Why women's rights matter for the environment

The Texas Tribune
Why women's rights matter for the environment
By Keith K. Annis and Scheleen Walker
Sept. 16, 2014

Texas women have suffered major setbacks to their reproductive health and rights this year.

At the federal level, the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision has made it more difficult for women to access their contraceptive method of choice. At the state level, the Legislature and Gov. Rick Perry have enacted new restrictions on clinics providing basic women’s health care and family planning services.

Of course, these decisions hurt Texas women and their families — but they also increase the risk of social, economic and environmental harm in our great state.

When women and their medical providers are prevented from making personal health care decisions, the negative consequences are far-reaching. A woman’s inability to control the number, timing and spacing of her children impacts her health, education and career. Moreover, the cumulative impact of women having more children than they desire strains public health systems and natural resources such as water, energy and healthy food.... MORE at http://tribtalk.org/2014/09/16/why-womens-rights-matter-for-the-environment/