Reproductive rights are essential for entrepreneurs

Restrictions on reproductive rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade four years ago has negatively impacted my small business. While I live in Denver, I regularly travel as a consultant and keynote speaker. After a series of miscarriages, I feared pregnancy complications and worried about my ability to access emergency care while traveling out of state for work.

During my most recent pregnancy, I made the decision to stop traveling to states with strict abortion bans like the one in Texas because it wasn’t worth potentially risking my life. This caused me to lose tens of thousands of dollars in income. No one should be forced to choose between career opportunities or receiving the care they need. That’s why I’m one of the 76% of women entrepreneurs who believe that all women should have access to reproductive health, including abortion care and birth control.

Any decision a pregnant person may make in their lifetime should be made between them and their healthcare providers alone. I urge federal policymakers to protect reproductive rights so that the business decisions of entrepreneurs like me aren’t limited by abortion restrictions.

Emilie Aries is the owner of Bossed Up and is one of the 85,000 small business owners in Small Business Majority's network.