Political Hot-Button Topic: Right to Life in the 21st Century

 Abortion is "the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus"*In 1973, a major Supreme Court case, Roe V. Wade ruled that a woman has the right to decide to have an abortion, without the government being able to regulate it excessively. A large number of federal and state court cases have followed since, expanding abortion laws in some states all the way through nine months. Roe V. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago, when there was significantly less scientific research surrounding the beginning of life. Over the decades, new research shows that several weeks before a woman ever knows she is pregnant, the fetus (or baby) has a heartbeat, brain function, and can feel pain. In addition, it is shown that at the moment of conception, the unique genetic code is formed that determines a baby's gender, height, eye color, and more. It is clear that abortion is the inhumane termination of a human life and that it should be restricted as science as reason determine.

For this project, the use of simple and positive graphics and photos to illustrate examples of families who are glad to have decided against having an abortion, women who are successful in their careers while still having (oftentimes many) children, and that restricting abortions is simply a humane action based on science and in no way diminishes a woman's right to choose (by clearly showing alternatives to having an abortion), are a respectful way of communicating an alternate opinion of a hot-button topic. By taking this professional, respectful tone and example based approach, the finished product will visually communicate the often misunderstood pro-life message. Color gradients (implying change and evolution), and representational graphics will be often used elements to visually convey this message.

* Definition from Merriam-Webster

The Women’s Rights movement is an extension of the Women’s Suffrage movement of the last century that recognizes that, while women are now allowed to vote, there are still many laws that favor the success of men, and believes systemic sexism is real and is something to be regulated. 

There are many organizations and socially responsible corporations that deal with a large number of topics/issues relating to women’s rights, yet one major focus that is largely overlooked is called into play by Assata Johnson-Williams: women should be listened to with the same weight of judgement as men are.

This thesis was the premise for the #Metoo movement started in 2006, which then exploded on social media around 2016. Tarana Burke started the movement because she saw that too many survivors of sexual abuse and sexual harassment were not being listened to or believed by law-enforcement, judges, juries, or society at large. It’s a simple premise, that a woman’s word should not be weighted differently than a man’s, yet it is unfortunately commonplace that women simply aren’t believed. 

Not every example is so extreme as sexual abuse, however. Former-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was repeatedly dubbed unqualified to be the President of the United States based simply on the fact she is a woman. Her political positions are constantly called into question and there continue to be investigations into supposedly criminal activity she has dismissed as unsubstantiated on a number of occasions. 

On the other side, Amy Coney Barrett is a very recent example of a woman’s word being called into question based simply on the basis of her sex. While still a very successful professor, mother of seven children, and soon to be Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Barrett is often called a sell-out to women and women’s rights because of a potentially different stance on reproductive rights.

It is essential, therefore, according to Johnson-Williams, for men and women, young and old, whatever an individual’s race, creed, or sexual orientation, to advocate for women’s rights. Freedom isn’t free, yet if not everyone is free, does freedom truly exist for anyone?