ABORTION IN AMERICA

 -  Each year about 1.5 million women in America have abortions.

 - Legal abortion has half the fatality rate of a tonsilectomy and 1/100 the fatality rate of an appendectomy.

 - Less than 1% of abortion patients experience a major complication associated with the procedure.

 - One in 160,000 abortion patients dies as a result of the procedure.

 - One in 16,000 women die in childbirth.

 Surgical Abortions

 - 88% of women who have abortions are less than 13 weeks LMP (last menstrual period) at the time of the procedure.

 - 97% of  women who have abortions less than 13 weeks LMP report no complications; 2.5% have minor complications; 0.5% require an additional surgical procedure and/or hospitalization.

 - 10% of surgical abortions are performed between 13 and 20 weeks LMP.

 RU486

 - RU486 (Mifeprestone) successfully ends pregnancy in 92-96% of cases.

 - 5% of women who take RU486 will need a surgical abortion because the drug does not successfully terminate pregnancy.

 - RU486 can be used up to 49 days LMP. At 49 days LMP the embryo is about 1/5 inch in diameter.

Availability

 - 84% of all counties in the US have no abortion provider.

 - 94% of rural counties have no abortion provider. 

 - 87% of legal abortions are performed in clinics or doctors' offices.

 - 36% of hospitals in the US offer abortion services.

 - Early abortions (<13 weeks LMP) cost $200-400.

 - Later abortions (13-16 weeks) cost $400-700.

 - After 16 weeks, the cost of an abortion increases by about $100 per week. 13 states (AK, CA, CT, HI, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OR, VT, WA, WV) and the District of Columbia provide state funding to Medicaid-eligible citizens to obtain abortions.

 - For each dollar spent by the government to pay for abortions for poor women, four dollars are saved in public medical and welfare expenditures resulting from an unplanned pregnancy carried to term.

 - The 1992 cost to taxpayers to maintain families started by teenagers was $34.4 billion.

 Of women who obtained abortions in 1987,

31% were students.

68% were employed.

33% had family incomes <$11,000.

81% were unmarried.

63% had never married.

18% were separated, divorced or widowed.

 - Each year, 16,000 women have abortions to terminate pregnancies that resulted from rape or incest.

Now is the time to make OWL a part of your life

Welcome back!  First, we want to thank all of you for an amazing first semester.  Your enthusiasm and energy made so many of the events successful.  We don’t want to lose the momentum this semester.  The biggest event is the first annual Ivy League Conference on international women’s rights on March 30-31.  Exciting speakers such as Patricia Ireland, the president of NOW, a UN official, an Algerian refugee, and an Amnesty International panel are all scheduled to attend.  We need as much help with this project as possible.  You can become involved in small ways, such as hanging posters or ordering food, or devote as much time as you want.  The other committees, such as health and community service, have great opportunities for organizing your own project.  Find a couple of friends, be creative, and do something memorable.  Above all, we want OWL to be your organization.  If it isn’t fulfilling what you want it to be, please tell us or make suggestions. We look forward to a great semester.

  —Erin Culbertson ’03 & Nancy Ippolito ’03

The Vagina Monologues, written by Eve Ensler and performed in Richardson Auditorium on Tuesday, March 20, provided and opportunity for women across campus, both performers and audience members, to embrace the source of the feminine power.  The performance was the highlight of the V-day campaign, intended to raise awareness about violence against women worldwide.  OWL member Jessica Brondo '04 reflects below on her experience as an actress in the provocative piece.