Political Playgrounds

Sluts, dystopia, and Roe v. Wade

PHOTOGRAPHY Precious Dervis WORDS AND COLLAGE Isabelle Gray

“I own my body. My body is not a political playground. It is not a place for legislation. It is mine, and it’s my future” are the words from model, Samirah Raheem’s iconic riposte to some uncomfortable questions posed by conservative broadcaster, Jesse Lee Peterson, at LA’s 2017 SlutWalk. Peterson’s incessant questioning around the meaning of being a slut and Raheem’s quick wit, high energy and ability to navigate personal questions around her clothing choices and sexuality have made the viral video of the interview a legendary reference in feminist discourse. However, returning to the video in 2023 and considering the political moves made in the US impacting on women’s rights, Raheem’s words feel more relevant than ever.

In June last year, the US Supreme Court ruled against women’s freedom and bodily autonomy by overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade case, making abortion illegal in as much as 13 states - with up to half of all US states expected to place some form of ban or severe restrictions in place. This marks a huge step backwards for women’s rights into very dark times indeed, as many people took to Twitter to reference Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale in comparison.

But attributing this very real predicament to a dystopian work of fiction does not make the reality go away. A developed country, so often viewed as a leader on the world stage championing these archaic policies proves that the rights of women and people with wombs could be just as unsafe in other countries, including in the UK. Here, while abortion is available, it remains so only as long as certain criteria are met. The Abortion Act 1967 states that an abortion needs to be carried out before 24 weeks of pregnancy, and that two medical practitioners need to agree that the benefit of terminating the pregnancy outweighs the effect that continuing it will have on the mental and physical health of the mother. In addition to this, abortion is still heavily stigmatised in conservative pro-life circles.

While this is a fight for all women, structural racism also means that lack of access to safe abortion in the US disproportionately affects pregnant people of colour the most. With many women of colour already living below the poverty line in the US, these laws are an attack on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society. A woman who could not afford to travel to another state to have a safe and legal abortion could also not afford the cost of raising a child, and as the criminalisation of abortion pushes it further underground, more women will sadly seek desperate and dangerous measures putting their lives at risk.

This is a crucial time for collective action, and to stand up for women’s rights. Women’s bodies are not political playgrounds. Women’s bodies are not a place for legislation. They are ours. And they are our future.