DigitalCommons@C.O.D.

Rische, Daniel

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 29 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Wading in the Columbia River 
Daniel Rische 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Rische, Daniel (2022) "Wading in the Columbia River," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 29. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/29 
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has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Daniel Rische. Wading in the Columbia River. Digital photograph
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Rische: Wading in the Columbia River
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English

Wading in the Columbia River

Waters, Jim

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 61 
Fall 12-1-2022 
The Margaret Todd 
Jim Waters 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Waters, Jim (2022) "The Margaret Todd," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 61. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/61 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
1
Waters: The Margaret Todd
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The Margaret Todd

Skaliotis, Mia

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 69 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Hector, My Boy 
Mia Skaliotis 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Skaliotis, Mia (2022) "Hector, My Boy," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 69. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/69 
This Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Hector, My Boy
Mia Skaliotis
My dear young boy, only the gods and the winds can hear my cries
On my tongue lie unsaid goodbyes 
In a world so harsh, fifty sons no longer here
In a fate so cruel, my fifty first no longer near
In these barren Trojan walls your voice I wish I could hear
My dear young boy, you truly were the bravest of  the brave 
For your own country your life you gave
Your child will hear of  your bravery
For only a brave man would leave his child alone
To go and defend his family’s home
My dear young boy, you have fought bravely for me
You may rest now in eternal sleep
Two coins for the boatman I give to thee
A bath of  fire to set you free
No one saw the tears in these eyes of  old, but groaning where I sat 
     I felt pain and grief  a thousandfold
Allison Klein. A Little Romance. 
(at left). Digital photograph
55
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Skaliotis: Hector, My Boy
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Hector, My Boy

Mendez, Angelo

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 73 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Digital Fashion Rainforest Korean Hanbok Dresses 
Angelo Mendez 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Mendez, Angelo (2022) "Digital Fashion Rainforest Korean Hanbok Dresses," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 
45: No. 1, Article 73. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/73 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Angelo Mendez. Digital Fashion Rainforest Korean Hanbok Dresses. Fabrics 
and Digital Projecting/Mapping
San Francisco, Connections
Mardelle Fortier
So many bridges, they must be heading somewhere.
I’m without wheels, yet I force myself
to keep walking. So many gleams, they must
light the way to something.    I’ve missed
out on comforts that others enjoy, but 
if  I can trudge through the long cold of  night,
I’ll find what a few have found before me,
alone and driven      in the City of  Lights.
1
Mendez: Digital Fashion Rainforest Korean Hanbok Dresses
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2022


Digital Fashion Rainforest Korean Hanbok Dresses

Yearman, Keith

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 74 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Doubled Over at Bus Stop 
Keith Yearman 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Yearman, Keith (2022) "Doubled Over at Bus Stop," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 74. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/74 
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has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Keith Yearman. Doubled Over at Bus Stop. Digital photograph
Bitter Thoughts
Abdul Malik Mandani
I lie leisurely on a bed of  burning coals 
My soul freezes to its core, 
The night tears out the heart of  the day 
And swallows the sun whole, 
As my tears ravage the spirit of  the sea 
My thoughts drift like the seaweeds.
62
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Yearman: Doubled Over at Bus Stop
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Doubled Over at Bus Stop

Mandani, Abdul Malik

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 75 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Bitter Thoughts 
Abdul Malik Mandani 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Mandani, Abdul Malik (2022) "Bitter Thoughts," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 75. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/75 
This Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Keith Yearman. Doubled Over at Bus Stop. Digital photograph
Bitter Thoughts
Abdul Malik Mandani
I lie leisurely on a bed of  burning coals 
My soul freezes to its core, 
The night tears out the heart of  the day 
And swallows the sun whole, 
As my tears ravage the spirit of  the sea 
My thoughts drift like the seaweeds.
62
1
Mandani: Bitter Thoughts
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2022


