The Future of Higher Education After Roe V Wade
The Future of Higher Education After Roe V Wade
Introduction
A lot of court decisions have changed the life of society in the USA fundamentally. Among such historic decisions is Roe v. Wade. More than 50 years ago, this unprecedented decision allowed women to have abortions legally. But Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. About half of the American states can ban or restrict abortions now. According to the logic of the Court, abortion can be prohibited even in the case of rape or a threat to the life or health of a woman.
This decision was negatively perceived by millions of women. It significantly changes their lives, especially young woman who wants to get a higher education and build a successful career. In the current circumstances, higher education will face some strains.
Influence on enrollment
Banning abortions can lead to the fact that many young and intelligent women will drop out of college and lose the opportunity to become successful. Most likely, if female students can not have a legal abortion, they will not enroll.
This is due to the fact that it is practically impossible to combine education and child care. As a result, the number of women receiving higher education will decrease. And it significantly affects their ability to develop their careers and feel financially secure. In addition, women will choose universities in those states where the legislation on abortion is more lenient. And they will avoid states where abortion is prohibited even after rape. Thus, colleges will not have enough students.
Decrease in academic success
Often, students who are faced with the problem of an unplanned pregnancy or face social issues experience enormous stress. They have to make serious decisions that can change their lives forever. Of course, they do not have enough time, strength, and energy to learn something new and complete all tasks on time.
But not only pregnant students go through rough times. Their group mates also experience social issues and not only. They have to study hard, read a lot of books, and hand in writing assignments. Sometimes, they and you do not have inspiration. If so, you can find ideas for your social issues essay for high school, for instance, online and very quickly. There are useful platforms that provide well-written samples. A large database of perfect papers helps in mastering essay writing skills. Do not be afraid to type “sharp essay” or “business essay example” queries. You will find essays related to any topic.
Extra expenses for universities
The number of pregnant female students may increase significantly. That is why universities should be prepared to change their policies on providing support to pregnant students. If a pregnant student decides to continue her education and combine it with childcare, the university will have to meet the necessary conditions for this. In particular, we are talking about opening kindergartens or daycare centers. Creating a safe and well-equipped environment for children is quite expensive. Besides, it is necessary to hire additional staff, i.e., nurses, babysitters, kindergarten teachers, etc.
In addition, female students who suffered negative consequences of illegal abortions will need additional care. They may need additional psychological or legal help.
The university administration may be forced to choose a side
The issue of abortion is highly politicized. Therefore, Universities can try to keep neutrality. But university students or teaching staff may have different perspectives on the legality or illegality of abortion. They can actively express their position, and participate in various meetings and demonstrations both on campus and outside.
Another platform for expressing one’s opinion is various social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. And if such posts supporting or banning abortions become widely publicized, the university administration may be forced to comment and voice its position. This can lead to conflicts and in some cases even to scandals.
Conclusion
Roe v. Wade emphasized that a woman’s right to decide for herself whether to have an abortion is protected by the US constitution. But after it is overturned, states can ban or significantly restrict women’s rights to have an abortion. No doubt after-Roe v. Wade period will greatly affect all spheres of life in the United States of America.
Higher education is not an exception. Over the last five decades, women had unhindered access to higher education. It resulted in social and economic changes for women, families, and communities. Only time can show how harmful the consequences of the made decision can be.
Author’s Bio
Karl Bowman is an expert in protecting women’s rights. She has made a huge impact in providing women with equal access to education. Karl understands how challenging student years can be and is happy to be handy for students with their college papers and research.