The issue of 200+ women facing criminal charges over pregnancy in the year after Dobbs is alarming and deeply disturbing. The fact that women who have experienced miscarriages are being accused of child abuse and locked up is beyond comprehension. Miscarriages are unfortunately common, and the idea that someone could weaponize such a devastating experience to incarcerate women is cruel and heartless.
One particular case in Oklahoma where a woman was charged with felony child neglect after her baby tested positive for marijuana at birth stands out. Despite having a doctor-approved state license to use medical marijuana during her pregnancy, prosecutors pursued the case using fetal personhood language.… Continue reading
Missouri law says pregnant women can’t get divorced. As I delve into this archaic and oppressive statute, I am appalled at the blatant lack of consideration for women’s autonomy and well-being. The idea that a woman’s marital status should be tethered to her pregnancy is not only regressive but also perpetuates dangerous power dynamics within relationships.
The implications of this law are profoundly troubling. Pregnant women, already vulnerable to heightened levels of stress and emotional turmoil, are now stripped of the agency to make decisions about their own lives and futures. By denying them the option to seek a divorce, the state is effectively trapping them in potentially abusive or unhealthy relationships, with severe consequences for both mother and child.… Continue reading
As a woman living in the United States, the news that pregnant women in Missouri are prohibited from getting divorced is not only shocking but downright appalling. It seems like we are going back in time instead of progressing forward in terms of women’s rights and autonomy. How can a state law dictate whether a woman can or cannot end a marriage, especially when she might be in a dangerous or abusive situation?
The fact that in some states, including Missouri, pregnant women are essentially trapped in a marriage with no way out is a clear violation of basic human rights.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood