OPINION: Empty lunch bags and why abortion access affects poverty

Editor’s Note: This story previously appeared in The New Political’s 2022 summer magazine The More Y{ou} Know.

Emily Zeiler is a senior studying political science and is the Director Special Projects for The New Political.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

A gurgling stomach and the sound of consistent swallows are the noises that hunger provokes in individuals. As one who has experienced food insecurity, these are some noises I would hear from my body growing up.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the lack of consistent access to food for a healthy life. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 8 Americans are food insecure. 

I vividly remember bringing only carrots or a granola bar for lunch, sometimes even less. It was hard to understand my situation then, but looking back, it hurts me even to imagine anyone being in that situation. However, I know many cases of children in the same, if not worse, positions.

As a teenager, I was fortunate to have a friend who noticed what was happening and started bringing more food in her lunch for me. To this day, I still appreciate the kindness that I received from her and her family. 

On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a case that affirmed the constitutional right to women’s access to abortions. This overturning resulted from the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which was filed in 2018 to challenge a law in Mississippi that banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. After filing the case, Mississippi brought it to the Supreme Court to uphold its ban and rule that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. The landmark decision Roe v. Wade was made in 1973. Since then, states across the nation have placed limitations that restrict access to the procedure.  

One may ask, “How does limited abortion access relate to more children and families living in poverty?” When you look at first-hand studies of women denied an abortion and the reported costs from the government a family is expected to pay for a child each year, the correlation becomes clear. 

My experiences growing up made me appreciative of accessible food, but it also raised concerns about starting a family without financial security. The cost of food, clothing and medical insurance adds up quickly. 

In 2015, the USDA released a report stating the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is approximately $288,610. Over 18 years, parents can expect to pay $12,978 every year. 

The minimum wage in Ohio for non-tipped jobs is $9.30 an hour. A person working full-time at 40 hours a week for minimum wage is expected to make $19,344 a year before taxes. This would make it impossible to raise a child and keep up with other expenses such as rent and transportation. Though this is higher than the national minimum wage of $7.25, it is still near impossible to work only one full-time job and raise a child. 

According to an economic study from Brookings, women who live below the poverty line are three times more likely to become pregnant (9%) when not trying to conceive than those of a higher income (3%).  

Caitlin Myers, an economist from Middlebury College, spoke on a social experiment conducted on five states and the District of Columbia that had allowed abortion for several years before the landmark decision in 1973. This experiment yielded results such as fewer teenagers giving birth, and getting married at a young age. 

The Turnaway Study, which followed women who were granted or denied an abortion for 10 years studied the impact the procedure had on their lives. The study found that the women who received an abortion were not harmed in terms of health and well-being, whereas those who were denied were found to be in a worse place regarding health and finances. Some of these financial hardships were a lower credit score and increased bankruptcies or evictions. 

The numbers show that there is a correlation between denied abortions and poverty. This can ultimately lead to food insecurity too. With more families experiencing food insecurity, more children will be forced to experience what I did as a child, discomfort from a hungry stomach and the embarrassment of not having as much food as my peers. 

With access to abortion being held in the hands of the state, more women will face hardships as they struggle to raise children they may not be able to afford.

Some states, including Ohio, have banned all abortions with the exception of cases where the mother’s life is threatened and after the fetal heartbeat can be detected. Oftentimes under these laws, women who may have conceived a child from incest or rape are forced to carry the baby to term, despite the emotional harm it may cause them.

Shortly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade,a 10-year-old child living in Columbus had to travel to Indiana to receive an abortion after she got pregnant as a result of rape. This case was met with shock and scrutiny around the country.

Restricting access to abortions will disproportionately affect people of color and those who have lower incomes. More affluent people may have the means to travel to other states where abortion has not been restricted. 

Myers also reported her research, “found that even an increase in travel distance of up to 100 miles could prevent 20% of women from reaching a provider.” She also calculated that approximately 100,000 women who are lower income will be denied an abortion after the first year of Roe being struck down. 

With the childhood poverty rate currently at 17%, there is a chance this number will climb as more families cannot afford to feed their children. Endless hunger is a feeling no child should have to experience.

I remember how I felt during each meal of my childhood, with these phantom feelings plaguing me today. I hope that my worst fears of the aftermath of Roe v. Wade do not occur, though all the evidence is pointing in the opposite direction.