In early 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned, setting women back decades. Overturning Roe v. Wade gave states the ability to regulate or ban abortion, but what did this mean for Texas? Soon after the decision was announced, the state legislature passed Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans abortion as early as six weeks into the pregnancy. 

After the bill was passed, women felt targeted and discriminated against for many reasons, including the fact that all of these decisions were being made by men, though they essentially would not affect men at all. The Texas Heartbeat Act was written and put into law by a legislature that predominantly consists of caucasian men.

With the lack of diversity and inclusion in the Texas Legislature, it is impossible to ensure the right decisions are being made — representation matters, which is why we need more women in leadership. Electing more women and people of color will change how decisions are made, but that is not always a bad thing. Sarah Kliff explains how women offer a different perspective on politics in a published Vox article.

“Women bring a different background to Congress,” Kliff wrote. “They face different obstacles to success — and sometimes more obstacles to winning office. That shapes how they govern and what issues they choose to focus their time on.”

It is time to bring a new look to the legislature with more diversity and inclusion. Let women be a part of the conversation and decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives; stop letting ignorant men take control of women’s rights, and let us take them back. It is our responsibility as an informed electorate to form a legislature that accurately reflects the demographics and values of our society.