Bitter Thoughts

Church, Madeleine

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 85 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Eve's Last Message 
Madeleine Church 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Church, Madeleine (2022) "Eve's Last Message," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 85. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/85 
This Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Eve’s Last Message
Madeleine Church
     The serpent stands as king in the cosmic heavens. It rings across 
the sky with celestial splendor, royal and right. It delights in wealth 
and wine, in beast and carnage, and in pleasure and song. Through the 
constellations It weaves Its writhing body of  radiance over asteroids 
and planets, under stars and suns, shedding Its skin, leaving nebulae 
and galaxies in Its wake, and burrowing black holes of  oblivion to use 
as hollow in which to store Its treasure. Many have sought this dragon’s 
trove, but all failed. It is impossible to find. But they did not have the 
motives I have. 
     I will find it. I will scale the mighty sky and take the serpentine 
treasure in my own hands and bring it down here, for us, to use as light 
and heat and warmth and knowledge. We will make great things of  
ourselves. The vile viper will learn to envy us! 
     Do you not see? This is what was never promised to us! Everything 
our eyes can see, It said, everything in this realm, all of  Earth, this 
flesh, this body, is ours. And yes, I love it. I love all that my eyes see, I 
love all that is in this realm, I love the Earth and I love my flesh and 
your flesh and my body and your body. Everything is mine and I am 
everything. A treasure of  my own. Am I so wrong to want to protect 
it? This will not last. We are both mortal. My heart and its feeble love 
is a joke. The serpent will not protect it. What makes you think It will 
protect you? 
     But It gave me life, and It gave me you. You are important to me, so 
I will take what I can to protect you.
At dawn I am going to the ash tree. Will you come with me? I will climb 
the branches all the way to the top - up, up, up, then farther up - down, 
down, down, then farther down. I can do it. My lust is pure. Will you 
please come with me? Will you at least go with me to the ash tree? Bid 
me goodbye?
     There is a hollow at the tree’s base. Hide something there that re-
minds you of  me. It will be your treasure. Protect it. I cannot promise I 
will return soon. I will be gone for a long time. Will you come searching 
for me if  I never return? I ask hard questions, you are right. Maybe one 
day you will be able to answer them.
Come and find me when you are able to answer them. 
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Church: Eve's Last Message
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Eve\u27s Last Message

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 90 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Gratitude 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
(2022) "Gratitude," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 90. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/90 
This Back Matter is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Gratitude
The team at Prairie Light Review is grateful for the support of Dr. Brian Caputo, 
Dr. Mark Curtis-Chavez, Dr. Diana Del Rosario, and Dean Robyn Schiffman. 
The finished product of this journal would have been impossible if not for the 
unwavering support of our faculty especially in English, Creative Writing, 
Humanities and Art but across all the divisions (and the Honors Program!). Thanks 
for continuing to encourage students to revise and submit their submissions. 
Much thanks to Chuck Steele, Shannon Hernandez, Jelymar Mejia, and the Office 
of Student Life for their support and assistance with publicity as well as Jennifer 
Duda. Thanks to the CoD Library and Staff. Additional gratitude is due to Karen 
Kuhn, Cathie Walker, Paula Burns, and the Budilovsky family. We are so grateful 
to the talented in dividuals at Alpha Graphics in Lisle, and especially to Doug 
Wade, without whom this would be impossible.
Colophon
Twice a year, College of  DuPage invites all COD students, faculty and staff, as 
well as the entirety of  District 502 to submit original literature and artwork 
for publication in the community liberal arts journal, the Prairie Light Review. 
This year Prairie Light Review accepted works of  original fiction, nonfiction, 
essays, drama, poetry, graphic essays, photography, and 2D or 3D artwork 
of  any medium to be considered for publication. Students enrolled in English 
2210 worked as student editors to read and evaluate all submissions through a 
fair and anonymous system of  evaluation. The class was guided by our faculty 
advisor, Adam Fotos, who oversees class proceedings, leads hiring decisions of  
class officers, and advises on creative and technical decisions of  all varieties. 
Throughout the semester, our officers- Editor in Chief, Production Editor, 
and Marketing Editor- serve pertinent roles in ensuring the quality of  our 
publication. Our Marketing Editor manages all of  our social media and 
community connections, ensuring that the public is aware of  the opportunities 
available to them, and the details of  upcoming events. The Production Editor 
creates the overall design of  the journal, deciding formatting, color scheme, 
piece placement, and other technical decisions. The Editor in Chief  supervises 
all operations of  the team, makes executive decisions on submissions, and 
advises Assistant Editors in their work. Final edits are approved by our entire 
team before the finished publication is sent to the printers.
Cover: 80 Pound Matte Paperstock
Design: Adobe Adobe InDesign CC 2022, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop CC, 
Finance and Operation: the publication is funded through College of    
          DuPage’s Student Life
Publishing: AlphaGraphics, Lisle, Illinois
Paperstock: 70 pound Matte Paperstock
Photography: All photography in this magazine is provided by residents   
          of  District 502
Typography: Bodoni MT, available through Adobe & paid for by Student Life
76
1
et al.: Gratitude
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2022


