Consider the plight of the pregnant, unwed teenage girl. She will be ostracized by society as a whole, and may be rejected by her family. She could be thrown out of her house, and even subjected to physical violence. Her access to medical care during the pregnancy, particularly in red states, is not guaranteed. She will not be able to work and earn money for a significant period of time. Bearing and giving birth to a child comes with serious physical dangers. Finally, when the birth is over, she will either have to give up any dreams she might have of a career for the foreseeable future, or live with the pain of giving up the child. Doesn’t sound too great, does it?
No problem, says Justice Barrett. Just drop the baby off at a fire station and move on with your life. The baby gets adopted by a loving family, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Except, in the real world, they don’t. Barrett’s experience of motherhood bears no relationship to what happens to our hypothetical subject in 21st century America.