Reproductive choice has to be straightened out. There will never be a woman of means without choice anymore. That just seems to me so obvious. The states that changed their abortion laws before Roe are not going to change back. So we have a policy that only affects poor women, and it can never be otherwise.

The quote "Reproductive choice has to be straightened out. There will never be a woman of means without choice anymore. That just seems to me so obvious. The states that changed their abortion laws before Roe are not going to change back. So we have a policy that only affects poor women, and it can never be otherwise." by Ruth Bader Ginsburg highlights the inequity in abortion access and the urgent need for a fair and consistent reproductive rights policy. Ginsburg argues that wealthy women will always find a way to access abortion services, regardless of legal restrictions, while low-income women are disproportionately burdened by these laws.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a former U.S. Supreme Court Justice and pioneering advocate for gender equality, made this statement to emphasize the class disparity in how abortion restrictions are experienced. Her observation reflects her broader legal philosophy—that laws should not perpetuate systemic inequality. In this quote, she critiques the patchwork legal landscape surrounding reproductive rights, especially after the landmark 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, and how pre-existing state laws continued to limit access in certain regions.

The line "There will never be a woman of means without choice anymore" underscores the reality that financial privilege enables certain women to circumvent restrictive laws by traveling to other states or countries, or by accessing private healthcare. Meanwhile, poor women, who often lack such resources, face the greatest consequences—including being forced to carry unwanted pregnancies or seek unsafe alternatives. This, according to Ginsburg, results in a policy framework that is inherently discriminatory.

Ultimately, Ginsburg’s quote calls for legal reform that ensures equal access to reproductive healthcare for all women, regardless of income or geography. She makes clear that without addressing this inequality, abortion laws will continue to entrench social and economic divides. Her words remain a powerful reminder that reproductive freedom is not just a matter of personal choice—it’s a matter of justice and equity.