• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
CommentaryRoe v. Wade

I will not be docile on the topic of reproductive autonomy–and neither should you

By
Carrie SiuButt
Carrie SiuButt
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Carrie SiuButt
Carrie SiuButt
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 3, 2022, 6:51 AM ET
Protestors march in Washington DC. on May 14 after a draft of the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Roe v. Wade was published by the media.
Protestors march in Washington DC. on May 14 after a draft of the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Roe v. Wade was published by the media.Anna Moneymaker—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Every election cycle, we hear talk of rolling back rights for women, minorities, and other disadvantaged people.

Unfortunately, the constant push to curtail how women live has been successful. In this election cycle, the stakes are high. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the power to regulate abortions has been given to State Legislative Bodies, comprised of mostly men. On Nov. 8, voters will cast their ballot to, once again, determine the future of reproductive rights.

Without a unified front, control of our bodies and health is at stake. In no morally just world does it make sense for our rights to be up for grabs by politicians–regardless of sex or political affiliation.

That’s why those who identify as women need to unite and uphold each other. This is not a time to be divided by political parties or ideologies, often steered by some of the media and politicians for sensationalism and clicks–it’s a time to rally around the humanity of the issue.

Recent polls tell us that abortion access is a top issue in motivating people to vote. Through our collective power, we can reclaim a freedom that our predecessors championed in the streets only decades ago.

Generations of women have fought for every scrap of freedom we possess today. The indignity and brutality of the past should not slip away because we, as a culture, have become so attuned to sitting aside and watching politics unfold like a reality TV show.

As a Black and Chinese woman living with a disability, I’ve fought my entire life to protect my rights and earn what I have. In my current role, I continue that fight for everyone impacted by system inequity.

Every obstacle I face fuels my resolve. After I was diagnosed with Dystonia, a rare movement disorder, it became difficult to use my dominant right hand. I taught myself to write with my left. I made my way through business school with this determination. When I realized the lack of accessibility and diversity on Wall Street, I decided to go where I could make a meaningful, immediate impact on disadvantaged people’s lives.

I may be discouraged from time to time, but my desire for change is not easily swayed. That’s the resolve I’m carrying into this fight. I don’t always feel strong, but I choose to remain strong. It can be exhausting–especially when a desk of nine people can make a decision that takes away decades of progress in a single day–but I continue to fight. I don’t accept that people with ovaries are second-class citizens.

I’ve spoken with many people who feel discouraged, disheartened, and overwhelmed to the point of being stuck. So many things we fight, both personally and collectively, can feel invisible and difficult to measure progress on. But abortion access is different: it’s a tangible, public battle that we can change with one vote, and another, and another. That fires me up!

Reproductive rights are a human issue, not a political one

When I see Florida, my home state, push for a 15-week abortion ban, I see politicians disregarding lives for the sake of votes. When issues become so polarized, we lose the human factor.

It’s time to stop thinking about abortion as a political issue and start talking about it as a human issue. Not only does this mindset bring more clarity to reproductive autonomy, but it centers the issue in a way that more voters, especially younger ones, can relate to.

I learned this from Sophie Berren, CEO of the Conversationalist, a non-partisan educational platform that “empowers young people to have conversations that matter.”

In a recent ABC News interview, Sophie was asked to weigh in on the fact that more than half (52%) of Gen Z voters don’t identify with a particular party. She reasoned that it was because they reject traditional labels and want to be seen as holistic human beings. As she put it: “I wouldn’t be shocked if in the upcoming midterms, young people were voting outside of party lines.”

That’s the essence of what a human issue is: reaching beyond party lines to do what’s right, ignoring slogans and rallies. To look at the people impacted by votes as humans, and to act accordingly.

Bridging the gap

To shift reproductive autonomy back into a humanity issue, the situation of those seeking care must be normalized. Difficult conversations need to be had. We do this by telling our stories–however raw and emotionally vulnerable it makes us.

