Abortion in the United States of America

Posted on by Emma

For my civic issue topic, I will be discussing abortion. 

Abortion data in the United States of America mainly comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Guttmacher Institute. In 2020, the CDC reported 620,327 abortions in the District of Columbia and forty seven states. This is a one and a half percent decrease from the 629,898 reported in 2019. Guttmacher reported 930,160 abortions nationally in 2020, which is a one and a half percent increase from 2019, where 916,460 abortions were reported. Since 1973, Guttmacher reports more abortions annually. Abortions hit their peak in 1990 and have been on a steady decline since. The numbers reported only include abortions obtained in clinical settings and do not include abortions from using pills. 

Roe v. Wade was a Supreme Court case in 1973. The decision argued against the state criminal abortion laws in Texas. The laws in place at the time said abortions were only allowed when it was a life-saving procedure for the mother. The court ended up deciding that it was the woman’s right to decide to terminate her pregnancy or not. It was decided that otherwise, it would violate the Due process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This protected state action the right to privacy, including if women can decide if they should or should not terminate their pregnancy. The findings of Roe V. Wade were “Women Have the right to abort pre-viability without undue interference from the state. The state may restrict abortion post-viability. The state has a legitimate interest in protecting the woman’s health and the life of the fetus” (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/roe_v_wade_(1973)). After the Roe V. Wade decision, forty six states needed to change their abortion laws which caused controversy. 

According to the CDC, abortions are divided into two categories: surgical abortions and medication abortions. Medication abortions use pills. Fifty three percent of abortions use the pill, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000. According to that administration, medication abortions are safe to use ten weeks into pregnancy. The other type of abortion, surgical abortions, are procedures done during the first trimester of the pregnancy. These procedures use a suction process, whereas the procedures are done in the second trimester use a process called dilation and evacuation. In 2020, ninety three percent of abortions were given to the woman in their first trimester, which is thirteen weeks before gestation. Six percent happened between the fourteen and twenty week period, and one percent occurred at or after the twenty one week mark. 

The total number of abortion providers is steadily declining since 1982. In 1982 there were 2,908 abortion providers in the United States. In 2020 there were only 1,603. Abortion providers are divided into four categories: physicians’ offices, hospitals, abortion clinics, and other clinics. It was reported that in 2020, although abortion and other clinics only make up fifty percent of abortion providers, they provide ninety six perfect of all abortions given to patients. There are also regional differences for where there is a decline and increase in abortion clinics. Abortions clinics increased by eleven percent in the Midwest and by six percent in the West. The number of abortion clinics decreased in the Northeast by nine percent and three percent in the South. 

With the recent overturning of Roe V. Wade and some states having stricter abortion laws, women in need of an abortion often travel to different states to obtain the procedures they need. In 2020, almost ten percent of all abortions were given to women in states different from the one they reside in. This is a decline from prior to 1973, when states still had the option to ban abortion. 

Despite the recent overturning of Roe V. Wade, reproductive health care services, including abortion, are still accessible and legal in the state of Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal up until the twenty third week of the woman’s pregnancy and after that, only when the woman’s life is in danger. Surgical and medication abortions are still legal in Pennsylvania. In addition, Pennsylvania has an executive order “designed to protect persons seeking reproductive health care services and medical professionals offering those services from discipline in other states”. (https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Maternal-Health/Pages/Abortion.aspx#:~:text=Both%20medication%20and%20in%2Dclinic,from%20discipline%20in%20other%20states.) 

Most women who obtain an abortion are in their twenties. Fifty seven percent of women who obtain an abortion are in their twenties, thirty one percent are in their thirties, eight percent are teenagers, and four percent are in their forties. This disproves the narrative that mostly teenagers get abortions. Eighty six percent of women who gets an abortion are unmarried, according to the CDC.

In addition, there is a narrative that women use getting an abortion as birth control, which is not true for a majority of women. Fifty eight percent of women getting an abortion in 2020 it was their first abortion, twenty four percent their second, ten percent their third, and eight percent their fourth or higher. Also, only thirty nine percent of women having an abortion have had no previous births, twenty five percent had one, twenty percent had two, ten percent had three, and six percent had four or more births. 

Although abortion access has been changing recently, there are still options to obtain an abortion if you are in need. It is not uncommon, although not convenient, to travel to a different state with different regulations to obtain the necessary medical procedure. Abortion is a controversial topic but is not uncommon, and women shouldn’t have to be ashamed for making the decision that they believe is best for them. 

