Why My Mother Braved Flash Floods, Rain and Fog to Cast Her Vote: To Safeguard My Freedom and My Choice
- I was under the impression that our country is the most powerful free country. How is it that girls are not free to make decisions about their bodies? How is that being free?
My mother came home late. She said she went to vote. I was mad at her for coming late, especially on such a rainy day. This was such a minor election. I asked my mother why did she go to vote when there is no president to be elected. Why did she have to go even though it was raining so badly? She herself complained of car breakdown and that the city was full of flash floods, rain, and fog. She had driven two hours in the rain from work and yet she went to vote. I demanded why she has to run around so much.
To my surprise, she says, “I have to go for you.”
“I never asked you to go,” I replied.
“I mean, I had to go so that you can be free,” she said.
“But, I am free,” I corrected her.
“Well, not really. You are not free.” She was not making any sense, water has made her thoughts soggy too. I made her some hot tea.
“I mean except for my homework and two quizzes next week, I am free,” I tried to reason.
“No, you are not. Teenage girls like you are not free to be yourself, you are not free to express yourself, and you are not free to choose what happens to your body. You are one sexual encounter away from ruining your career — in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and West Virginia they have already banned abortion. And now we have to protect and stand for our reproductive rights, even here in California.
She had explained to me the dreaded awkward birds-and-bees talk before and I knew the right to abortion and contraceptives was important. This got me thinking.
I wondered what will happen to the teenage girls or women in the states with abortion bans — what if they accidentally got pregnant?
My mother continued. “I cannot believe, on the ballot they even had the freedom to choose contraceptives – even that will be decided by the government.”
“Are you serious?” asked my aunt.
My aunt is usually shy and does not react to such discussions.
I wondered, “so what if they are raped — do you still have to carry the baby to term if you are in Alabama?”
“Yup,” said my mother, “I went to vote so this dictatorship does not come to California.”
Seeing me confused, my mother summed up: “In short, no boyfriend, no fun, and be very very careful — if you want to take your career seriously.”
Many girls my age do have boyfriends and like to express their love physically. Does that mean they cannot fulfill their dreams?
I knew this would mean my mother would give me a lecture on studies. I was tuning her out obviously but I was thinking what about the girls in Georgia? Many girls my age do have boyfriends and like to express their love physically. Does that mean they cannot fulfill their dreams — they HAVE TO BECOME MOTHERS in case they get pregnant? Girls my age do not even listen to their parents or teachers, how will the state ensure that we comply with this rule?
My mother said, “this means they will have unsafe, dangerous self-induced abortions, which can even kill the girls.
“Can she travel abroad or to another state to get an abortion? I asked. “What if she is too scared to tell her mother and does not have the money to travel?
How can anyone interfere with such a personal decision about one’s body?
They make pro-life sound like the rest of us, who support a woman’s right to choose, are anti-life. This is simply not true. Women who do not want to become mothers are making that choice because they do not want to be irresponsible mothers.
Life as a human being means being loved, getting a good education, getting a good job, and having fulfilling relationships and respect in the community. How can a baby who is an orphan or a child who is shifting homes in foster care be sure to get access to these? Girls who come from low socio-economic backgrounds, and lack support are more likely to be lonely and can get into unreliable, unstable relationships. Banning abortion will give them a life sentence of being a single mom on top of their already complicated life,” said my mother.
I am so afraid for all my sisters in other states in America. I was under the impression that our country is the most powerful free country. How is it that girls are not free to make decisions about their bodies? How is that being free?
The people who are anti-abortion may choose to have babies if their religion or principles do not allow them to abort. That’s their freedom. However, how can they propose to exercise control over other people’s bodies?
I feel very afraid… this is definitely not the freedom our soldiers fought for. This is definitely not the freedom our leaders dreamed of. Please let women choose what they wish to do with their bodies. It really is our body and our decision.
Mira Sinha is a student at Cerritos High School in Cerritos, California. She is passionate about human rights, medicine and public health. She has volunteered at Women in Film and SAHARA, an agency that helps South Asian women suffering from domestic abuse. She loves to swim and play with her two cats.