Abortion: Healthcare or Controversy? An Introduction

Dorothy S -

My name is Dorothy S., a senior at BASIS Washington DC and I am eager to share my senior project journey with you.  

Abortion. Most people, whether they love it or hate it, have got something to say about it. What began as a healthcare issue has spiraled into a deeply polarizing social and political argument. My research aims to understand how we arrived at our current situation by examining the historical foundations of both abortion rights and anti-abortion movements. 

My project considers the vast and complicated history of abortion in America, establishing a timeline of before, during, and after the Roe v. Wade court case that made history in 1973. Since the Dobbs vs. Jackson decision in 2022 overturning almost 50 years of constitutional protection of abortion rights, 14 states have implemented total bans, with 6 additional states restricting the procedure to 6-12 weeks of pregnancy.  

I will examine both historical and current aspects of abortion policy and healthcare to identify the systemic biases that continue to impact millions of Americans.  

As a woman who has anxiously navigated the U.S healthcare system for years I’ve witnessed firsthand the gender disparities in medicine. When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, I was dumbfounded and scared, too young to truly understand the complicated national debate that was taking place. Now, although I’m still scared, I want to really understand where this dispute surrounding abortion came from and how it devolved into such a heated and violent conflict.  

I will be working with Dr. Caroyln Sufrin as she researches reproductive healthcare access and treatment for incarcerated individuals. I will use her guidance in my own historical abortion research.  

I think it is very important to note that frequently in my project I will refer to abortion as part of women’s health and I am using this as a blanket statement that includes everyone assigned female at birth, including cisgender women, transgender men, nonbinary people, genderfluid people and many others.  

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    james_h
    Wow, this is such a crucial topic to study at a time like this and I am so glad you are doing so. Women's health has been overlooked for far too long, so it's great that you are putting the spotlight on it that it deserves. I am sure that you will uncover some interesting facts in your research, and I wish you the best of luck!
    March 11, 2025 at 8:34 pm - Reply
    maia_b_v
    Hi Dottie! I really like your project it's incredibly powerful and deeply relevant. The way you’re tracing the historical and political evolution of abortion rights shows a strong commitment to understanding such a complex issue. I also appreciate how you’re not just examining laws and policies but also considering the real-life impact on individuals, especially marginalized communities. I'm really excited to learn more about your experience with Dr. Sufrin and can't wait to hear more about it next week. Good Luck!
    March 11, 2025 at 8:48 pm - Reply
    Pathak
    Amazing! You're so brave for taking on such a divisive topic and you're doing it well! Excited to see how your internship goes, keep it up.
    March 14, 2025 at 3:51 pm - Reply
    victoria_c
    Wow Dottie! I am amazed this topic seems so interesting and I can't wait to hear more about it, I love that you are touching on this given the current circumstances in our present political climate. It is so insanely courageous and empowering to see and I can't wait to educate myself more through your project!
    March 20, 2025 at 11:41 am - Reply

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