Gratitude

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 45 
Number 1 Fall 2022 Article 91 
Fall 12-1-2022 
Colophon 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
(2022) "Colophon," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 45: No. 1, Article 91. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol45/iss1/91 
This Back Matter is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Gratitude
The team at Prairie Light Review is grateful for the support of Dr. Brian Caputo, 
Dr. Mark Curtis-Chavez, Dr. Diana Del Rosario, and Dean Robyn Schiffman. 
The finished product of this journal would have been impossible if not for the 
unwavering support of our faculty especially in English, Creative Writing, 
Humanities and Art but across all the divisions (and the Honors Program!). Thanks 
for continuing to encourage students to revise and submit their submissions. 
Much thanks to Chuck Steele, Shannon Hernandez, Jelymar Mejia, and the Office 
of Student Life for their support and assistance with publicity as well as Jennifer 
Duda. Thanks to the CoD Library and Staff. Additional gratitude is due to Karen 
Kuhn, Cathie Walker, Paula Burns, and the Budilovsky family. We are so grateful 
to the talented in dividuals at Alpha Graphics in Lisle, and especially to Doug 
Wade, without whom this would be impossible.
Colophon
Twice a year, College of  DuPage invites all COD students, faculty and staff, as 
well as the entirety of  District 502 to submit original literature and artwork 
for publication in the community liberal arts journal, the Prairie Light Review. 
This year Prairie Light Review accepted works of  original fiction, nonfiction, 
essays, drama, poetry, graphic essays, photography, and 2D or 3D artwork 
of  any medium to be considered for publication. Students enrolled in English 
2210 worked as student editors to read and evaluate all submissions through a 
fair and anonymous system of  evaluation. The class was guided by our faculty 
advisor, Adam Fotos, who oversees class proceedings, leads hiring decisions of  
class officers, and advises on creative and technical decisions of  all varieties. 
Throughout the semester, our officers- Editor in Chief, Production Editor, 
and Marketing Editor- serve pertinent roles in ensuring the quality of  our 
publication. Our Marketing Editor manages all of  our social media and 
community connections, ensuring that the public is aware of  the opportunities 
available to them, and the details of  upcoming events. The Production Editor 
creates the overall design of  the journal, deciding formatting, color scheme, 
piece placement, and other technical decisions. The Editor in Chief  supervises 
all operations of  the team, makes executive decisions on submissions, and 
advises Assistant Editors in their work. Final edits are approved by our entire 
team before the finished publication is sent to the printers.
Cover: 80 Pound Matte Paperstock
Design: Adobe Adobe InDesign CC 2022, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop CC, 
Finance and Operation: the publication is funded through College of    
          DuPage’s Student Life
Publishing: AlphaGraphics, Lisle, Illinois
Paperstock: 70 pound Matte Paperstock
Photography: All photography in this magazine is provided by residents   
          of  District 502
Typography: Bodoni MT, available through Adobe & paid for by Student Life
76
1
et al.: Colophon
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2022


Colophon

Abortion is not just a women\u27s issue, but a serious topic for all people who have a uterus. Whether they are trans, nonbinary, or intersex, the fight for abortion rights is also their fight. Giving them a voice is essential to the fight for abortion as not only is banning abortion blatantly anti-women but anti-trans. The misogynistic and homophobic bills across the country that have severely limited access to abortions need to be stopped. Additionally, to ensure Roe stays in place, The Women\u27s Health Protection Act must be passed in order to save abortion nationwide

Dillon, Mary

College of DuPage 
DigitalCommons@COD 
2022 Honors Council of the Illinois Region Honors Program 
2-26-2022 
Ensuring Abortion Rights For Womxn* 
Mary Dillon 
College of DuPage, dillonm185@dupage.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/hcir2022 
 Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences 
Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Dillon, Mary, "Ensuring Abortion Rights For Womxn*" (2022). 2022 Honors Council of the Illinois Region. 1. 
https://dc.cod.edu/hcir2022/1 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at DigitalCommons@COD. It has 
been accepted for inclusion in 2022 Honors Council of the Illinois Region by an authorized administrator of 
DigitalCommons@COD. For more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
*Over the course of this essay, I will be advocating for safe abortions for all people, not just women. 
Many people who have uteruses don’t identify as a woman. The term “womxn” was coined to be more 
inclusive. I will also be using they/them pronouns throughout this essay as it is more universal.  
 
ENSURING ABORTION RIGHTS 
FOR WOMXN* 
Intended audience: Voters of any age who can elect officials who will act in 
defense of abortion rights. 
 
