Banning Abortion Will Unravel a Lifetime of Economic Progress
Bloomberg Businessweek US|August 08 - 15, 2022 (Double Issue)
Fear is like acid on the brain, etching memories that remain long after you’ve forgotten things like the formula for photosynthesis or your first boyfriend’s favorite band.
By Cristina Lindblad
Banning Abortion Will Unravel a Lifetime of Economic Progress

More than a quarter century has gone by, but there’s so much I remember about that day in Miami: The tacky black satin sheets on the bed in the one-bedroom condo my boyfriend’s friend had loaned us for our weekend trip, the white glare of the sun outside, and the double line on the indicator window of the at-home pregnancy test I held in my hand.

I was 26 at the time and had recently come into possession of a master’s degree in international affairs as well as US citizenship. When I indulged in Seussian daydreams about Oh, all the places I’d go!, parenthood didn’t figure among the exciting possibilities. I had a job that was rewarding but not all that well-paid. Adding child-care expenses on top of my student loan payments and subtracting a mommy tax would stretch my finances to the limit.

But mine wasn’t just a cold calculus, all dollars and cents. There was family history to consider, too. My sister and I were raised by a single mother. We were well-provided for, but my father never changed a diaper, nursed a cold, or packed a school lunch. My mother’s frustrated career ambitions were like a colorless, odorless gas that wafted through our home, occasionally triggering explosions. I wasn’t ready to make that kind of sacrifice. When I returned to New York City, I got an abortion.

This story is from the August 08 - 15, 2022 (Double Issue) edition of Bloomberg Businessweek US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 08 - 15, 2022 (Double Issue) edition of Bloomberg Businessweek US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK USView All
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App

The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts

time-read
4 mins  |
March 13, 2023
Running in Circles
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Running in Circles

A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Bloomberg Businessweek US

What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort

Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.

time-read
10 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
Bloomberg Businessweek US

How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto

The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
The Last-Mover Problem
Bloomberg Businessweek US

The Last-Mover Problem

A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Tick Tock, TikTok
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Tick Tock, TikTok

The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria

A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Pumping Heat in Hamburg

The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge

Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
New Money, New Problems
Bloomberg Businessweek US

New Money, New Problems

In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023