Almost immediately after the US election results were announced, Trump declared he had a mandate ‘to bring common sense’ to the country.
But how can “common sense” coexist with policies that advocate for both banning abortions and promoting the free carrying of firearms? Indeed, even the “common-sense” thinkers Trump associates exclusively with his party must understand these interconnected processes.
As a former legislator and a member of the PACE Commission on Discrimination, which studied the catastrophic social and psychological consequences of abortion bans for states and future generations, I feel I must warn the so-called “common-sense party” about the dangers that lie ahead if they continue on this path. By the way, I’ll leave the monstrous stories of ruined women’s lives caused by abortion bans and violations of fundamental human rights to us—ordinary people. The “common-sense thinkers” prefer data over anecdotes.
International research on the impact of unwanted pregnancies clearly shows that denying women access to abortion has far more severe consequences than many might imagine. Judge for yourself.
One groundbreaking study by reproductive behavior specialist Henry David, conducted in Prague between 1961 and 1963, sheds light on this issue. The study followed 220 children born to women who were denied abortions twice during the same pregnancy. At the time, abortion requests in Czechoslovakia had to be approved by a regional committee, and women could appeal rejections to a higher-level committee. These repeated denials confirmed that the pregnancies were genuinely unwanted. The study tracked these children over several decades, comparing their development to children born to mothers who had wanted them.
The results were alarming. By age nine, children born from unwanted pregnancies showed no significant physical differences from their peers, but their emotional and psychological development was starkly different. They were breastfed for shorter periods or not at all, an early indicator of emotional neglect. While their intelligence scores were similar to those of the control group, their academic performance and behavior were notably worse. Teachers and mothers rated them lower in diligence and behavior, and these children were more likely to exhibit signs of social maladjustment, particularly boys and only children.
As these children reached adolescence, the disparities became even more pronounced. They struggled academically and were far less likely to complete their education. Emotional and social difficulties persisted well into adulthood. By their early twenties, fewer than a third of these individuals felt their lives had turned out as expected, with many facing more challenges than anticipated. Their mothers also expressed disappointment in their children’s educational and social achievements.
By their thirties, participants born from unwanted pregnancies were significantly more likely to suffer from severe psychosocial issues, often requiring psychiatric treatment. Among only children from unwanted pregnancies, 13.9% sought psychiatric care, compared to none in the control group.
More recent research corroborates these findings. The Turnaway Study, conducted by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed women who were either granted or denied abortions. Women denied abortions faced significantly more significant economic hardship, poorer physical and mental health, and were more likely to remain in abusive relationships. Their children, too, were more likely to live in poverty and face developmental challenges compared to those whose mothers had access to abortion.
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) further supports these findings, showing that children born from unintended pregnancies in the U.S. tend to have lower educational attainment and more developmental problems. Economic instability and lack of prenatal care exacerbate these issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted global research showing that restricted access to abortion correlates with higher maternal mortality rates and poorer health outcomes for children born into unwanted circumstances.
While there are exceptional stories of children from unwanted pregnancies thriving in loving adoptive families, these cases are rare. Adoption can mitigate some adverse effects but cannot erase the broader trend: research consistently shows that children from unwanted pregnancies face significantly higher risks of emotional and social challenges.
Imagine such a psychologically fragile future society operating under laws that allow the free carrying of firearms. Do you still believe, as the future president promises from the podium, that this will make America great again?
This data-driven perspective highlights the social and psychological realities we face. Those in the so-called “common-sense party,” by advocating for abortion bans, are effectively committing a crime against humanity and creating a dangerous future for generations to come.
It is apparent to most professionals—doctors, psychologists, sociologists, economists—and ordinary people. Will the “common-sense thinkers” ever catch up?
About the Author: Oxana Pushkina
Oxana Pushkina is an international expert in women’s rights, gender equality, and social policy, with over 30 years of experience in journalism. She is a former deputy in the Russian State Duma and a former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), where she served on the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, championing the rights of women and children. In 2020, Pushkina was recognized as one of the BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women, highlighting her significant contributions to advocacy and public service. Currently residing in the United States, Pushkina continues her work as a thought leader and writer. She is a 2023 Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls, focusing on producing articles that address urgent global issues and sharing her insights with a broader audience.
