Note: The views and opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Polinsights.
For decades, the fight over abortion has stood at the center of America’s culture wars, shaping political platforms and dividing communities. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade (1973), that fight has only intensified, especially in red states like Florida and Texas, where lawmakers have rushed to restrict abortion access. These new laws often hit one group the hardest: minors.
In many of these states, a pregnant adolescent cannot get an abortion without parental consent—and in some cases, is barred from accessing it at all. Supporters of such laws claim to be “protecting life,” but too often, they ignore the lives already in crisis. Foster children, abuse survivors, and vulnerable teens are left with no options, forced into motherhood before they are even old enough to vote.
History shows us that reproductive rights were hard-won. Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) established the right to privacy in marital contraception, laying the foundation for landmark cases like Roe v. Wade (1973) and Loving v. Virginia (1967). At the time, these decisions were revolutionary. Today, many Americans take them for granted, assuming such freedoms have always existed. They haven’t—and as recent years prove, they can be taken away.
Teen pregnancy is not a political talking point; it’s a reality faced by thousands of American girls each year. Some pregnancies are consensual; many are not. When the law requires parental consent for abortion, it assumes a safe, supportive home environment. But for too many girls, that is not the case. Survivors of incest, rape, or domestic abuse may be trapped—forced to carry pregnancies that put their health, education, and futures at risk.
When minors are denied legal abortion, they don’t stop seeking it. They turn to unsafe, clandestine methods that endanger their lives. And in states where bypassing parental consent is illegal, both the teen and her parents could face criminal consequences. This is not “protecting life.” It is punishing vulnerability.
If lawmakers truly cared about children, they would prioritize the health, safety, and future of the adolescent before forcing her into motherhood. Until that happens, the fight for reproductive freedom is far from over—because in America today, the girls who need it most are the ones being left behind.
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