 

Work Cited

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/roe_v_wade_(1973) https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/410/113 

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/01/11/what-the-data-says-about-abortion-in-the-u-s-2/  

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Maternal-Health/Pages/Abortion.aspx#:~:text=Both%20medication%20and%20in%2Dclinic,from%20discipline%20in%20other%20states.

The King of Staten Island

Posted on by Emma

   Hi! For my passion blog, I decided to review movies that I enjoy. The first movie that I will review is “The King of Staten Island.” It stars Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, and Steve Buscemi. The film is loosely based on Pete Davidson’s life. Personally, I love Pete Davidson and SNL, so I was very drawn to watching this film. Overall, I thought it was super funny and a cool insight into one of my favorite comedians’ lives. If you know anything about Pete Davidson, you know that in his standup shows, he uses dark humor to discuss his father’s death. Pete Davidson’s father was a firefighter from Staten Island and heroically died during the September 11th attacks. In addition, the film discusses Pete Davidson’s struggle with mental health and drug abuse. For those who haven’t watched the movie. 

   Scott, played by Pete Davidson, lives with his mother, Margie (Davidson also lives with his mom in real life). Scott’s father passed in the September 11th attacks, and he has ADHD, Crohn’s disease, and is an avid user of marijuana. Scott is currently seeing Kelsey, who wants to be in a committed relationship, but Scott feels he is not good enough for her. Scott’s younger sister, Claire, is leaving for college and is showing deep concern that Scott will spiral out without her there to watch him. Scott is an aspiring tattoo artist. The King of Staten Island (2020) - IMDb

   One day when Scott is on the beach with his friends, Scott gives a nine-year-old boy a tattoo, but the boy runs away after only getting a line on his arm. Later that day, the boy’s angry father, Ray, shows up at his house and ends up meeting Margie, and he asks her out on a date. As the relationship progresses and gets more serious, Margie tells Scott about their relationship. Scott freaks out because, like his father, Ray is a firefighter. In an effort to bond with Scott, Ray takes him to a baseball game with his firefighter friends. Scott argues that firefighters shouldn’t have families because their deaths will only cause their families unnecessary pain.

   When visiting his sister at school, Scott tells Claire his plan to break up Ray and Margie. Scott grows close with Ray’s two kids, Harold, the boy he tattooed, and Kelly. Scott’s friends plan to rob a pharmacy, and Scott is supposed to be the lookout. After being confronted by the pharmacist, one of Scott’s friends gets shot, and everyone but Scott is arrested.

   Scott meets Ray’s ex-wife, Gina, and she tells him about Ray’s gambling addiction. Scott proceeds to tell his mother this information, and when Ray finds out, this leads to a big fight between Ray and Scott. This leads to Margie kicking both Scott and Ray out. Scott tries to find a place to stay, but ends up at Ray’s firehouse. Scott takes up odd jobs at the firehouse and eventually bonds with Ray. Ray allows Scott to use his back as a canvas for tattooing, and he gets better and better. Scott learns more about his father from the other firefighters and slowly accepts his father’s death. 

  One day when Scott is alone at the firehouse, a man with an abdominal wound comes in, and Scott is forced to put his new skills to work. Ray meets him at the hospital where Margie works. Margie forgives Scott and Ray when seeing them together and sees the tattoo’s that Scott gave him. Scott then surprises Kelsey at the ferry where she is going for an interview, and the two end up in a relationship. 

   Overall, I genuinely love this movie, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Pete Davidson or are in need of a good movie to watch.

 

Work Cited:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt9686708%2F&psig=AOvVaw1Rb_FwO5sqRjE8pMR7fEVi&ust=1674787539922000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCIDZv_Wb5PwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD 

Topics

Posted on by Emma

For my passion blog, I will continue last semester’s blog and review movies. For my civic issues blog, I will discuss abortion. I will take on the issue from both sides and also discuss the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade and how that has affected women across the country.

Posted in RCL

This I Believe Draft

Posted on by Emma

I believe in taking time to help those less fortunate than you. Growing up, I was always taught that it is essential to see the best in people and fully understand their situation before making a judgment about them. From a young age, my parents taught me the importance of donating to charities and volunteering. My mother, a stay-at-home mom, was very active in our community, ranging from helping at my elementary school to being my Girl Scout leader. I followed by example, and in high school, I became involved with my school’s intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) program. 