  
DECEMBER 3, 2021 
MJ DILLON 
ENGLI-1101-HON06 
1 
 
Abortion is an age-old practice that dates to ancient China and Egypt. Numerous methods have 
been used over the centuries, many of them unsafe and dangerous. In recent decades, medical 
advancements have allowed for the practice of safe abortions. Whether it be surgical or medicinal, 
abortion is common in the United States. However, there are many threats to abortion access 
nationwide. The limitations on abortion is an attempt to regain control of womxn and their lives. For the 
majority of history, womxn have not been seen as equal to their male counterparts. They have been 
treated like property in many cases; constantly being transferred from one man to the next – from 
father to husband, for example. As voters, we must elect officials who will ensure the safety of abortion 
rights. The best way to combat this blatant misogyny is to remove the filibuster so the Senate can pass 
The Women’s Health Protection Act, which the House has already passed, to ensure the right to a safe 
and legal abortion stays in place.  
Abortion became legal nationwide in the United States only after the 1973 Supreme Court 
decision of Roe v. Wade. Under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, a woman’s right 
to choose to have an abortion is protected, with this ruling, womxn across the country could receive an 
abortion “prior to viability,”; which means “having reached such a stage of development as to be 
capable of living, under normal conditions, outside the uterus.” (“Roe v. Wade 1973”) At the earliest, in 
the “United States viability presently occurs at approximately 24 weeks of gestational age,” and only 
with intense medical intervention (Breborowicz). Viability can vary, as some hospitals are better 
equipped than others to handle such situations. The significance of viability is paramount when 
discussing terminating a pregnancy. As the recent laws in Texas and Mississippi have shown, many state 
legislatures do everything in their power to heavily restrict access. Most, if not all, of said legislatures are 
from conservative states which align with the self-proclaimed view of being pro-life. The primary 
problem with the laws these legislatures write is that they do not consult with medical professionals. A 
common restriction is banning abortion after a heartbeat is detectable, usually around six weeks of 
2 
 
gestation. Medical professionals would tell these politicians that “British researchers analyzed scans of 
the hearts of healthy fetuses in the womb and found that the heart has four clearly defined chambers in 
the eighth week of pregnancy but does not have a fully organized muscle tissue until the 20th week.” 
(“Fetal”). Since the heart has not fully formed at six weeks, the “heartbeat” detected is electrical 
impulses. Using the presence of a heartbeat at six weeks is as good as a compete abortion ban, as most 
womxn do not realize that they are pregnant at this stage. Periods can often be late for a variety of 
reasons, including stress, hormone changes, or medication. Abnormal uterine bleeding can cause very 
irregular periods, “affecting 14–25% of women of reproductive age,” (Whitaker). Before even realizing 
they are pregnant, the option for abortion is taken away from them. By implementing The Women’s 
Health Protection Act, states such as Texas will not be able to challenge abortion rights, ensuring the 
safety of womxn and their rights.  
 If Roe is overturned by the Supreme Court, a womxn’s right to an abortion would revert to the 
states. Sadly, this disproportionally affects minority groups and those of low-income who may have to 
take time off work and possibly arrange for childcare to travel to a pro-choice state. Furthermore, under 
the Hyde Amendment of 2013, Medicare is prohibited from covering the cost of abortions except under 
two conditions: “(1) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest; or (2) the woman suffers from a 
physical disorder, injury, or illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising 
from the pregnancy itself, that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed,” (“S. 
142”). This further affects low-income and minority groups, as many cannot afford private insurance and 
rely on Medicare. Putting such limitations on abortion access forces womxn to go through with the 
pregnancy--something no one should be forced to go through, as it is an extreme physical and mental 
toll on them; especially when the pregnancy is a result of rape. The recent Texas abortion law reaches 
farther than the Hyde Amendment, as it does not allow exceptions for rape, incest, or the risk of the 
pregnant person. Many argue that an alternative to abortion is adoption. As Justice Amy Coney Barrett 
3 
 
