With Roe Overturned, Millennials Must Take Action To Ensure Long-term Reproductive Justice

Under Roe v. Wade, Millennials (those born between 1980-1995) have lived their entire lives with the legal right to abortion. Now, without that Constitutional protection, many young women living in the United States fear for their lives. This has led to heightened emotions not only for the Millennial generation, but all generations alike as protests erupt across the nation.

According to findings in the most recent Millennial Impact Report, Millennials believe deeply in the power of activism to create social and political change. That said, it is likely that Millennials in support of Roe are seeking ways to thoughtfully respond to the new challenges regarding reproductive freedom.

Moving forward, there is much work to be done across generations. Perhaps the overturning of Roe v. Wade could present an opportunity for Millennial activism and a chance to strengthen reproductive rights for all Americans. With conservation leaders such as former Vice President Mike Pence seeking to outlaw abortion nationwide as well as Justice Clarence Thomas threatening birth control access, now may become the moment for the Millennial generation to design, create and fuel a stronger reproductive justice agenda than ever seen before.

To stay on a path to reproductive justice for all, it is important for Millennials to integrate themselves in networks and organizations that have a history of effectively addressing reproductive rights in the United States, both politically and philanthropically. Millennials are the largest population group in the United States and as passionate supporters of equality, it is important this generation recognize the power within their personal, professional, and political communities to support a vision of human rights and dignity for all.

Below are important reminders for American Millennials as they approach the November mid-term elections and seek to respond thoughtfully to the needs of women and birthing persons throughout the country.

Vote and encourage others to vote

It is critical that Millennials both vote in the November elections and encourage others to vote. A majority of Generation Z in support of abortion rights as well, it is key that Millennials encourage the next generation to show up to vote on state and federal policies. Platforms like MomsRising support female-identifying people in rallying other people to vote throughout the country by ways of signing petitions, direct mail campaigning, and social media engagement. A simple action to take today is to follow and sign up for similar groups, sharing their content and resources on social media frequently.

Leverage the power of social media

Millennials are a strong digitally-connected generation. It is important that they think of creative ways to leverage their social media in the coming months. Not only will social media be a key tool in sharing resources for those who need abortion care, it will also serve as a platform to amplify leaders running for office or organizing regionally. A simple step Millennials can take to ensure that they post with greater frequency about necessary activism and community needs is to use a platform like Hootsuite to synch up all their social media platforms. By connecting to all audiences— including those on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook— Millennials can effectively post once a day and have vast reach. It is also extremely important that social media sources are vetted for accuracy, especially when it comes to abortion information. Before posting, Millennials can and should check to ensure what they are posting is truthful and does not spread misinformation.

Run for office

Millennials yield substantial power to influence culture and society. In addition to this, they also have a solid understanding of the intersectionality of issues threatening America’s future right now. Although some young people, women in particular, doubt their electability and struggle to see how they can balance family, career, life and political office, networks like Emerge America and Vote to Run exist to empower women to take on political roles, regardless of prior political experience. Running for and securing political seats will be critical for Millennials to move forward on foundational issues like reproductive rights. Many Millennials understand the need for broader structural change, such as the ongoing discussions to eliminate the Senate filibuster, which makes it harder for Congress to pass laws that represent the American people. By securing elected offices, Millennials can work to change the system in these ways and help ensure progress.

Donate and challenge people in power to give more

Many articles will come out highlighting organizations to donate to in light of the Roe v Wade crisis. Yet, while philanthropy is critical in this moment, it is simply not enough. Donations can support short term care but it is equally important that Millennials find their voice to challenge people in power. This may mean having a conversation with the CEO of your company, discussing generational giving with a parent or grandparent, or identifying influencers within their social networks and reaching out to make sure this issue is fully funded and well-resourced by way of crowdfunding or other philanthropic activity.

Become a clinic escort or volunteer

Millennials have vast social awareness yet as a generation, they have struggled economically and financially, many hit hard once again by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. That said, as hard as it may seem, Millennials must find the volunteer capacity to support abortion efforts at this time, especially if they live in a state that still offers care. They can start by donating their time and energy as an escort at their local clinic. It’s easy to find one’s local clinic by searching for it on the National Abortion Federation website.