As soon as I entered an abortion clinic in Miami, the 2007 film Juno came to mind, where a teenager visits a similar facility but ultimately decides against the procedure. Outside, there were no protestors condemning abortion. However, the waiting room, with its small window through which a staff member spoke to me, was really similar to the one in the movie, but really different from a typical medical clinic in Brazil (my home country, where abortion is illegal).
While no demonstrators were outside when I was there, American people are facing even greater challenges when seeking an abortion. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional 49-year-right to abortion (the landmark Roe v. Wade decision), allowing each state to set its own regulations.
Since then, 13 states have completely banned abortion, while eight others have imposed significant restrictions on the procedure. Florida has implemented a six-week limit on abortions. The challenge is that many people are unaware they are pregnant in the early stages.
Since the six-week limit was imposed in Florida, professionals at Blue Coral Women’s Care report having to inform an average of 40 people each month that no doctor at the clinic can help them. They are instead advised to travel to Virginia, where abortion is legal up to 26 weeks.
“It’s a very difficult situation because 50% of those seeking our help are very young and have no money to raise a child,” says Maria Fernandez, the clinic’s manager. “Most are around eight to 10 weeks pregnant.”
Currently, around 35 people undergo the procedure each month at the clinic, down from 120 before the change in the law, according to Fernandez.
Abortion is a key issue in this election. When the U.S Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Donald Trump called the decision “the biggest win for life in a generation.” He also took credit for the outcome. In a statement, he said it was “only made possible because” he delivered “everything as promised, including nominating and getting three highly respected and strong Constitutionalists confirmed to the United States Supreme Court.”
The decision has not been widely popular across the country. According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 60% of Americans believe a woman should be allowed to have a legal abortion if they do not want to continue a pregnancy.
“In general, people didn’t like this U.S. Supreme Court decision because Americans value the right to make their own choices,” says Lori Poloni-Staudinger, dean at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) at the University of Arizona. “That’s tied to American culture, which is very individualistic.”
Daniela Martins, vice chair of Women’s Emergency Network, an organization that assists individuals in accessing abortion care in Florida: “Trump knows that the ban was unpopular even among Republicans.” According to Martins, while abortion is often discussed from a moral perspective in Latin American, in the United States it is viewed as a personal right by those who defend the right to abortion.
University of Miami political science professor Louise Davidson-Schmich also observes that Americans are highly skeptical of the government. “Many Americans might also say, ‘I don’t think it’s the government’s job to tell a doctor or a patient what they can’t do,'” she adds.
Since the decision has faced criticism from many American voters, Trump has altered his rhetoric and displayed inconsistency. Last week, he remarked that some state laws are “too tough” and should be “redone.”
“Abortion is an issue that can motivate people to leave their homes to vote,” she says. “People have various reasons for voting, but this has been enough to persuade many.”
Poloni-Staudinger says it is difficult for people to believe Trump’s sudden change of mind. Abortion is an issue that can motivate people to leave their homes to vote,” she says. “People have various reasons for voting, but this has been enough to persuade many.”
Davidson-Schmich adds that abortion will likely motivate young women to vote for Harris, which could benefit Democrats, as young people are typically less inclined to vote. She also notes that if abortion were the sole issue in this election, Harris would likely win. “But that’s not the only issue, right?,” the professor says. “Another key factor is immigration, and that tends to work more in favor of the Republicans.”
