Isaiah McCaslin for House District 44

Health

Oklahoma ranks 39th in the U.S. for maternal mortality.  A large contributor to that ranking is inadequate prenatal care.  According to an Amnesty International report, one in five Oklahoma women receive delayed or no prenatal care, and that number rises to nearly one in three among women of color.  This is unacceptable, and we must find better ways to protect women during this crucial period.

Reproductive Rights

Reducing the number of abortions is a valid goal, but recent laws have taken a punitive approach which invades privacy and shows a lack of respect for women.  We are creating a situation where women may fear or not trust their own doctors.  In a state that already ranks low for prenatal care, this legislation puts the health of both women and their children at serious risk.  We should abandon the punitive approach and instead provide greater support for mothers who choose to complete a pregnancy, including educational resources, accessible and affordable childcare, and adoption programs. We should also provide age-appropriate sex education to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

Incarceration

Oklahoma ranks #1 in the world in incarcerated women per capita.  Unless we change our approach, it is projected that the number of women in prison will continue to grow, tearing apart families and worsening a vicious cycle of crime and poverty.  We must continue and expand our efforts to find more constructive solutions through community sentencing, drug courts, and mental health courts.  But we should also intervene before it gets to that point by providing parent-friendly job opportunities, substance abuse programs, and other community resources for working mothers.

Leadership

Even as many women in Oklahoma face serious problems, others have become some of our best leaders and role models.  We should promote efforts such as the Women’s Leadership Initiative at OU and work to improve representation of strong female leaders in all aspects of society.

If you have any comments on the issues discussed here or on anything else that our state government should be doing, please contact me using the form below.