Op-Comic: What if abortion were self-defense?

Two pregnant people with concerned expressions sit next to a headstone

By Holly Todd

July 10, 2023 3:05 AM PT

1

In the U.S., pregnant people die of pregnancy-related causes at a higher rate than police die in the line of duty.

The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation, and the rate is worse for Black Americans.

The maternal mortality rate in states that have banned abortion is up to three times higher than those with abortion access.

Given the deadly risks, does a pregnant person not have a right to self-defense against someone threatening their safety?

U.S. culture has long accepted self-defense as a valid reason to use deadly force. Fetishized it, even.

Imagine if a person seeking an abortion was treated like a cop who had killed someone. "I feared for my safety," they say.

People offer supportive words: "It's ok. You were just defending yourself. You did what you had to do. Your life matters."

Holly Todd is a cartoonist in Alaska. Her work has been published in the Anchorage Press and Weekly Humorist. @hollyatodds

Opinion Op-Ed Abortion

More From the Los Angeles Times