In my sophomore year, I joined a club called Best Buddies, which matches students with and without disabilities in a one-to-one friendship. The department matched me with Romina, a freshman at my school with down syndrome. I quickly picked up how she expressed herself and what she liked, and we became fast friends. Over the next three years, Romina was my buddy, and I was able to help her in and outside of the classroom. After graduating high school, my younger sister became her buddy, and she is working to form a similar friendship with her. 

In my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to have a class period of the day with an IDD class and be on the leadership board for Best Buddies. In addition, I served as membership director for my chapter. I created successful friendships between students and created and facilitated events for all students at my school to come together. During the school day, when I spent my time with the CAT B kids, I formed a new appreciation for special education teachers as I learned what they go through on a daily basis. I also formed bonds with over thirty of the CAT B student who all have different IDDs. I learned how to adjust how I talk to them without making them feel inferior to me, and I learned how to communicate in new ways. I became close with nonverbal students and was always excited to see their faces light up when I entered the room because they spotted a familiar face. I helped them learn and grow, and they did the same for me equally, if not more.

Ideas

Posted on by Emma

For my passion blog, I will either continue with my movie reviews but extend the type of movies to just movies I enjoy instead of romantic comedies. Or for my second idea, I will write a travel blog talking about my experiences in the different countries and states I have visited.

For my Civic Issues blog, my first idea is to write about gun control, and my second is to write about abortion access and the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade. As a political science major and someone from Washington DC, these issues are important to me and directly tie into my major and future life goal of being a lawyer.

For my “This I Believe” Podcast, my first idea is to talk about the power of positivity and the importance of appreciating the small things in life. My second idea is to talk about how important it is to volunteer and spend time with those less fortunate than you.

Unit 3 Ideas

Posted on by Emma

   For our third unit, “History of a Public Controversy,” my first idea is people’s opinions on vaccines. I think this would be interesting because people have crazy opinions, such as there are government trackers in the Covid vaccine. Also, new parents aren’t vaccinating their kids because they believe it connects to autism. Also, old diseases are coming back because parents refuse to vaccinate their kids. Another idea is the death penalty controversy, as people have opposing views on it. I think if this topic were selected, both sides would be interesting to explore, and we could also discuss prisons and the capacity of prisons being reached.  

A Walk to Remember

Posted on by Emma

With this being my final passion blog post, I wanted to review one of my all-time favorite movies, “A Walk to Remember.” This movie never fails to make me cry, and I highly recommend it. It is based on a Nicholas Sparks’ book of the same name. This film starred Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, and Daryl Hannah and was released in 2002. The next part includes spoilers for those who haven’t seen the movie. 

Popular and rebellious high school senior Landon Carter and his group of friends are drunk on school grounds and make a new student at their school jump off a high dive into the pool by promising him entrance into their friend group. Unfortunately, the new kid becomes seriously injured, bringing the incident to the school’s attention. When talking with the principal, Landon is forced to complete service projects around the school in exchange for not being expelled. Landon must attend: weekend tutoring, be a janitor, and participate in the school play. Landon gets to know Jamie Sullivan, the local minister’s minister, through these projects. Although they have known each other for most of their lives, they barely interacted. 

A Walk to Remember - Wikipedia

Landon struggles with the play and asks Jamie for help, and Jamie agrees under the condition he will not fall in love with her. Landon laughs at the thought. They form a bond until Landon is mean to her in front of his friends to impress them, and Jamie realizes Landon wants their friendship to be a secret, so she distances herself. 

  Landon realizes the implications of his actions, apologizes to the new kid he injured, and focuses on the play. On the play’s opening night, Landon is so impressed with Jamie’s singing that he kisses her just before the curtain closes. Jamie avoids Landon after this. Landon’s ex-girlfriend plays a mean joke on Jamie, and Landon defends her in front of everyone. Jamie and Landon recoil. Landon asks Jamie on a date, but Jamie says she isn’t allowed to, so Landon goes to the church and asks her father, who agrees. 

As the movie goes on, their relationship strengthens until Jamie reveals she has leukemia and Landon shouldn’t plan for a future with her. Jamie ends up in the hospital one night, and Landon goes and visits his estranged father, who is a doctor, and asks for help, but he is unable. Landon breaks down. 

