With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, there has been an uproar from many different generations, but the generation that hasn’t been given as much of a platform is Gen Z. -- Drax richardson, 8th grade
With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, there has been an uproar from many different generations, but the generation that hasn’t been given as much of a platform is Gen Z. While most of Gen Zers are below the age of 18, this still affects this generation just as much as it does others
Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24th and the nation went crazy. To read more about the background of this landmark decision, check out “Everything You Need to Know About Roe vs Wade.”
Ace Gardner, an 8th grade student at the School of Madeleine (all pronouns), says “For me, really I was just pissed off. In a lot of cases it really doesn’t affect me, but I feel awful for the people that can’t get abortions that really need them.” This is not an uncommon reaction to finding out about the overturning. Rudy Blythe, an 8th grader at Albany Middle School (he/him) also tells me that he was very surprised and disappointed at finding out.
Alex Stullman, 7th grade Lit Arts student at OSA (all pronouns except she/her), thinks that the choice should rest with the person carrying the baby’s. “I think [SCOTUS] are white male supremacists, trying to talk about things they don't know about, because they're angry we actually have a decent president now. And they want something in their control,” he said
Around 75% of 18-29 year olds throughout the US agree that abortion should be legal, some saying with exceptions. And only 30% say that it should be legal no matter what. So that’s a lot of Gen Z that agrees with abortion. Blythe is one of those people. “It’s a very necessary medical procedure” he tells me. Blythe beleives that no matter the situation you should have the ability to have a safe abortion.
Many states that had trigger laws set do not make exceptions for rape or incest, so no matter what the situation is you will have to have the child. “People pretend that they are trying to do something good when really they’re just trying to take rights away from people,” says Calliope Dean, 8th grade student at OSA (she/her). It’s really scary to Dean that there could be the possibility, if needed, that she would not be able to receive an abortion. She’s very scared that the SCOTUS won’t listen to reason and continue to take away the rights of people.
Forcing someone to carry a baby to term can be very physically and mentally damaging. For example, if someone is raped at a young of age and is forced to have the child, it’s very likely to kill both the baby and the birthgiver. “Now, abortion can be a good thing if it is to, in technicality, if the child is not viable, meaning it won’t live either way, it’s better to go ahead with the abortion procedure, rather than to have the mom have the child and the baby dying either way, or the mom dying,” said Branden Hollenstein-Davis a 11th grader at De La Salle High School (He/Him). Hollenstein-Davis has equal worry for both the conceiver and the child.
Every generation has their different opinions on abortion. Two of the most supportive generations are the Millennials and Gen Z but Gen Z is a lot more open about their opinions. The Millennials are a lot quieter about their opinions on abortion. According to Robert Jones, CEO of Public Religion Research Institute, "Six in 10 Millennials say abortion should be legal in all or most cases"
Two Gen Z students interviewed, Dean and Stullman, say that their parents are much quieter about their opinions on it. “My parents tend to ignore that stuff. When something gets uncomfortable for them they say ‘let’s watch a funny show and forget about this,’” Stullman says. This situation is common with many older generations. Dean's parents feel the same as she does but still seem to be a bit quieter.
Hollenstein-Davis says that his parents are much more open about their opinions on abortion, though. Both of Hollenstein-Davis’s parents are strong advocates of abortion and are very opposed to the decision of the SCOTUS’s decision. This shows that while some are quiet about their opinions, many are also very open advocates and are striving to fight for what they believe is right, along with Gen Z.
