There’s much I could say about Roe v. Wade being overturned, and even more that I cannot yet put into words. The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving the decision to protect the health and well-being of pregnant individuals up to each state. Utah does not support the right to bodily autonomy and choice for women and menstruating individuals.
As a professional career coach, I want to focus for a moment on how access to safe abortions has a vast and long-term impact on women and transgender men in the workplace.
Despite the Pregnancy Discrimination Act being passed in 1978, menstruating people in the workplace continue to face discrimination. Roughly 250,000 pregnant workers are denied requests for accommodations each year and the fear of retaliation leads many to not report discrimination or ask for accommodations at all. (Ellman & Frye, 2018) Those who can become or are pregnant are passed up for job offers, promotions, salary increases, etc. The right to choose if/when to be pregnant is critical to career decisions.
Women of color and lower income women are hit hardest by the impacts of pregnancy discrimination and lack of abortion healthcare access on their career trajectories, which has long-term economic and health impacts.
Without abortion access, education attainment suffers, impacting long-term job attainment. Job options become restricted, with pregnant individuals being steered towards lower paying, part-time work. “Legal abortion access for pregnant young women increased their likelihood of entering a professional occupation by 35 percentage points.” (Molla, 2022)
An unwanted/unplanned pregnancy can impact career aspirations and diminish long-term dreams. This decision threatens workplace equality and leads to negative economic impacts for pregnant individuals which will be felt for generations.
The fear of what comes next — what fundamental rights will be stripped away next — is real.
Devon Darland, Salt Lake City
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