General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Abortion has never been rare. Why is that an expectation now? [View all]uppityperson
(115,677 posts)travel to get a safe legal hygienic medical abortion? How long to do they have to wait? These are things to look at to measure access.
When I was a youngun', they were legal in CA and NY. You had to travel to those states, quite a distance, time, financial impact for many. Then providers became more common and pregnant females were able to get more timely, affordable abortions. Then parental and spousal notification started. Then a waiting period where you get your exam, and have to come back 3 days later, just in case you didn't take time before that to think about what you were doing. Clinics closed due to very real fears. Mandatory hospital privileges started in some places, further limiting access.
To measure access objectively, look at how long it takes, how far a person must travel, what the costs are, who else must be informed, and what other fucking hoops they have to jump through. It really isn't that difficult of a concept.