Spring Break
Planned Parenthood serves as an essential resource
Sara Gwin
Issue date: 8/6/08 Section: Forum
Some who decided to become sexuality active went there to get birth control. Aside from the initial apprehension they had about going in, they came back with free or inexpensive birth control as well as lots of great information. And it wasn't just how to use birth control effectively; it was information on what barrier methods to use alongside birth control, how to talk with a partner, how to set one's own boundaries, how to use abstinence even if one has been sexually active before, etc.
I've heard countless positive experiences from men and women who use PP. Whether or not they chose to be sexually active, the information given there empowered them to make their own choices for if and when they chose to have children.
As stated on the Planned Parenthood website, Margaret Sanger, the founder of the American Birth Control League (which, as Fitzpatrick also stated, later became known as Planned Parenthood), opened her first birth control clinic in 1916.
This was a time when contraceptives were illegal due to their "obscene" nature, not to mention a time when women still did not have the right to vote, sign contracts, have bank accounts or divorce abusive husbands.
Sanger saw the despair that can be brought about by unplanned pregnancies and illegal abortions as women desperately tried to control their sexuality without contraceptives. She wrote an underground magazine, founded a scientific journal and a research facility to study the effectiveness of contraceptives, served jail time and endured several arrests for her radical work.
Sanger said, "no woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother."
With these beliefs, she led a movement to educate people and give them access to contraceptives.
While Fitzpatrick points out Sanger's ambivalence toward abortion, he failed to include the fact that she believed abortion rights were important. In 1916, she wrote, "no one can doubt that there are times when an abortion is justifiable.... Abortions will become unnecessary when care is taken to prevent conception. [Care is] the only cure for abortions."
I've heard countless positive experiences from men and women who use PP. Whether or not they chose to be sexually active, the information given there empowered them to make their own choices for if and when they chose to have children.
As stated on the Planned Parenthood website, Margaret Sanger, the founder of the American Birth Control League (which, as Fitzpatrick also stated, later became known as Planned Parenthood), opened her first birth control clinic in 1916.
This was a time when contraceptives were illegal due to their "obscene" nature, not to mention a time when women still did not have the right to vote, sign contracts, have bank accounts or divorce abusive husbands.
Sanger saw the despair that can be brought about by unplanned pregnancies and illegal abortions as women desperately tried to control their sexuality without contraceptives. She wrote an underground magazine, founded a scientific journal and a research facility to study the effectiveness of contraceptives, served jail time and endured several arrests for her radical work.
Sanger said, "no woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother."
With these beliefs, she led a movement to educate people and give them access to contraceptives.
While Fitzpatrick points out Sanger's ambivalence toward abortion, he failed to include the fact that she believed abortion rights were important. In 1916, she wrote, "no one can doubt that there are times when an abortion is justifiable.... Abortions will become unnecessary when care is taken to prevent conception. [Care is] the only cure for abortions."
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Nicole T.
Nicole T.
posted 8/06/08 @ 6:50 PM PST
Sarah,
Thank you so much for being the only one so far willing to provide the "other" view of things. I'm talking about the view that is not Dan Fitzpatrick's. (Continued…)
Lydia
posted 8/13/08 @ 10:00 AM PST
I would argue against the statement that the U.S. is behind our European counterparts regarding the openness to sexuality and sex education. I lived in Europe for half a year recently, and half of my family is first and second-generation European, and I know that the majority of European society is much more traditional/conservative about sexuality. (Continued…)
Post a Comment
Comments by registered users are approved by default.