Sex Education and Abortion Data Deep Dive

This episode is 18+ Welcome back to the Period Chats Podcast! Today Danielle Bezalel joins us to chat about abortion. Danielle is a host of the Sex Education with DB podcast, a feminist podcast that centers LGBTQ and BIPOC experts in sex ed. She has her Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University and currently lives in Brooklyn. With the national conversation turning to Roe v. Wade’s potential overturn, we want to bring you medically accurate information about abortion. There is so much misinformation and confusion out there right now, so let’s take a deep breath and focus on the facts. Danielle starts us out by reviewing the types of abortion: at-home (medication-based abortion), and in-clinic (early term which is done by suction, and later-term which is done with dilation and evacuation). Politico recently leaked a draft from the Supreme Court that stated intent to overturn Roe v. Wade and “return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” While we can’t predict exactly what the final draft will say, we should assume the overturn will be happening in June. Of course, during the past almost-50 years, abortion has not been equally accessible to everyone in the US, and this upcoming disruption will not put everyone at equal risk. Danielle walks us through how abortion access has always been unjust and biased, and how that will likely become increasingly disproportionate again after June. Danielle reminds us of the research that shows abortion access is a necessary and effective part of public health and explains the data linking abortion access to well-being. We walk through the average medical costs of giving birth, having an abortion, and more. Finally, we touch on what comes next, and Danielle encourages us to join the fight to bring medically accurate sex education into each and every state, and to stand for reproductive justice in our communities. LISTEN: Roe V Wade and Abortion Acess with Cathren Cohen  READ: Turn Away One Pager  READ: Reproductive Justice - Sister Song Recommended follows if you want to learn more: @heyjanehealth @carafem @ifwhenhow @aidaccess @reprolegaldefensefund @plancpills Their official TikTok: @sexedwithdb Hear Danielle’s recent podcasts: https://www.sexedwithdb.com/the-podcast