Have you ever stopped to think about how laws from decades ago still shape our family-building journeys today? I recently came across an eye-opening article in The Atlantic titled “The Archaic Sex-Discrimination Case the Supreme Court Is Reviving”, and it got me reflecting on how legal battles long thought behind us can still influence reproductive rights and access to fertility resources.
At the heart of the article is the Supreme Court’s decision to revisit a sex-discrimination case called Skrmetti. This isn't just some dry legal drama. This case harks back to outdated notions about gender roles and biology that could have very real effects on who gets access to fertility treatments, donor sperm, and even at-home insemination options.
So why does this matter to you, especially if you’re navigating family-building with modern technologies? Let’s break it down.
The Past Isn’t Past When It Comes to Family Law
The Skrmetti case challenges protections that many hoped were settled. It highlights how some interpretations of law cling to gender biases — biases that can limit fertility options based on outdated stereotypes. For example, assumptions about who