Sportsman Dr 7

This podcast episode discusses the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion rights and how it is impacting women's lives and communities. The guest, Mikayla, shares her thoughts on the topic, stating that she believes abortion should be legal in all cases and shares her personal experience with having an abortion. She also expresses her frustration with the stigma surrounding abortion and the concerns she has about the future of abortion rights in the US. Mikayla emphasizes the importance of getting involved in the fight for reproductive rights and suggests ways to support, such as volunteering at clinics or making donations. She hopes for a future where abortion is more accessible and safer, and where women have control over their own bodies. Welcome everyone to Nicole's podcast where we talk about the real issues impacting real people. Today's topic is one that's sparking a lot of conversation across the country, abortion rights. The recent Supreme Court decision has left many people feeling confused, frustrated, or even helpless. We all have our own stories, experiences, and beliefs about abortion. On this show, we want to hear from everyday folks to understand how this issue is impacting lives and communities. Throughout this episode, we'll hear about perspectives, concerns, hopes for the future within women's reproductive rights. So whether you're deeply involved in the abortion rights movement or just trying to make sense of it all, we invite you to listen in with an open mind. Today, I'm here with Mikayla. Hi guys. Where are you from? I'm from Pittsburgh. And yeah, it's great to be here with you guys to like start an open conversation about something that I really think is impacting us women. So thanks for having me here today. Thank you so much for being here. So let's dive right in. Have the recent changes to abortion laws impacted you or someone you know? Well, living in Pittsburgh, we still kind of have our rights here, thank goodness. But not me personally, but I would say, and not anyone that I really know personally, but I see like a lot of things on the internet about like women and young girls who aren't able to access abortion now that Roe versus Wade was overturned. And now, you know, it's every state for themselves, which is very disheartening. But I've also, on the other hand, read things about us as a community in Pittsburgh, doing things and lending support for women in other states who don't have the access to abortion. Right, which is great. So how aware are you of the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion rights? I usually, to be honest with you, don't keep up on a lot of political stuff. But of course, as a woman, I was shocked by it that in this day and age that, you know, these people, I think that they can tell us women what to do with our bodies. So I'm learning about it. And, you know, seeing how it's impacting women, like, you know, young women that are in abusive relationships and are forced into things or people that are even rapes that, you know, like there's politicians trying to force us into, you know, living through that hurt and pain every day. So it goes deep. And it was very hard to know about. Right. So in your opinion, do you believe that abortion should be legal in all cases or illegal in all cases or, you know, with legal with some restrictions? I do believe that it should be legal in all cases just because I feel like us as women have the right to choose. I don't think, you know, it sounds so cliche, but at the end of the day, like my body, my choice, you know, so there's also a lot of instances like I kind of mentioned earlier, like women within abusive relationships, like forced to have sex with partners they don't want to have sex with. And then, you know, some men use babies to trap them or like, you know, instances of rape or there's just so many there's so many things or a young girl that, you know, got taken advantage of and is pregnant at 15 years old. There's just so many instances and what ifs and factors that play into it. So I think that it should be legal in all cases so that, you know, every everyone's personal situation can be, you know, handled accordingly. Right, right, exactly. So have you or someone, you know, ever considered getting an abortion? And if so, could you please share your experience without going into specific details? Yeah, I actually came on here to be completely open. I was in an abusive relationship for 10 years. And at the time, my partner had me like completely financially dependent on him. And I was in this place where I was stuck and not happy. And I ended up getting pregnant. And I knew, like at the time that it wasn't the right thing to do. And I like hate to say it, but didn't want to be stuck, like have another reason for him to be stuck with me or abusive towards me. So I made that decision on my own to have an abortion. And, you know, like, I've also have had personal friends as well that have had them for like, you know, reasons of their own. But I just think that there's such a stigma around it. And people get so judged, but you can't put any judgment on people unless, you know, you're in their shoes. So yes, I completely understand that. Thank you so much, Michaela, for sharing that with us. Yeah, of course. So how do you feel about the stigma surrounding abortion? Yeah, I definitely hate it. And especially within, you know, certain religions, there's, there's such a stigma against it. And I think maybe religion has a lot of reason why most people have issues with it. But like I said, my body, my choice, I, I can't, I just, I don't know. I don't know how anyone can judge anyone off of their personal business. Me personally, I couldn't care about what someone's doing with their body enough. You know what I mean? And I just don't understand it. So yes, exactly. Yes. So looking forward, do you think it is important to get involved in the fight for reproductive rights? And if so, how do you think people can get involved? I think that there's a lot of ways. I know, especially in Pittsburgh, there's a couple abortion clinics, there's Planned Parenthood, of course, but there's also Allegheny Reproductive, and they work with a lot of volunteers, whether it's security to escort, whether you're escorting patients to and from the building, you can also make donations to help people who don't have the financial access for, you know, abortion and other women's care. I just think that there's a lot you can do. You can also, like advocate in different ways, I'm sure throughout the country, even, but especially within Pittsburgh, I definitely think that there's a lot of ways that women or anyone can get involved to support. Right. Yes. And what are your biggest concerns about the future of abortion rights in the US? I just hope that it doesn't get more restricted to a point to where women feel really stuck and hopeless. Because like I said, now you have women from other states, you know, rallying to the states that do allow access to it. And I feel like it puts like women in a panic mode. And, you know, there are some girls like what if a girl doesn't have access to get to another state or the finances to do that. So I think that it just opens up a lot of concern for like the worst to happen. And I hope that, you know, with the future that like us younger generation people get out and vote and we can make a change and get these politicians out of there that want to control our bodies. I completely agree with you. And so my last question, is there anything you would like to see done to make abortion safer or more accessible? Um, I would say that I would like to like I kind of like touched on before, just hopefully within the future, see states become more relaxed. So that like I said, women aren't in this panic mode when they have to make this tough decision and travel from state to state where you know, they can get an abortion. I also think that in the long run, we just need to educate like more, you know what I mean within like our younger generations and even reach out to the youth and like even if it's, you know, not to the point to where they need an abortion and just, you know, inform them on birth control and ways to prevent it and just become more aware of our bodies and, you know, pass out condoms, anything to, you know, create a positive impact within the community is all you can hope for. And like, I just hope in the future, us women can just have, you know, power with over our bodies, you know, right? Yes. Okay. Well, I really do thank you so much for being here today and giving us all this information. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for having me. It's been my pleasure. Thank you. Bye. Bye.