Violence Prevention Center is committed to working toward supporting people regarding reproductive justice.
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