Sitting on the fence has long been associated with someone who chooses not to pick a side on a topic. It used to be a safe place to be, but when it comes to Mississippi’s abortion law in the purview of the United States’ Supreme Court, sitting on the fence just makes you an easy target for both sides. Here’s what I see from my perch on the fence:
On one side are the “my body, my choice” advocates. I agree, ladies, it is your body, but it is also your responsibility. This is 2022. There are a multitude of safe contraception methods available if you do not wish to become a mother. However, none of the current birth control methods are completely infallible, so if you are planning to have unprotected intercourse, post-coital pregnancy testing would also be appropriate.
Abortion is not an ideal form of birth control.
Staunch pro-life advocates feel that life begins at conception, and I agree that they have a strong case for their point of view. I would also argue though that a woman who does not want to be a mother is not likely to make a good one. The Mississippi law passed in 2018 prohibits most pregnancy termination procedures after 15 weeks’ gestation and is a reasonable compromise. The law gives women over three months to decide to terminate their pregnancy.
If compromise means neither side is happy with the law, then Mississippi lawmakers were “spot on.” I invite you to come join me on the fence. It gives you the opportunity to understand the issue from both sides, no matter what your personal beliefs may be.