Dobbs Decision & American Geography: A Deep Dive into Abortion Laws by State

In June 2022, the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization resulted in the landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the monumental Supreme Court case that stated that the right to abortion was protected by the US Constitution. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, abortion has become more topical than ever, with several states racing to enact laws that would ban the practice. With the country divided on how permissive abortion should be, it was one of the greatest factors for voters heading into the 2022 midterm elections. This post is designed to be an in depth look into the varying laws regarding abortion in the United States as a result of the overruling of Roe. The specificities of how permissible abortion is differs throughout almost every state, and I believe that on a greater scale, it is a testament to the history and culture throughout the distinct regions of America.

1. Overview of types of bans and legalities in place for abortion throughout the states.
   • A quick review on the types of bans, viability, criminalization, access, and protections.
   • https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/
   • https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/overview-abortion-laws
2. Closer look into the specificities of the laws in place in different states (for example, this state allows exceptions for health of the mother but not for rape, etc.). Laws of note will be highlighted in this section. This will also include a picture of a map depicting the abortion laws by state. Brief description at the end of this section describing the current issues surrounding the FDA and the abortion pill.
   • https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/01/six-months-post-roe-24-us-states-have-banned-abortion-or-are-likely-do-so-roundup
   • https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/
   • https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/a-guide-to-abortion-laws-by-state
3. A comparison of these laws in the greater lens of American memory and culture. This section will describe how historical partisanship and geographical regions affect current abortion laws.
   • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-complex-early-history-of-abortion-in-the-united-states?loggedin=true&rnd=1681434020169
   • https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/qa-why-south-is-anti-abortion-epicenter/
   • https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/17/upshot/partisan-segregation-maps.html
   • https://www.statista.com/statistics/1079467/abortion-support-party-level-legalization-us/
4. Short conclusion to tie everything together.