Why access to abortion matters for women in abusive relationships

Why access to abortion matters for women in abusive relationships

Abortion access is at the forefront of many Americans' minds today with the Supreme Court's 2022 Roe v. Wade overturned, the landmark case that guaranteed the right to abortion under the Constitution in 1973. Although this radical change affects all Americans – regardless of stance, views, and voting record – certain groups, including women in abusive relationships, are particularly vulnerable to the consequences. (Read more: Experts reveal the ripple effects overturning Roe v. Wade will have on Black and brown communities)

That's because lack of access to safe, legal abortions puts the health and well-being of women dealing with intimate partner violence (IPV) in a dangerous position, and there is plenty of research to prove this. According to Sanctuary for Families, a New York-based service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and other forms of gender-based violence, studies and statistics show a positive correlation between violence and unplanned pregnancy.

Simply put, unplanned pregnancies can increase the risk of violence, while violence can increase the risk of unplanned pregnancies, and there are many factors that feed this vicious cycle. Here's what you need to know about how abortion access and IPV are inextricably linked.

IPV and unplanned pregnancies

First of all, women in abusive relationships can be victims of rape by their intimate partner. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately 45 percent of female acquaintance rape victims in the United States were raped by an intimate partner. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 30 percent of women who have been raped by an intimate partner report what is known as reproductive coercion. Examples of reproductive coercion include a partner not allowing birth control or refusing to wear a condom. Additionally, three million women in the U.S. have experienced a rape pregnancy in their lifetime, the CDC reports.

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People in abusive relationships also have more difficulty obtaining contraception than those who do not experience IPV. A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that “contraception is more difficult to manage for women who experience IPV.” Researchers surveyed more than 1,400 women, 21 percent of whom reported a history of IPV. The study found that partners unwilling to use birth control, partners who desired to conceive, and subjects' inability to afford contraceptives were all positively associated with reports of violence.

"People who live in more liberal, wealthier areas don't realize how hard it can be to get birth control - be it the pill, IUD, condoms, or anything else," explains Rachel Wright, LMFT, licensed relationship therapist and sex educator. "This idea of ​​'just get it' isn't feasible for a lot of people. We have a problematic medical and pharmaceutical system, and we need to fix it."

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There is also a known association between women who have abortions and reporting recent violence by an intimate partner. Six to 22 percent of women who have abortions report recent IPV, according to a 2014 study published in BMC Medicine. Additionally, women who cannot terminate unwanted pregnancies may be forced to remain in contact with violent partners, putting them and their children at risk of abuse, the study reported.

Abortion access

“Control over women’s reproductive rights in a relationship is a form of domestic violence,” says Alphonse Provinziano, a family law attorney and founder of Provinziano & Associates in Los Angeles. "New laws in other states seeking to criminalize abortion will make it more difficult for women in these difficult situations, who not only cannot get help but could also face legal risks. When the state makes abortion illegal, it is implicitly siding with the perpetrator who is trying to prevent his partner from having one."

“Control over women’s reproductive rights in a relationship is a form of domestic violence.” – Alphonse Provinizano, family lawyer

Abortion is currently banned in 13 states, and others have imposed strict limits on how late in pregnancy women can get an abortion. These restrictions make it nearly impossible for many women to have abortions. Several states that have banned abortions altogether correlate with the highest rates of domestic violence, according to NCADV data. For example, Kentucky has one of the highest rates of IPV against women, and abortion is currently banned in the state. This means that some of the largest populations of women experiencing abuse do not have access to safe, legal abortions.

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Without the ability to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, Wright said women may be forced to remain in relationships with abusive partners. "In my clinical experience [I've witnessed that] when someone has access to an abortion, they are less likely to remain in an unhealthy relationship," she explains. “Once a child is involved, people feel obligated to stay — even if it involves IPV.”

The end result

Unfortunately, violence increases beyond pregnancy. Children born into abusive relationships through unwanted pregnancies may suffer at the hands of the perpetrator of this violence. And, according to Provinziano, the child can become a pawn in the perpetrator's strategy.

“An abuser can exploit children in many ways,” Provinziano tells Shape, citing personal experiences with clients. "I have often seen abusive parents turn a child against the parent who is the victim of domestic violence. Additionally, abusers can make false allegations of abuse against the very people they abused, and if they do not properly defend themselves, I have seen cases where... the victim of domestic violence loses custody."

California, where Provinziano practices law, offers strong protections for abuse victims, but not all states offer the same kind of protection, he explains. Many states “do not recognize verbal and emotional abuse as grounds for a domestic violence restraining order,” he says. There are also differences from state to state when it comes to marital rape laws. In 30 of the 50 U.S. states, “there are still some exemptions for husbands from rape prosecution,” reports the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

“If someone has access to an abortion, they are less likely to remain in an unhealthy relationship.” — Rachel Wright, LMFT, licensed relationship therapist and sex educator

“The hardest thing is for the victims to come forward,” said Provinziano. "An abusive relationship is already hard to escape for many victims, but once you add a child it becomes exponentially more difficult. The abuser now has a lasting bond with the victim; they can (and do) exploit this to continue the abusive behavior even after the breakup," he continues.

With this in mind, it is clear that the ability to terminate an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy can help a woman escape violent abuse and prevent future child abuse. Additionally, IPV victims need agency and access to make their own health decisions, and government bans and restrictions on abortion simply do not allow for this.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.

Fact-checked by: Emily Peterson