[[link removed]] Ms. Memo: This Week in Women's Rights
October 8, 2025
From the ongoing fight for abortion rights and access, to elections, to the drive for the Equal Rights Amendment, there are a multitude of battles to keep up with. In this weekly roundup, find the absolute need-to-know news for feminists.
Americans Oppose Criminalizing Abortion. Too Many Policymakers Aren’t Listening. [[link removed]]
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(Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images)
By Lucrecia Mena-Meléndez and Kristen N. Jozkowski | Since the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson and overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, more than half of U.S. states have passed laws that dramatically restrict and criminalize abortion. These laws assign criminal penalties—including fines and prison time—not only to healthcare providers who provide abortions or write prescriptions for abortion pills, but in some cases, also to people who assist abortion seekers. Yet, a growing body of research suggests these punitive measures do not reflect the views of most Americans.
Our team on the Abortion Attitudes Project has been studying public opinion about abortion for approximately eight years, including whether people believe those involved in abortions—pregnant people, healthcare providers and people helping abortion seekers—should be punished if abortion is made illegal. Across various national surveys we conducted before and after Dobbs, we have consistently found that most people do not endorse harsh penalties for pregnant people or healthcare providers.
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New Supreme Court Term Pits Presidency Against Constitutional Values [[link removed]] As the Supreme Court Appears Ready to End State Bans on Conversion Therapy, a Reminder: The Practice Is Harmful and Discredited [[link removed]]
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The War on Women Report: New Texas Law Targets Abortion Pills; More Planned Parenthoods Close Amid Federal Funding Cuts [[link removed]] What Does a Federal Government Shutdown Mean for Women’s Healthcare? A Stealthy Rollback of Coverage [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin on
Apple Podcasts [[link removed]] + Spotify [[link removed]] .
This last Supreme Court term was harrowing—from momentous merits decisions about the First Amendment, parental rights, trans rights and more, to the stream of shocking “shadow docket” decisions and its enabling of many of the Trump administration’s executive actions. What does the 2025-2026 term have in store for our nation? What do we think will advance through the Court? What do we think will come up, when it comes to the shadow docket? And perhaps most importantly, how will the Court choose to mediate the Trump administration’s continued onslaught of executive actions?
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