Pregnancy requires taking time off from athletic endeavors, which for student athletes, can mean losing scholarships — and thus, losing their access to higher learning. As the previously mentioned athletes explained in the Supreme Court amicus, “For a student athlete, being pregnant, taking the necessary recovery period, and having likely-changed physical capacities — as well as the realities parenthood would impose on a student — could easily derail not only her potential athletic career, but also her future educational and professional opportunities.”
Having the legal option for abortion has allowed many student athletes to keep their scholarships and continue on their career paths. At the same time, some athletes feel there is no other option. A student athlete attending Clemson University told ESPN in 2007, “I have a couple teammates that have had abortions due to the fact that they knew they weren’t going to get their scholarship back. … But like an actual teammate having a child, and coming back and earning a scholarship, that’s a situation that hasn’t happened.” Recounting her experience, she said losing her scholarship was the main reason she decided to have an abortion.
In a piece about the lack of legal protections for pregnant athletes, professional runner Phoebe Wright told The New York Times, “Getting pregnant is the kiss of death for a female athlete.” Thus, several athletes have argued that there should also be better policies in place to support students and professionals who do want to carry a pregnancy to term in order to ensure that they do not lose access to education or sponsorships.
Nicki