stated, “…forced motherhood would hinder women’s access to the workplace, and to equal 
opportunities, it’s also focused on the consequences of parenting and the obligations of motherhood 
that flow from pregnancy—why don’t the safe haven laws take care of that problem?” (Matthews). The 
fault in this argument is that it does not consider the eight months the womxn must spend carrying the 
fetus to term. Pregnancy is a life-changing event that causes drastic changes to one’s body, such as 
shifting organs or swelling of the muscles. We must also consider the psychological damage of carrying 
an unwanted pregnancy to term – especially for those who do not identify as a woman. Adoption has 
been around since before Roe was first enacted, and yet many womxn still opted for an abortion 
instead. The burden of giving up your child can take a very heavy toll and is not as easy as Barrett makes 
it seem. She also seems to forget the thousands of kids currently in the U.S. foster system waiting to be 
adopted.  
When a someone is raped and it results in a pregnancy, they have not only lost ownership of 
their body once, but twice if forced to carry the pregnancy to term. These patriarchal ideals are what 
fuels the fire behind the pro-life argument. Through the Texas bill, “…it would also empower any 
misogynist or anti-choice person to impose their bigotry on Texas residents through frivolous and 
harassing lawsuits,” (Donegan). After Roe, womxn were able to decide if and when to have children, 
resulting in womxn joining the work force. Feeling threatened, numerous men wanted womxn to return 
to the home. Even with the booming economy that resulted from more people in the work force, the 
idea of womxn being equal to men and having ownership over themselves was threatening. With laws 
like the Texas abortion law in place – with no exceptions for rape or health risks – many womxn 
rightfully fear years of progress is being erased. Many comparisons are being made to Margaret 
Atwood’s book, The Handmaid’s Tale, because of the extreme lengths legislators are willing to go. When 
state legislatures only view womxn as baby makers and refuse to give any respite when violated, it is a 
fair comparison, especially due to the underlying religious argument which pro-lifers use. Nowhere does 
4 
 
it state in the Constitution that citizens must practice Christianity, yet abortion legislation is being 
written with the Bible in mind. Abortion is a common practice, and it should remain that way so womxn 
may choose what to do with their life. As history has shown, banning abortion only bans safe abortions. 
“Overall, about 1 in 4 women in the U.S. will have an abortion by the time they’re 45 years old,” and “6 
out of 10 people who get abortions already have kids,” (“What”). If Roe is overturned, womxn of 
childbearing age will no longer have control over their lives and the economy will suffer. “Women were 
47% of the workforce, as of August, and there is broad consensus among economists that increasing the 
women’s labor force could add billions of dollars to America’s gross domestic product,” (Tappe). An 
argument against abortion could be to tell womxn to stop having sex unless they are trying for 
conception, but womxn are sexual beings too and should not be punished for enjoying themselves the 
same way men do. Not to mention, the argument does not consider instances when rape has occurred 
or when birth control has failed.  
Womxn make up half the population yet are being treated like second-class citizens. The right to 
choose should rest on the pregnant person’s shoulders, not the government. Once pregnant, it is still 
their body, contrary to pro-life belief. They do not lose themselves or become less than human, a mere 
incubator. Many womxn view an unwanted fetus as a parasite, as it is an unviable source of life that is 
very unwanted. It should be more controversial to force someone through pregnancy than to ban the 
abortion. By protecting womxn’s rights, we are protecting them from physical and psychological harm. 
Passing The Women’s Health Protection’s act is a necessity the womxn of this country need, as voters, 
we can make the conscious decision to elect those who would see it passed.  
 
Work Cited 
5 
 
Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. Random House, 1986.  
Breborowicz, G H. “Limits of fetal viability and its enhancement.” Early pregnancy (Online) vol. 5,1 
(2001): 49-50. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11753511/ 
Donegan, Moria. “The Texas Abortion Ban Is a Performance of Misogyny. But It Might Get Worse.” 
The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 May 2021, 
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/23/the-texas-abortion-ban-is-a-
performance-of-misogyny-but-it-might-get-worse.  
“Fetal Heart May Develop Later in Pregnancy Than Thought.” Medicine Net, 21 Feb. 2013, 
www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=167987. 
Matthews, Susan. “While Hearing the Case That Could Overturn Roe, Amy Coney Barrett 
Suggests Adoption Could Obviate the Need for Abortion Anyway.” Slate Magazine, Slate, 1 Dec. 2021, 
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/12/amy-coney-barrett-abortion-adoption-comments.html.  
“Roe v. Wade (1973).” LII / Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, 
www.law.cornell.edu/wex/roe_v_wade_(1973). Accessed 15 Oct. 2021. 
"S.142 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Hyde Amendment Codification Act." Congress.gov, Library 
of Congress, 24 January 2013, https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/142. 
“What Facts about Abortion Do I Need to Know?” Planned Parenthood, 2021, 
www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/considering-abortion/what-facts-about-abortion-do-i-
need-know. 
Whitaker, Lucy, and Hilary Critchley. “Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.” Science Direct, 25 Nov. 2015, 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521693415002266.  
 
6 
 
 


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