Men4Choice, an organization focused on mobilizing men to support reproductive freedoms, hosted a panel with the College Democrats of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wednesday on the state of abortion rights in Wisconsin ahead of the April 1 state Supreme Court election, highlighting how men should also be involved in abortion advocacy.
The panel featured Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, Congressman Mark Pocan, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Men4Choice Executive Director Aaron Bos-Lun, Dr. Jenny Higgins and former executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Mike Murray.
The panelists reviewed topics such as the current abortion restrictions on Wisconsin residents, the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race and the negative implications of a total abortion ban.
Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, a former Republican attorney general, is running against Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in an attempt to flip the court’s 4-3 liberal majority.
Although Wisconsin Supreme Court judge elections are officially non-partisan, both candidates have received substantial financial support from political groups. Schimel, who has an anti-abortion history, signed a 2012 legal paper from Wisconsin Right to Life and supports the 1849 law banning abortion. Conversely, Crawford has advocated for abortion rights and has previously represented Planned Parenthood in abortion cases.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, triggering an 1849 Wisconsin law banning abortion. However, a judge ruled in 2023 that the law does not ban abortion, and the case now sits with the current liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court, who will decide whether the Wisconsin Constitution protects the right to an abortion.
Each of the panelists emphasized the importance of the April 1 election in the conversation of abortion rights, saying the next justice may be a make-or-break vote for abortion access in the state.
Bos-Lun highlighted several common obstacles that prevent men from engaging in abortion rights. One major barrier, he noted, is that many men overlook or fail to grasp the implications of abortion, often viewing it solely as a women's issue.
“If you’re someone who can't get pregnant, you probably haven’t thought about this as much as someone who can get pregnant,” Bos-Lun said. “And that’s okay, but what matters now is how you act as a man moving forward.”
Godlewski said denying abortion access, especially to those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, “takes away the voice of a group who is already voiceless” and keeps them stuck in a cycle. She said it’s more important than ever for men to pay attention to these issues and have “candid conversations” in order to change the narrative.
“These lawmakers need to stop pretending that they’re doctors,” Godlewski said, referencing the OB-GYN shortage Wisconsin has faced as a result of Roe v. Wade being overturned. She said the ban puts people at risk because doctors aren’t willing to perform abortions for fear of losing their license.
Higgins highlighted the economic impact of abortion restrictions on young men across Wisconsin, saying that studies have shown an increase in abortion restrictions over time worsens men’s educational outcomes. The effects were particularly severe for those already facing disadvantages, as they had the most to lose. This comparison underscores how policies often perceived as solely affecting women can have significant, long-term consequences for men as well.
The panelists all addressed the young men directly, encouraging them to mobilize with the information they’d been given.
“Every guy in this room and in this country has a relationship with a woman who this ban is going to impact,” Wikler said.
“If you love a woman, you should care about this issue,” Pocan echoed.
Ella Hanley is the college news editor for The Daily Cardinal and former associate news editor. She is a fourth-year journalism and criminal justice student and has written breaking, city, state and campus news. Follow her on Twitter at @ellamhanley.
