Protect women, girls

In 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed one of the most restrictive anti-abortion state laws, which didn’t include exceptions for rape and incest. When called out for the cruelty of making girls and women carry their rapist’s offspring, he said Texas would ensure fewer rapes, as if that were remotely possible. The rapes have clearly continued.

Recently, research reported from a very credible source (JAMA) estimates that since the overturn of Roe, roughly 520,000 reported rapes have left 65,000 girls and women pregnant in the 14 states with virtually total abortion bans. A walloping 45 percent of these pregnancies were in Texas. Obstacles to health care due to current Texas law have kept all but a few girls and women with no in-state recourse. Ten or fewer legal abortions were granted per month there for any reason. One must wonder how Arkansas girls and women fare in comparison.

Gripping stories of women who almost died because they couldn’t get timely, local care during pregnancy crises are appalling, revealing politicians’ often unacknowledged cruelty and hubris that puts at risk anyone getting pregnant, married or not, given the frequent complications that pregnancies bring. The psychological and mental distress of being seen as mere chattel for the use and pleasure of men and boys is heartbreaking. That “boys will be boys” is often the casual answer, and that boys and men rarely suffer the consequences of their part of the pregnancy equation, is sickeningly clear.

Arkansans will soon be out in force working to pass a referendum that provides somewhat better protection to pregnant girls and women in Arkansas. Please join those of us who care in signing the petition to get the referendum to the November ballot. And please vote to protect and respect girls’ and women’s decisions!

MARY REMMEL WOHLLEB Little Rock