Psychologists Role
Psychologists play a pivotal role in the legal change as is relates to both human and criminal behaviors. According to Woody and Forrest (2022), psychology coupled with the law have consistently inspired positive social change. An example of this, “Brown v. Board of Education (1954) renowned psychologists, including Mamie Phipps Clark, Kenneth Clark, and Isidor Chein, among others, challenged racial segregation in schools” (Woody & Forrest, 2022). Another way that psychologists have provoked social change within the legal system is through applied research (Woody & Forrest, 2022).
Impact of Rulings on Women’s Bodily Autonomy on Crime Rates
As it relates to my topic of interest, a women’s right to bodily and reproductive autonomy, the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade has the potential to increase crime rates. According to McGovern (2022),
“there is a significant risk that in many states abortion will be criminalized for pregnant people and those who help them. Eighteen states have criminal laws on the books that open the door for prosecution of pregnant people and their healthcare providers.15 These laws will be enforceable if Roe falls. There has also been a recent move in state law to redefine terms like “personhood” and “child” to include a fetus or “unborn child.” The redefinition of personhood could lead to abortion-related prosecutions under homicide, feticide, assault, and child abuse laws. Missouri, which already criminalizes abortion after eight weeks, now seeks to extend its control over reproductive autonomy beyond state lines by allowing private citizens to sue anyone who helps a Missouri resident get an abortion out of state.”
In the state of Texas, four criminal laws that are most affected by the states having jurisdiction to decide about abortions is “House Bill 1280 (HB 1280): bans abortion after Roe is overturned, Senate Bill 4 (SB 4): prohibits mailing medication abortion pills, Pre-Roe bans: criminalize providing or helping provide any abortion, Homicide statute: criminalizes actions that cause the death of an individual” (Sepper et al., 2021). Sepper et al. (2021) describes criminal penalties stemming from these laws including felony charges resulting in prison sentences from 180 days to life in prison.
Legal and Political Processes in the Movement for Bodily Autonomy
What can psychologists do to mitigate these effects? One of the simplest solutions is education. To educate the general public on the criminal implications of the trigger laws that follow Roe v. Wade being overturned, the possibility of limitations to other reproductive options such as contraceptives, and what options women continue to have. If we aren’t able to be an activist, we should at the very least be an ally and advocate.
References
McGovern, T. (2022). Overturning Roe v Wade would be an unprecedented attack on the bodily autonomy of women, girls, and pregnant people. BMJ, o1019. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1019
Sepper, E., Moayedi, G., Thaxton, L., Beasley, A., Dixon, L., & White, K. (2021). After Roe: Criminal abortion bans in Texas. http://sites.utexas.edu/txpep/files/2022/06/TexasPostRoeCriminalAbortionBans-TxPEP-PolicyBrief_27June22.pdf
Woody, W. D., & Forrest, K. D. (2022). Psychology and the law: Inspiring social change. Psychology and the Law: Inspiring Social Change. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367198459-reprw99-1
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