Two years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion access remains severely restricted for many Black women, according to reproductive rights advocates.
Fourteen states have enacted near-total abortion bans since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, with several others imposing strict limits. This has forced millions of women to travel across state lines or seek medication abortions online.
Black women are disproportionately impacted by these restrictions, experts say. Dr. Regina Davis Moss of the National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda called reproductive justice “absolutely a racial issue.”
“Dismantling systemic racism is at the core of the reproductive justice framework,” Davis Moss said.
A new report found 91% of Black women surveyed believe it’s critical for Congress to address high maternal mortality rates among Black women, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The study also found 74% of Black women consider abortion a critical issue for the 2024 election. Many emphasized the need for abortion to be not just legal, but accessible and affordable.
“Women of color disproportionately experience barriers to reproductive health care,” Davis Moss noted.
Despite challenges, abortion remains a priority for many Black voters. About 50% of Black women surveyed support legal, available abortion subject to limited regulation.
Advocates stress the importance of investment in issues affecting communities of color, arguing their votes will be crucial in upcoming elections.
See “2 Years After Roe, Abortion Access a Patchwork for Black Women” (June 25, 2024)
