Ideally, young women facing an unintended pregnancy should go to their parents for help and support. Thankfully, most do. But we don't live in a perfect world. Some young women cannot involve their parents because they come from homes with physical and emotional abuse.
Parental-involvement laws require young women who seek abortion care to tell their parents or get their permission, regardless of their family circumstances.
The Challenge
Anti-choice lawmakers put politics before teens' health and safety. Instead of protecting young women, these laws can have serious consequences:
- Illegal and self-induced abortion
- Family violence
- Suicide
We all may know a teen who would be afraid to tell her parents, especially if she fears a violent reaction. For example, a teen who was raped by her stepfather may not want to tell her mom.
Most states have laws that make it harder for teens to make a responsible and safe decision in a difficult situation.
Our Solution
In the end, we want all young women to be safe. That's why we need to fight back against anti-choice attacks on young women's safety. Teens also should have access to accurate sex education. That way, they also will get the facts on how to prevent an unintended pregnancy.
