While I do
understand why the government may be opposed to funding organizations that
perform abortions, I cannot seem to understand why some politicians or political
figures would take issue with birth control because it "promotes"
sexuality. This is such a naive idea, especially when considering the many
health benefits that have driven women to take the pill for reasons other than the
prevention of pregnancy (seriously guys, google it). One reason many women take the pill is because the
Estrogen found in birth control can eliminate or reduce problems with acne.
Another reason many women take birth control is because they experience severely
painful menstrual cycles due to conditions like Endometriosis. Birth Control
can reduce or eliminate the number of periods a woman will have, while
decreasing the amount of hormones that cause many of the problems/symptoms of
Endometriosis. Perhaps pharmaceutical companies should cater to the irrational
individuals who find birth control morally wrong by renaming the pill
"Acne Control" or "Cramp Control" to make it seem less
taboo (Ha, just kidding!)
This week's
readings remind me of a quote from last week's readings:
"The neglect of women's issues does reflect some
level of unconscious bias against women at every level, from the community to
high-level decision makers. While we may ignore it, maternal health does
involve sex and sexuality; it is bloody and messy; and I think many men (not
all, of course) have a visceral antipathy for dealing with it" (p116).
Women and men are sexual by nature, and this idea seems to make a lot of people
pretty uncomfortable. However, we should not be denied the things that we need in
order to be healthy, safe, sexually active beings just because it makes other
people uncomfortable. I am not discounting the opinions of any individual who
disagrees with this idea. I am simply stating that while our opinions may
differ, they should never play a role in deciding what family planning
resources should be available to men and women....because they're opinions. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
I believe everyone has a right to get what they need. Opinion should not factor into the decision of what people need and what they do not. People may have empathy but I feel it can only go so far. You can never truly know what a person is feeling or needing without being them. Issues on the outside may seem petty but to that individual it means it world to them. I understand that it is political suicide to support abortion but the funding should never have been taken away from the positive aspects of the organization. What really bugged me was the fact that this decision to cut funding was made by congress. Most of the people holding those seats are male and statically they are against abortion where as women are typically pro-choice. Men have never had to walk in a pregnant women's shoes so they have never had to feel the fear and helplessness. They have more options. They can walk away where a women cannot for nine months. Men also do not have to deal with the humiliation or the social stigma that surrounds unmarried women. Even women who are married and pregnant have a right to be afraid. You never know what their home life is like or their personal view points. Women turn to abortion because they feel they have no options and by taking way the funding it limited their choices further. Ultimately decision have to be made by judgment that is not tinted by opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think you have made such a great point. I think that it should be each woman’s individual choice as why she wants to take the pill. Several of my friends don’t take the pill to prevent getting pregnant; they take it because of all the other health effects that it has that you have talked about. I also really like the quote you chose from last week’s readings. I think that no one has the right to tell anyone what they do or do not need. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but like you said, that’s just their opinion, not matter what sex you are.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point talking about the pill. Birth control is now used for so many more reasons than just "controlling birth!" Just like you, Niveen, many of my friends take a pill for various reasons besides controlling pregnancy. Many people don’t want to go on a pill! They feel as if it puts a negative label on them, which in our current day society, it typically does! Although taking birth control has benefits, I don’t believe that it should be handed out at the beck-and-call of anyone. There are several people who abuse the privilege of free birth control from Planned Parenthood clinics, and only use it for their sexual needs. People like this are disgraceful and take away from those who truly need the medical help. It’s sad to me that there are people who are unwilling to give up sex because they can’t get their hands on birth control.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that some individuals abuse organizations like Planned Parenthood. This can occur when patients do not pay the small fee or donation that is required by some clinics as a result of the services they provide. However, I do not entirely agree with your statement regarding individuals who abuse the privilege of free birth control for their own sexual needs. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with seeking help from organizations like PP for birth control, especially considering that these organizations often counsel women before giving them the pill. If a person knows that they will be sexually active, I’d rather they seek the help of an organization that can counsel them on the risks of promiscuity and unprotected sex. Planned Parenthood isn't just about providing counseling and medical attention to those in need; It is also about preventative health. Without these organizations offering birth control to sexually active women, they may have more unwanted pregnancies on their hands, which may further burden health care organizations like Planned Parenthood or Family Planning Clinics.
