Women — as well as those who care about them, and medical providers who care for them — have a lot at stake in this election. The Dobbs decision on June 24, 2022, overturning Roe v. Wade was a body blow to many. Pollsters and politicians see abortion as a single issue and say the economy is ahead of it on the list of voter concerns. But women hardly view abortion as one issue.
Freedom is on the ballot for women and girls after losing the fundamental right of bodily autonomy. Justice is on the ballot, so girls and women are not forced to give birth in the aftermath of rape and incest. Fear is on the ballot since women — disproportionately women of color and low-income women — are being arrested after miscarrying. Fear is also on the ballot for medical providers who must weigh waiting to intervene during pregnancy complications to avoid criminal charges and waiting too long thereby witnessing a tragic and preventable death.
Childbirth is on the ballot as states ban in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and require providers to withhold care so long that women experience life-threatening illnesses or lose the ability of future pregnancies. It is on the ballot as doctors leave states for fear of prosecution, creating health care deserts for women. Menopausal care is on the ballot as the use of mifepristone is threatened by politicians and judges. Maternal death is on the ballot as pregnant women die at higher rates from preventable causes in states with abortion bans. and yes, economics is on the ballot as women fight for the right and respect to decide for themselves when they can financially afford to care for a child given the high cost of housing, food, and childcare.
On Sept. 20, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he will protect women. That “THIS NATIONAL NIGHTMARE WILL BE OVER.” Women “WILL NO LONGER BE THINKING ABOUT ABORTION ANYMORE”; he will “PROTECT WOMEN AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. THEY WILL FINALLY BE HEALTHY, HOPEFUL, SAFE, AND SECURE. THEIR LIVES WILL BE HAPPY, BEAUTIFUL, AND GREAT AGAIN.”
Is he kidding? In who’s world, Donald? The one thing we can always count on from the ex-president is that the words he speaks are the exact opposite from the truth.
More dangerous than Donald Trump are the Christian Nationalists who have successfully used him to advance their misogynist, theocratic political agenda for the country. and now these extremists have a true believer in JD Vance. Foundational to most religious orthodoxies is a hierarchical, patriarchal worldview that curtails women’s rights, silences their voices, and limits their roles. Abortion is the canary in the coal mine. It is not a single issue. It’s just the beginning.
Religious conservatives believe in a biblical literalism that supports gender hierarchy in the home. They believe God has ordained man as head of the household. “Headship” is the belief that husbands are to “protect,” guide, or as it is often applied, “rule over” their wives.
But religious and political extremists take it one step further. They want to apply their belief in gender hierarchy to society as a whole. If they had the power, they would write it into law. The subjugation of women is the reason JD Vance says women in abusive marriages should stay there.
It’s more than cringy to hear Trump call himself women’s protector — especially given his history as a sexual predator. It’s alarming and out of character to hear him refer to himself that way which is a tell. His religious handlers must be writing his script using the sanctimonious terms they use when sugarcoating women’s subordination while insulting them with condescension.
Coming from Trump, it is as laughable as it is infuriating. He is the reason women are living this “national nightmare.” For women’s lives to be healthy, hopeful, safe, and secure, there is a long list of public and economic policies he and his MAGA followers could support. Religiously sanctioned and politically imposed domination won’t make women’s fears and concerns magically disappear. and it most definitely won’t pay the bills women face when caring for the children he and his followers are so anxious for them to bear.
In just two years, this extensive erosion of once basic freedoms for women have cost some women their lives and gravely endangered others. Imagine what can occur if Donald Trump and his Christian Nationalist followers are given four more years to tighten their grip on power, especially now that the Supreme Court has given the presidency near absolute immunity.
The only way to reinstate the rights women have lost and retain the rights we all still enjoy is to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz along with prochoice candidates in down ballot races. With enough House and Senate candidates who represent the majority in this country we can stop a minority of religious extremists from invading our homes, our relationships, and our bodies.
Candace Waldron, MDiv., is former executive director of HAWC, Healing Abuse Working for Change in Salem, and the author of “My Daughter He: Transitioning With Our Transgender Children.” She blogs at www.candacewaldron.com and lives in Rockport.