Meghan Markle's thoughts and reaction to the overturning of Roe v Wade and how this affects women

Following the tumultuous decision by the US Supreme Court last week to overturn their own long standing precedent - the case of Roe v Wade - thereby removing the nationwide constitutional right for women in America to legally access abortion services, you may of wondered, as did I, what was Meghan Markle's view about this? Well now we know. Meghan took part in a phone conversation with Gloria Steinem and Jessica Yellin. The key discussion points have been reported in Vogue.

In response to a question of what Meghan felt would be the immediate impact of the overturing of Roe v Wade in States where the trigger laws have already either banned or severely restricted access to abortion services, Meghan said there was already an impact on women's bodies and lives pointing out how women with resources can travel to get an abortion, but how those without means may attempt a do-it-yourself- abortion at tremendous risk. Meghan feared that many women will have no choice other than to source abortion pills from unregulated pharmacies or access other unsafe health care, and for those in life or death situations, they will find themselves at the mercy of whatever doctor they happen to visit. 

Meghan felt the wider message from the decision by the Supreme Court is that women's physical safety does not matter. But we do, Meghan said, "women matter."

Meghan also spoke of how women of colour and especially black women are more impacted by the overturning of Roe v Wade, saying many don't have access to the same health care, economic opportunity, mental health resources etc. and it is 'difficult to overstate what this decision is going to do to these communities.' Scarily, Gloria Steinem recounted incidents in pre-Roe v Wade times when women were sterilised without their consent or knowledge, particularly if these women received public financial support.

Photo from Vogue

Meghan felt that this moment in history required unity and really listening to people, and understanding that "the (US) Constitution was written at a time when women were second class citizens. We're not" she said. 

Meghan and Gloria remain hopeful that if people keep working things can be changed. Gloria and Meghan both stressed the importance of voting in each and every election, and carrying on advocacy work to make reproductive freedom a fundamental right the same as freedom of speech.

American feminist, activist and author Gloria Steinem and Meghan met prior to the 2020 presidential elections when they made phone calls together to encourage people to register to vote. They have been working to try and get the Equal Rights Amendment bill ratified. Jessica Yellin is a journalist and the founder of the independent media company News Not Noise.

Click here to access the entire Vogue article