Lorena Banda, Board Member, Menstrual Rights Global,USA
Dr Jennifer Martin, CEO, Menstrual Rights Global, Scotland
Dr Noelle Elizabeth Spencer, Menstrual Rights Global, USA
In 2024, we will mark 30 years since the International Conference on Population Development in Cairo. Yet, globally, the pushback on to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are growing; anti-rights movements are expanding – more active, better funded and organised – and there is an aparent increased politicisation and polarisation of women, girls and gender diverse populations’ right to do what they want with their own bodies. Amidst all of these challenges, the 2024 United States of America (US) election rages on, with the threat against SRHR ever clear.
The outcome of the 2024 US election could have a significant impact for millions of women, adolescent girls, and individuals who menstruate, influencing not only their daily lives but also broader societal attitudes and legislative priorities. In the last iteration of “Trump’s America” we saw The Global Gag Rule prohibited international nongovernmental organisations, who receive U.S. global health assistance, from providing legal abortion services or referrals, while also barring advocacy for abortion law reform—even if it’s done with the NGO’s own, non-U.S. funds. The policy allowed access to abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s life is at risk. President Ronald Reagan first enacted the global gag rule—aka the Mexico City Policy—in 1984. It has be enacted by every Republican president since then, and serves as a insight into the peril that SRHR are under in the U.S. and the ripple effect that will radiate around the world if Trump is re-elected.
The US is already in a state of turmoil when it comes to SRHR. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, eliminating the federal right to an abortion. During this 2024 election, four states (Florida, Colorado, South Dakota, and Maryland) will be voting on the right to an abortion. Several states have already ruled against women and people with uteruses by passing abortion bans that severely restrict access to abortion care. The state of Louisiana recently announced that they will officially classify abortion pills as a controlled substance. This significant ruling reflects not only this state but several states’ ongoing efforts to restrict access to abortion following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Other states such as Utah have passed a mandatory abortion quiz in order to receive an abortion. The Texas GOP has taken an even more extreme stance by endorsing the death penalty for abortion patients. In addition to these measures, states like Idaho have passed allowing family members of a fetus to sue abortion providers. States such as Missouri have tried to enact legislation making it illegal to aid women in seeking abortions out of state. Recently, the Texas Supreme Court has denied women’s request for an emergency abortion. Taking away a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion, especially when it comes to needing an emergency abortion, is putting the persons well-being at risk. This can lead to death, infections, reproductive health complications, and mental health issues.
The Supreme Court’s decision in July 2024 upheld current access to the medication mifepristone – one of two main medications taken by pill for a medication abortion. The Supreme Court also upheld the ability for a woman or pregnant person experiencing a medical emergency to receive abortion care in Idaho. This right had been restricted to only allow for cases where the abortion would specifically save the woman’s life. These actions collectively indicate a widespread movement to impose severe limitations on reproductive rights, reflecting the deepening divide on this issue across the country.
We also cannot talk about SRHR and reproductive justice without acknowledging that menstrual health and how the they are all linked. With women’s and gender diverse individual’s health and reproductive rights under attack in the US, it is important to understand that the continuous roll back of abortion rights and access combined with restrictive and reductive comprehensive sexuality education legislation will also have a huge effect on menstrual health. These challenges to bodily autonomy and comprehensive education can create educational disparities for students who menstruate, health consequences due to the lack of menstrual products, and will also impact the psychological and social effects of menstrual stigma. SRHR encompasses the health, wellbeing and rights of women, girls and people with periods across the reproductive life course – from menarche to menopause. Legislation that restricts any aspect of SRHR, impacts all other aspects of SRHR.
In the last two years, however, the US has shown commitment to advancing policies that promote menstrual health. The US has passed 30 bills across 30 states in order to increase access to menstrual products. Research shows that in the US, 64% of individuals struggle to afford menstrual products and 21% are unable to purchase these products every month (Kulmann, et al., 2019). Currently, 26 states exempt period products from taxation. This includes: New York, District of Columbia, New Jersey, California, and 22 other states. As of April 2024, 27 states have passed legislation that requires students to have access to free menstrual products while in school. These efforts reflect a growing recognition of menstrual health as a critical public health and human rights issue within the US, and underline the opportunity that menstrual health could present as we continue to fight for broader SRHR.
How to vote for SRHR for all!
As we approach Election Day 2024 in the US, SRHR is on the ballot across the country and in your community! It is important to learn about what will be on your ballot ahead of time, and there are online resources such as Votes Save America that can help you to look up any ballot measures and candidates ahead of time. Once you know who is running in your community and on the national stage, you can usually refer to their campaign website, trusted news sources, and your local media for information about their views on important SRHR issues. If you want to get even more involved, you can always support candidates by donating to their campaigns or by volunteering on their campaign. Most importantly, if you are 18 or older please make sure to register to vote and/or check your voter registration as soon as possible to make sure that you are able to vote on election day!
Reproductive justice is a movement and a call to action to promote and protect the rights of women and people who menstruate. All women, adolesecent girls and gender diverse individuals should be afforded the human right to make decisions about their bodies and to have equitable access to CSE, healthcare, and resources that they need to achieve their best health and wellbeing for themselves. This includes if they choose to have children, or for their children. Remember, every aspect of SRHR and reproductive justice are interlinked; an attack on one right under the umbrella of SRHR or reproductive justice is an attack on the health and wellbeing of women, girls and gender diverse individuals everywhere. One way that you can help to improve SRHR and menstrual health is to make an informed choice about the candidate you are supporting and vote!