ReplyDeleteI think that there have been many good points made about birth control on this post. There are many reasons for birth control pills, therefore I agree that they should NOT be named "birth control pills" because it does sound a little silly but people really do avoid these hormone pills because of the name. Another thing I agree with is there is nothing wrong with seeking help from Planned Parenthood for these contraceptives for actual contraception. That is why organizations like this exist, and I think it is a very good idea for young people to be informed about the services at these places. Looking at the Planned Parenthood website that was posted, I was really surprised at all of the information that was on their website. They make it very easy to find a location nearest to you, and they provide a ton of information about STD's and STI's. They make it clear that you can stop in for any reason, and although I have never been I feel like they would be very welcoming and understanding there. I think that's a great thing for girls of any age to be able to turn to if they need help with anything and don't feel comfortable talking to their parents or another adult about, even though it would obviously be best for their parents to know. And it's also a great website that informs you about different types of birth control, including a quiz that you can take to see which one would suit you and your needs the best! I think informative organizations like this are very helpful and comforting and that every individual in every country no matter how much money that you have, should be able to have access to a place like this.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you about it should be the woman choice to take birth control or not because it is used for many reasons. I for one was going to go on it because of bad cramps, but my doctor said wait a little while you might grow out of it, and i did. My point of view on birth control is the same as abortion, I may not agree with you, but it is not my body that is your choice not mine. But the thing about birth control should not be called that I do not know most people use it because they do not want to get pregnant and also when it came it was only used for birth control. But now a days most people call it the Pill not Birth Control. But that is my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I feel that other people’s opinions should not be the reason that someone doesn’t get the resources they need. People should be able to stand up for themselves and have what they need. However the world isn’t fair and people don’t always have the resources they need. I also feel that if there is a way that we can help someone than we should. And it’s not just the people in other countries that can’t get certain resources, so I feel if you have extra money or that resource that you should give it to the person who needs it. But the world is not fair so there are many people who need something that will never get it.
ReplyDeleteI must agree with most on this thread that birth control education and availability should be more accessible for all, men included. For some reason, ignorance of our reproductive systems is almost idealized in our culture. Too much of the "If I ignore it, it won't malfunction" mentality in our country.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that the stigma of discussing sexuality tends to be more common in industrialized nations. Many other cultures openly celebrate and discuss it knowing that it is key to their survival. No sex means no children which means no legacy. If sexuality and reproduction were more openly discussed in our culture...oh, I can only imagine the decreases that would occur in STI and unplanned pregnancy rates.
I can completely agree with your stance on birth control. I have many friends who got on the pill during out early years of high school because they wanted help regulating their menstrual cycles, it had nothing at all to do with having sex. I, too, wish that some groups would realize that birth control has other health effects that help women out tremendously. The article that we read online called "The Cost of Birth Control: By the Numbers" even said that up to fifty percent of women who take birth control take it for reasons other than for use as a contraceptive. If birth control could be more widely used, it could help women everywhere in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteYes there are a lot of health benefits to taking the pill, but also there are a lot of side effects to taking birth control. I do not think the pill is the answer to preventing unwanted pregnancy, coming from someone who is familiar with the negative side effects and long lasting complications of taking oral birth control. I believe that education and knowledge of ones own choices is the key here. If I would of known both the positive and negative effects of birth control, I would not of took it and not be in the situation that I am in now, but with having more knowledge I would of been able to make a better decision on which birth control method suits me better. I think providing all the options of birth control and all its facts on which ones are more effective then just personal opinion based from the article we read for our online session, there would be less unwanted pregnancy. Unfortunately not every person would have full easy access to all these types of birth control.
ReplyDeleteI actually agree with the concept of marketing birth-control pills under a different name. Whenever I hear someone mentioning that they are on birth control, I immediately think "Oh, you are sexually active". I can't help it, with that kind of name (and the fact that is its most common use) the immediate thought is indeed that it promotes people having sex. I also do not understand anyone being against the concept of the pill. It isn't like you are actually performing an abortion, right? You are just choosing not to conceive a child, just like you are if you choose not to have sex. So why are the two any different?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I loved the humor you put in your blog post every once in a while :) Also, at the beginning of your post I like how you talked about the different reasons for birth control. Not many people understand that. Most people think if a girl is on birth control, it's because she is having sex. I won't disagree that the majority of girls on birth control use it for protection, there are still other reasons why girls use it. The politicians that say birth control "promotes" sexuality isn't necessarily true. For example, one day if I have a daughter, I would definitely inform her of birth control when she becomes a teenager. If I ignore the subject and make it seem like birth control is a bad thing, she will most likely still find a way to have sex and could possibly become a teenage mother. I'm not saying that I want my future teenage daughter to be having sex, but I am saying that I think it is important to talk with your kids and let them be aware of birth control. That way they feel comfortable coming to you to get protected instead of going behind your break and having sex anyway.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm what you would call 'old school' when it comes to issues of sex, and contraceptives. I was raised to wait, sex was designed for married people not for the flavor of the month. I'm a witness that it causes all kinds of issues and isms. Educating both women and men past the idea of contraceptives is a must. There is an emotional and spiritual attachment that seems to be negated to be addressed. Sex before marriage is cheap! Its time to start asking the question How much are you worth? Birth control, in my opinion, should be an option in case married couples are not ready for children, and the cost should be on them not the health insurance companies.
ReplyDelete