AKA Jane Roe

Written by Gemina

Do you all remember the blog about Roe vs Wade from last year? I had written it to bring awareness to the fact that so many states were over turning the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that yes, women have the right to choose what to do with their body in regards to their pregnancy. 

This is a kind of sort of update. 

Hulu recently released their documentary titled AKA Jane Roe- based on the woman in the historical case. I don’t know if anyone was like me but, I did not know anything about Jane Roe (real name Norma McCorvey). The documentary delved into her life before, during and after the case. I will drop some key facts/interesting points and at the end give an update to the current abortion laws. 

Jane Roe:

• White, poor, raised by a single mother who was abusive and an alcoholic.

• Ran away at age 10 with a friend

• Married at 16, gave birth to her first child at the age of 18. Divorced, custody of child given to her mother

• 1970, age 21, third pregnancy. Sought abortion in Texas (illegal). In order to try and get the abortion, she reported that she was gang raped by a group of black men. Due to lack of factual evidence, abortion was denied. 

• Contacted by two female lawyers who were looking for her demographic type and background to start the abortion case.

The Case:

• Three years of trials

• Jane Roe never attended a single trial

• 1973: Supreme Court ruled individual state laws banning abortion were unconstitutional.

Jane Roe (continued):

• Never had an abortion; she gave birth during the first year of the trials; gave baby up for adoption

• Started a lesbian relationship with Connie

• Became advocate for women’s rights and pro choice

• 1998- baptized into the Roman Catholic church; becomes pro life and tried to overturn the 1973 decision on abortion; stopped her sexual relationship with Connie but continued to live together

• 2016- terminally ill; confesses that her stint with the Roman Catholic church was an act. She acted as their puppet for the money. 

• Died February 2017

Roe vs Wade Now:

73% of American public oppose overturning Roe vs Wade

There’s been a broad, systemic approach effort to chip away at Roe v. Wade in an attempt to ultimately ban abortion nationwide by anti-abortion politicians. A variety of bills have been sent to Congress that would restrict access to abortion at any point during pregnancy. These anti-abortion state legislators continue to attack abortion access through ballot measures and legislative restrictions. 

Gemina’s Recommendation:

1. VOTE! Especially in your local election. These elections matter very much in the grand scheme of things.