Amanda Cushen

Case Study Response #3

27 September 2016

The widely debated issue of abortion affects a wide range of women from different races,
ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and backgrounds. This article highlights Barbara Lees shock
about an amendment, sponsored by Henry Hyde an Illinois Republican, that cut off millions of
poor women from having Medicaid cover their abortion expenses. Hyde knew that poor women
would specifically be affected since rich women [could still] enjoy their high-priced vices but
also states that he wishes no women could go through with an abortion (Carpenter 2). Many
politicians have even tried to repeal the ban but had no success. This amendment is yet another
example of men telling women what to do with their bodies by making a policy that does not
even affect them. There are multiple reasons one might want to get an abortion but either way it
is a decision that should be made for you and it needs to be accessible to all. Medicaid should
cover abortion as a basic medical need for women, at least with the first abortion. Abortion is
legal therefore there should be fair ways for women to go through with it. The article even states
that the Hyde pro-life agenda puts legal right to abortion out of reach for many women on the
basis of income which, in my opinion, seems criminal (Carpenter, 3). I see this as another
wealthy white man who is trying to control women by preventing their ability to access abortion
through healthcare. It specifically targets low-income black women by making the procedure
come out of pocket and by taking time to round up money the procedure [is] both more
expensive and more complicated than before (Carpenter, 4). Abortion clinics closing also plays
a major role in the accessibility of exercising abortion rights. Abortion clinics are not close by to
marginalized women which increases the money they have to pay for travel or hotels. Hyde
works to create an advantage for advocates through his reasoning of the poor being undeserving
of abortion. The poverty, racism, and sexism associated with the amendment can be used to

create a dialogue about the race and class discrimination embedded into our society. A feminist
perspective would argue that politicians like Hyde should be more moral by show more respect
for women and other identities like the poor and allow themselves to be empathetic and show
compassion. The problem that really needs to be addressed involves the battle for equality
through exercising constitutional rights rather than the pro-life battle of advocating for unborn
children.