It’s worked before. By encouraging women to come forward and speak up, #MeToo validated women’s experiences, and over time, helped usher in increased awareness and understanding. New data from the Pew Research Center found that most Americans (62%) think that people who report sexual harassment or assault at work are more likely to be believed today compared to before the movement started.

There’s already momentum building for the abortion discussion. Chrissy Teigen shared that she had an abortion in 2020 to save her life “for a baby that had absolutely no chance.” The Palm Beach Post published a story of six women sharing why they got an abortion. Big names aren’t needed. Your mother, sister, or friend might have a story. Listen, and empower her to share it wherever possible. You don’t become comfortable by keeping scary things far away. Embracing and understanding them is the only way forward.

Some organizations are using their platforms to give voice to this issue. Ms. is collecting stories from women who have had abortions or who can’t access abortions, with an acknowledgment that “For too long, these stories have gone untold or been forgotten…” The “Roe Project” from GQ, surfaces the male perspective in an effort to mobilize more men to fight for abortion access.

Normalizing the conversation is important. Politicians are not the owners of the narrative. And when someone opens up about their journey, we have an important job: to listen without judgment.

We are worthy of making our own decisions

I’ve been judged my entire life based on my sex, race, and disability. Many have tried to make me feel that I am simply not enough. That’s the fire I tap into to make sure women and people born with ovaries can make decisions about their own bodies. I accept that I can’t control how others perceive me, but neither will their opinions sway me into thinking differently about myself.

We need to rally as women, as sisters, as mothers, and most importantly, as humans, to stand up for what is right; to regain the reins and not fall backwards again. If we don’t fight for reproductive autonomy now, what falls next? The midterms are a chance to right the course of history.

Let’s show up and go to the polls to make a change. Every vote matters, and as a human collective, we can enable change.

Carrie SiuButt is the CEO of SimpleHealth, a company “devoted to supporting women and people born with ovaries and providing expert care no matter the political atmosphere in the U.S.” The company makes access to reproductive wellness safe, convenient, and easy for its patients and is committed to securing personal and private data. Carrie also sits on the board of Covenant House South Florida, a non-profit agency that serves runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth, including teen parents and their babies.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

More must-read commentary published by Fortune:

  • We can finally reconcile privacy and compliance in crypto. Here are the new technologies that will protect user data and stop illicit transactions
  • The inventors of ESG: ‘Critics have a point—here’s the new global reporting system that will address it’
  • I got rich by betting that inequality would destroy the U.S. and U.K. I’m sorry
  • The last American venture capitalist in Beijing: Here are the strategic miscalculations undermining America’s technology competition with China
Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.
About the Author
By Carrie SiuButt
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Commentary

Roderick Wong, MD is Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of RTW Investments
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
When 10,000 doctors stood up and cheered for a cancer drug — America’s innovation machine made it possible
By Roderick WongJuly 25, 2026
55 minutes ago
t
CommentaryCommunity
Ronald Reagan center director: How to talk politics with family, friends and neighbors, without losing them
By Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.July 25, 2026
55 minutes ago
m
Commentarydisruption
The Messi Test and how the Spaniards messed with it: what the World Cup final taught me about the Jobs AI can’t touch
By Bhaskar ChakravortiJuly 25, 2026
1 hour ago
alex
CommentaryEntrepreneurship
I sold my startup for millions without a single dollar in revenue. Here’s why that’s the point
By Alexander Kardos-NyheimJuly 25, 2026
5 hours ago
craig
CommentaryPharmaceutical Industry
Big pharma’s patent cliff meets a new biotech Cold War: We need to outrun China, not outlaw it
By Craig GarthwaiteJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
tim
Commentarysmartphones and mobile devices
NYU Stern pricing expert: There’s a hidden ‘AI tax’ hitting Apple, Dell — and your next phone
By Srikanth JagabathulaJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
Economy
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
By Eleanor PringleJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Tech
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Economy
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.