Pro-life advocates will celebrate the 50th annual March for Life in Washington this weekend. The
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
decision, which saw the Supreme Court overturn a constitutional right to
abortion
, has finally allowed conservatives to advocate something beyond halting abortion. But what does that look like?
First, it’s important to acknowledge that Dobbs was not just overturned because of the makeup of the
Supreme Court
in 2022. It was also overturned due to the enormous efforts of millions of pro-life advocates over the last several decades. They pressured their local representatives to draft pro-life policies, such as heartbeat bills, meant to challenge Roe.
Second, it’s vital to understand that Dobbs did not strip women of their right to choose. Embracing that lie will affect the choices women make now. With the exception of abusive situations such as rape or incest, women retain choices when it comes to reproduction, such as birth control, adoption, raising the baby, and more.
Teen pregnancies have declined significantly. That’s good. Unplanned adult pregnancies should decline, too. If a woman is not ready to have a baby, she should make a choice about her sexual activity that aligns with that — and that must include a strong message of male responsibility. Society needs to shift to a messaging model that puts women and children first.
Third, it’s imperative pro-life advocates understand that the work to create a culture of life is nowhere close to being done. When the Dobbs decision came down, abortion advocates wanted to know, what will society do with all the unborn babies who need to be raised and can now no longer be aborted? How will society help single mothers who are alone, afraid, and now unable to abort their babies?
Right now,
abortion
is fully banned in 13 states and banned within the first and second trimesters in another five. Another eight states are litigating bans. Within 100 days post-Dobbs, 66 clinics across 15 states stopped offering abortions. In Texas, there were more pro-life clinics than abortion clinics even before Dobbs. We must empower clinics like this, which help pregnant mothers before and after birth. Some receive grants from pro-life states. Those should increase in number across the country. Even in states that still offer abortion, it behooves the legislature to aid women who choose to have a baby.
Child care and finding work are the largest barriers to success for new, single mothers. Expanding the child and dependent care credits could help reduce costs. Conservatives should fight back against laws like California’s A.B. 5 and
Biden’s federal equivalent
, which could redefine how employees classify independent contractors. Many working mothers choose to be self-employed because they can work from home with flexible hours. These laws prevent that. Conservatives should support the dozens of companies that help working mothers find gainful employment, including remote work, that best fits them.
Dobbs was the end result of 50 years worth of pro-life advocacy but just the beginning of another era helping society embrace a culture of life.
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Nicole Russell is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist in Washington, D.C., who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota. She is an opinion columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
