Who knew 2020 would be the year where we would not only be fighting for our lives during a pandemic, but also fighting for our fundamental rights as humans? With the Affordable Care Act on the line during the 2020 election, uterus owners from all over the United States are rushing to gynecologists in fear of the future inability to afford birth control, have abortions, and afford medical care with either planned or unplanned childbirths.

The stigma behind birth control has shifted throughout the years, as both the benefits of contraception and the number of people taking the initiative to prevent teen pregnancies has increased. We are also living in a time where there are many birth control options that are more effective and have less side effects than before. One of the top methods of birth control is the intrauterine device (IUD). The IUD is a T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus and can last up to 10 years without being removed. Not only does it prevent pregnancy, but it also regulates hormones and periods, provides contraception for those with difficulty with the oestrogen hormone in pills, and can be removed easily by a doctor at any time. The cost of this contraceptive and other forms of birth control ranges from $0 to $50 per yearly dosage with medical insurance and $500 to $1,300 without medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

“How is this happening in a developed ‘free’ country?” an advocate for global reform says. “The amount of social media posts I’ve seen of women and people fearing for their life and warning others to stock up on birth control and reproductive health care material all started after RGB passed away and the Supreme Court seat was at stake. I am very scared for women and those with a uterus.”

During the 2020 debate, candidate Joe Biden explained that after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, the Roe v. Wade decision could be overturned and is on the ballot during the elections, despite president Trump’s refusal to accept it.

“I like to try to keep a positive outlook on the future because I believe that we’re fighting for a better world,” political communication major Alexa Bodner says. “If Trump does win, I would say I would be very, very scared for the future of women’s rights.”

People are not going to stop having sex, and 98 percent of those sexually active in the United States use birth control. Therefore, if abortions become illegal in every state after the elections, and people will be forced to use contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies, how is the removal of arguably the most important health care reform since 1965 even an option? All human beings, no matter how they identify, deserve the chance to have affordable options when it comes to taking control of their bodies.

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