In the hospital, Jamie gives Landon a book that belonged to her deceased mother and tells him he is her angel. Landon names a star after Jamie, surprises her with it, and asks her to marry him. They get married in the church where Jamie’s parents were married, and Landon reflects on their last summer together, as Jamie died shortly after getting married. 

Years later, Landon returns to their town, visits Jamie’s father, and tells him he’s been accepted into medical school. Landon expresses how he was sorry Jamie never got her miracle, but Jamie’s father says that Landon was her miracle. At the end of the film, Landon describes her love like the wind, “he cannot see it, but he can feel it”. 

  The movie’s main plot involves pediatric cancer, which I have a personal connection to, and I think that is why the film moved me. I would rate this movie a ten out of ten as it is incredibly moving and has an interesting plot. This movie never fails to make me cry, so if you are in need of a good cry, I would recommend this movie. 

She’s the Man

Posted on by Emma

My best friend, Madison, and I met in seventh grade and initially bonded over our love for the movie “She’s the Man.” We have seen this movie together countless times and quote it constantly. We even have an inside joke about the movie that we always say when we pick up the phone or see each other for the first time that day. So it is safe to say that I love this movie. It is also based on William Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night.” The movie stars Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, and David Cross. 

Viola Hastings (Amanda Bynes) plays for her high school, Cornwall’s, soccer team, but unfortunately, the girl’s soccer team gets cut. Viola tries to try out for the boy’s soccer team but is laughed at by the captain of the team, her boyfriend – Justin – his teammates, and the coach. As a result, Viola breaks up with Justina in front of everyone. Viola’s twin brother Sebastian, who is dating Monique, is supposed to start at a fancy boarding school, Illyria, but instead goes on a trip to London. Viola is supposed to cover for Sebastian but instead transforms into Sebastian and takes his place, so she can join the boy’s soccer team and beat Cornwall. 

She's the Man (2006) - IMDb

When she moves in, she meets her roommate, Duke Orsino, who is the soccer team captain. Viola is assigned to the second string during tryouts, which further motivates her. Viola struggles to keep up appearances as “Sebastian” and fails to make any friends. With the help of her girl friends from Cornwall, she tricks them into believing Sebastian has social power and is accepted as a member of the soccer team’s social group. “Sebastain” catches the attention of Olivia, who Duke has a crush on. Duke agrees to help “Sebastian” with soccer if “Sebastian” can help Duke get a date with Olivia. Viola’s mother makes her volunteer at a carnival, and she is forced to work the kissing booth and kisses Duke as Viola. Duke tells “Sebastian” that he might like Viola instead of Olivia, which makes Viola happy because she feels the same way. In an effort to make “Sebastian” jealous, Olivia asks Duke out. That’s not that confusing, right? 

Viola finds out Olivia’s true intentions with Duke and encourages her to tell “Sebastian” how she truly feels and leaves Duke alone. The real Sebastian returns from London early, and Olivia confesses his feelings to him and kisses him. Duke sees Sebastian and Olivia kiss and feels betrayed. “Sebastian” and Duke get into an argument, which confuses Viola because she doesn’t know about Olivia and her brother. 

Viola made first-string for the Cornwall game but overslept after being kicked out of her room. The real Sebastian ends up playing the first half and, at halftime, switches with Viola. Before the switch, a student who is suspicious of “Sebastian” attempts to expose her but is proven wrong. Duke is still mad at “Sebastian” and does not cooperate with him on the field. Viola is frustrated and pauses the game to explain how she pretends to be her brother because she wanted to beat Cornwall. The Illyria coach defends Viola, and she is allowed to play the rest of the game. They beat Cornwall and embarrass Viola’s ex-boyfriend.

The real Sebastian and Olivia begin to date, and Viola confesses her feelings for Duke, but he ignores her. Duke ends up showing up at her debutante bowl, and they begin dating. Viola officially joins Illyria’s soccer team as Viola. 

I love this movie because it is a great and funny movie and connects me to my best friend. This movie also alludes to Shakespeare’s play many times throughout the film, such as the names of the high schools in the movies being the town’s names in the play, which I think is super clever. I studied the play in my tenth-grade English class, so I am able to pick up on these connections. Overall I would rate this movie a ten out of ten.