The Alaska parental consent law burdens young women by forcing them to go to court, go out of state to seek abortion services, or to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. The anti-abortion forces want to make it even more difficult for teenagers to obtain abortions. They are advocating legislation which would open the confidential court procedure to parents. This would in effect eliminate the judicial consent procedure as an option for teens who feel they cannot tell their parents. Under the guise of enhancing parent-child communication and parental rights, the anti-choice movement is jeopardizing the lives and choices of teens.

What's Wrong with Parental Consent Laws? They Promote Coercion, Not Communication

THE LAW DELAYS ABORTION. Teens acknowledge pregnancy later than adult women do. Parental consent laws cause further delays, leading to later abortions which are more expensive, riskier to the pregnant woman's health, not as accessible, and more expensive. When minors are required to notify their parents or go to court, many are deterred from choosing abortion. Minors who might otherwise seek abortions are forced to carry to term.

THE LAW BURDENS AND STRESSES YOUNG WOMEN. Having to go to court is intimidating. It makes teenage women feel like criminals. Individuals should not have to go to court to make choices about their own bodies.

If a young woman chooses not to tell her parents and does go before a judge, she usually must miss school or work and make arrangements to get to court without her parents' knowledge. Teens who do not live in large cities may have to go to district courts located in other towns. These teens are faced with the additional burden of arranging transportation to a town they may be unfamiliar with. All of this adds to the stress that a teenager with an unplanned pregnancy already experiences.

The stress of pregnancy is physical as well as emotional. Pregnant teenagers have higher rates of maternal mortality, toxemia, and anemia. They also have more complications at birth. If a teenager keeps her baby, as the majority of teens do, she may find herself with few support services. Lack of childcare often forces teenagers with children to drop out of school, making it harder for them to get decent jobs to support themselves and their families. The health of their babies also suffers. Infants born to teenagers have a higher rate of infant mortality, are more likely to be premature, and have a higher rate of birth injury, low birth weight, and neurological defects.

THE LAW IS COERCIVE Many young women have good reasons for not telling their parents that they are pregnant. Often they are in abusive situations where it would be dangerous for them to tell their parents. Some are victims of incest. Other teens fear disappointing their parents or losing their affection. Forcing young women to tell their parents or go to court may threaten their safety and is an invasion of their privacy.

Young women need to be able to make decisions about their own bodies. Access to abortion and the ability to make their own decisions about pregnancy are key, but are only part of what they need. Reproductive rights for teenagers must also include education about health and sexuality, safe and accessible birth control, access to health care and reproductive healthcare, and good jobs. Young women who choose motherhood need to be able to choose freely, without being forced into parenthood by their boyfriends, by their parents, by the government, or by the anti-choice movement.

The Juneau Pro-Choice Coalition is committed to fighting against the parental consent law and all attacks on reproductive rights.