Abusers often use pregnancy as a tool to exert control. When abortion is no longer an option, countless women and children are at even greater risk.
As the 2024 election approaches, voters face a critical decision: whether to protect reproductive rights at the ballot box. In many states, abortion access is on the line, either through direct ballot measures or by electing candidates whose policies will determine the future of these rights. But what is often overlooked in this debate is the dangerous ripple effect abortion bans have on domestic violence.
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned the constitutional right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy, abortion bans have made pregnant individuals more vulnerable to abuse and, in some cases, deadly violence.
State bans on abortion have severely restricted access to reproductive healthcare, but they’ve also compounded the dangers faced by victims of domestic violence. Abusers often use pregnancy as a tool to exert control, and when abortion is no longer an option, that control becomes even more absolute. This dynamic puts countless women and children at greater risk.
Pregnancy is a known trigger for domestic violence, as abusers see it as a moment to assert dominance. Abortion bans also give abusive partners the power to force women into continuing pregnancies against their will. Abusive partners, already prone to control, may feel trapped by the economic consequences of an unplanned pregnancy, leading to greater conflict. As a result, pregnancy can increase threatening and abusive behaviors that are meant to influence one’s decision about whether to carry a pregnancy to term or not.
In my work as an attorney supporting victims of domestic violence in Maine, I have seen firsthand how pregnancy often escalates abusive behaviors such as stalking, threats and control.
One person seeking a protective order, who had endured years of verbal threats, was physically attacked for the first time after becoming pregnant. Another person, after years of dating, began to experience physical and emotional abuse after becoming pregnant.
The reasons for this escalation can vary—some abusers may not want the responsibility of a child, while others may want to prevent their partner from seeking an abortion. In many cases, the financial burden of carrying a pregnancy to term adds fuel to the fire, often with deadly consequences.
In one chilling example, an Ohio man was sentenced to death in 2022 for murdering the mother of his child after facing jail time for unpaid child support, believing he was tricked into having a child.
These anecdotal accounts are supported by research: Intimate partner homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women, accounting for 45.3 percent of maternal deaths. Recent studies show that homicide rates for women and girls aged 10 to 44 increased in states that have enacted abortion restrictions.
Women who once had access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, now find themselves trapped in dangerous situations due to restrictions on abortion. The consequences of abortion bans extend far beyond pregnant individuals. Abused women are more likely to receive inadequate or no medical care, and those who received inadequate care during pregnancy report more unintended pregnancies. As a result, abuse during pregnancy carries additional concerns for the health and well-being of the unborn child, including low birth weight, preterm birth and long-term mental and physical health issues.
Abuse during pregnancy also puts children at risk long after birth. Studies have shown that women who are abused during pregnancy are three times more likely to exhibit behaviors that could lead to child abuse. The stress and isolation they endure make it difficult to care for their children, and the consequences can be fatal. Infanticide, the most extreme form of child abuse among children, is most often perpetrated by younger individuals who are unaware they are even pregnant—highlighting how restricted access to abortion can have deadly outcomes for newborns.
Contrary to claims that abortion bans protect life, they do the opposite by increasing violence against women and children. Research shows that when women in abusive relationships can access comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, they and their children experience less trauma, violence and abuse.
By stripping away the right to abortion, the Dobbs decision has left women—especially those in abusive relationships—without a crucial means of protecting themselves and their families. Abortion bans are not just about reproductive rights: They threaten the safety and well-being of pregnant women and their children. These bans are a direct attack on the right to bodily autonomy, reinforcing the dangerous cycles of abuse, poverty and control.
At Ms. magazine, our mission is to deliver facts about the feminist movement (and those who stand in its way) and foster informed discussions—not to tell you who to vote for or what to think. We believe in empowering our readers to form their own opinions based on reliable reporting. To continue providing you with independent feminist journalism, we rely on the generous support of our readers. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today if you value the work we do and want to see it continue. Thank you for supporting women’s voices and rights.
